While Sam Bradford was talking to reporters Monday night his Oklahoma teammates started to fill in behind him. It was a show of unity for their teammate who'd announced a day earlier his season was over and, assuming successful surgery on his right shoulder, his collegiate career.

But they also were watching the passing of a torch. The Sam Bradford era of Sooner football is over. The Landry Jones era is underway.

"It's Landry's team," OU left tackle Trent Williams said Monday night. "He's a great leader and he's been able to step up and handle it."

Up until Monday, Jones had been holding down a temporary position, and an incredibly difficult one to boot.

Bradford's talent and mystique casts a huge shadow. His importance to OU, the state, even the sporting world was obvious Monday night. The Sooners' Red Room was filled with those wanting to know every minuscule detail of Bradford's decision. The video feed was being carried live on television.

Jones wasn't hiding.

"Sam is a great player. He's one of the best quarterbacks to ever come through this school -- a Heisman Trophy winner. I have some big shoes to fill," Jones said.

He's performed admirably.

Jones' first four starts, in which OU has gone 3-1 with a one-point loss at Miami the only blemish, were all made under the guise Bradford could return at some point.

That wasn't the case Monday.

Jones admitted to a sense of relief.

"It relieves some of the uncertainties and helps me kind of focus in," he said.

It isn't just that Jones receives every practice snap as the starter. The repetition is beneficial, but there's more to it. Now when he speaks, he speaks as the Sooners' starting quarterback -- the offense's leader.

It's part of the job even Bradford admitted didn't come to him naturally. He was deferential when won the starting job two years ago as a redshirt freshman. Others had been around longer and had earned more respect.

Jones and Bradford share a hotel room on the road. There's lot of time for discussion during those nights. Some talks are technical, but others are about the role Jones officially assumed Monday.