Oklahoma Sooners Fullback Aaron Ripkowski Had The Game Of His Life And No One Is Talking About It

For a moment senior fullback Aaron Ripkowski was set up to the Oklahoma's hero in the 2014 Bedlam game...for a moment. For a moment his three touchdowns were crushing the spirit of the Cowboys and writing a new page in the rivalry's history. For a moment he was producing one of the all-time performances that would have been talked about for years to come...for a moment.

After Oklahoma's fourth quarter collapse and eventual 38-35 overtime loss to the Cowboys no one really wanted to talk about individual performances, not even Aaron Ripkowski. "You know I didn't really think too much about my own success," the senior fullback said. "I just thought about how bad this is for all us seniors with this being our last game on this field. Nobody wants to go out like that."

Someone needs to talk about it though. Someone needs to put a spotlight on a kid who came to Norman as a walk-on and quickly took on a reputation of being a crushing blocker. It was Ripkowski's ability to move bodies that helped Blake Bell make waves as the Belldozer. Someone needs to point out the fact that he hadn't even carried the football at OU until this, his senior and final, season. However there he was on Saturday grinding away in his final performance on Oklahoma's historical Owen Field.

Aaron Ripkowski has only scored three rushing touchdowns in his Sooner career and two of them came against Oklahoma State. A pair of one-yard runs, where he earned every square inch of ground, were difference makers in what has become a legendary game for all the wrong reasons. He also caught his first touchdown pass as a Sooner which was a two-yard score where he carried multiple players into the end zone with him.

Twice he put the Sooners up by two touchdowns and twice he should have sealed the game. Twice he should have been the unsung hero. It was the first time that he would score multiple touchdowns in one game and it would have marked a storybook ending to what has been a "fly under the radar" career of a guy who makes his living on the football field by doing a thankless job. Before Saturday's game he was awarded the Don Key Award which is given to a senior each year who demonstrates all-around excellence.

Nope, we're not talking about Aaron Ripkowski near enough but there's no doubt that he's a guy that the Sooners sure will miss next season.