OKLAHOMA STATE FOOTBALL — He's college football's oldest quarterback. But his Oklahoma State teammates say Brandon Weeden, who turns 28 Friday, is right where he belongs.
By JOHN HELSLEY, Staff Writer. jhelsey@opubco.com Oklahoman Leave a comment
Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden (3) passes in the first half during a college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Arizona Wildcats at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
Cowboys linebacker Caleb Lavey , a 20-year-old sophomore, glanced at the red-headed gentleman seated next to him and soaked in the reminder of his upcoming birthday – his 28th birthday.
“He is older, isn't he?” Lavey said in mock astonishment.
Happy Birthday, Brandon Weeden .
Yeah, the Cowboys are aware of Weeden's age – who isn't by now? – and the jokes and gags have gotten a bit stale, although that likely won't stop some Oklahoma State players from having fun Friday with their quarterback on his b-day.
Who knows, even on a college kid's budget, gifts may be involved.
“Probably a heating pad, for his back,” said Cowboys senior linebacker James Thomas . “When you get older, your back tends to wear out. So I'd probably get him a nice massaging heating pad.”
Last year, when Weeden turned 27, safety Markelle Martin presented him with a cane.
Running back Jeremy Smith suggests maybe it's time to progress to a walker.
Ah, but Smith better beware, that is if he wants the ball Saturday at Texas , seeing how age seems to be Weeden's least favorite topic. And understandably, considering the widespread fascination and recurring questions of age always affixed to Weeden's career.
Still, some of the facts are fascinating.
Like on the day he was born, Oct. 14, 1983, the Orioles beat the Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series. The pitchers of record: Jim Palmer and Steve Carlton .
And then there's the thought that had Weeden gone straight to college out of high school, and not into professional baseball, the quarterbacks on the other side Saturday – Texas freshmen Case McCoy and David Ash – would have been in grade school when Weeden was a freshman.
While Weeden grows weary of the age issue, inside the locker room anything goes.
Except, Weeden's teammates have mostly tired of the topic, too.
“I really don't mess with him about it,” said cornerback Brodrick Brown . “We all know that he's the oldest guy on the team – he's older than some of the coaches! But it's all good. It's all fun and games. He knows it, we know it. We don't give him too much heat about it anymore.”
Brown even came up with something practical to get the birthday boy.
“I'd probably get him another interception,” Brown said. “As a defense, we'd probably force some turnovers for him, just get him the ball back.”
Weeden would go for that. In fact, his wish list is rather simple.
“Win. I want to win Saturday,” he said. “That would be huge. That would be the best birthday present I could get. It would be perfect; perfect game to win. That would be ideal.”
Since Weeden will be on the road for his birthday, he's already celebrated somewhat. His parents came for dinner last weekend. His wife, Melanie, cooked for him Thursday night.
A little birthday cash led to Weeden's splurge – the new iPad 2 .
And no, he didn't go for the AARP app.
“Fantasy football,” Weeden said. “That and Twitter . Those are my two staples.”
Just like a college kid.
“We pretty much forget about his age,” Smith said. “I keep forgetting he's 28. I look at him and he looks just like us.”
What they're saying about OSU QB Brandon Weeden's age
Birthday well wishes for Brandon Weeden may not roll in from across the Big 12 , but Weeden and his age are always a hot topic.
“Older players, if you go back and study it, have been really good when they've played that position, regardless, across the country.”
“I don't really see him like I see the other players. Sometimes coaches say that you treat them all the same; I don't think you treat them all the same. He's not the same as J.W. Walsh . J.W. Walsh is a freshman and he just got out of high school. Brandon is 28 and he's married and he's played for the Yankees. He's different.”
Cowboys linebacker James Thomas: “He's a fun guy to be around. He's very funny. He's not one of those guys who's big-headed and acts like, ‘Oh, I'm 27, I don't have to talk to y'all youngsters.' He don't act like that. We have a great time with Weeden.”
Chris Weinke , former Florida State QB, Heisman winner and pro baseball player: “There are eerie similarities between us.”
“There's no question about it, as far as him being more mature as a person to play the game of football over somebody else at 19, 20 or 21 years old. A person of maturity is going to be able to handle things a lot better than someone else.”
Mack Brown: “I didn't even realize he was older than Aaron Rodgers , but he plays like it.”
Source:
