OKLAHOMA CITY - As Sam Bradford was honored on Saturday night with the unveiling of his Heisman Park statue, he was surrounded by other living Heisman legends in Steve Owens, Billy Sims and Jason White.

But also in the room was another former Sooner quarterback, that some would argue, was just as deserving of having a statue of his own.

Josh Heupel finished second in the Heisman voting to Chris Weinke in 2000. And after his team defeated Weinke's Florida State Seminoles in the BCS Championship, many argued the Heisman was given to the wrong person.

Actually, Torrance Marshall took issue with Weinke's Heisman victory before the game even started, during the coin toss.

But Heupel has something neither White nor Bradford can claim, a national championship ring. That's something that's not lost on either Heisman winner.

You could sense their fondness for Heupel and everything he's meant to their careers in the way they spoke about the guy who set a new standard for signal callers at OU.

"I'm excited too, being under Coach Heupel for four years as my quarterback coach, now he's going to be the offensive coordinator, or the co-offensive coordinator, but in charge of playcalling - I'm looking forward to that," said Bradford who wasn't even asked to comment on Heupel. "If the Fiesta Bowl is any indication they're going to throw it a lot and I think they're going to spread the ball out and I think they're going to be fun to watch."

Bradford's relationship with Heupel was formed out of a coach/player bond. It went all the way back to Bradford's high school career when he became the lead recruiter after Chuck Long left to become the head coach at San Diego State.

For White, his relationship was more of the mentor variety.

White served as Heupel's understudy for two years after coming in as a part of Bob Stoops' first recruiting class in 1999.

The lessons White learned under Heupel's wing helped him develop into one of the nation's best quarterbacks. It's a lesson White feels other young quarterbacks will learn with Heupel in charge of the OU offense.

"I think he's so familiar with playing because it's not so long ago when he was actually playing," said White of Heupel's unique ability to relate to players. "I think that helps a lot because he was there.

"Josh has a good feeling for what they're going through. You take a coach that's older, that maybe didn't play the quarterback position and I think it makes a difference when you talk to kids. Josh has been there, done that and it makes things a lot different on a quarterback when you can relate."

White even recalled a time he spoke with Bradford after he had signed with Oklahoma.

White and Bradford were never on the same team at OU, but a chance encounter with Bradford and his father, Kent, gave the Heisman winner a chance to impart some of his knowledge to the future Heisman winner.

"He asked me some questions and his dad had asked me some questions about the program and I remember telling him it was about how much work you wanted to put in and that would determine how good you could become," recounted White.

A lesson Bradford took to heart judging by his comments about why he felt Heupel would have success as OU's newest offensive coordinator.

"He's going to work harder than anyone," said Bradford of Heupel. "I think that's one of the things I really learned a lot during my time at OU.

"In order to be successful on the field, you have to put in the time and you have to put in the work. There's no doubt that he's going to do that and he's going to be a great example for all the younger guys and all the guys on the team.

"I think he's going to expect a lot out of everyone on the offense. It's always been my opinion that when you're expected to play at a high level, you tend to rise to that level. So I think that's really what's going to happen next year."

Call it collected wisdom.

But that wisdom started with Heupel.

Call it unfair.

Because Heupel never got the Heisman Trophy or the Heisman Park statue he truly deserved.

But you have to recognize Heupel's fingerprints all over this program and this success, even though he was never taking a snap under center.

Call that a legacy.

And who knows? If Heupel continues this legacy of helping to produce Heisman Trophy winners, he could wind up with a statue of his own - in the head coach's wing - right next to Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops.