By Michael Kinney
The Oklahoma Sooners will close out the home portion of the schedule Saturday night when they host TCU in Big 12 action.
Oklahoma will be shorthanded on offense when they take on the Horned Frogs. They were already without tailback Trey Sermon, who is out for the season with an injury. But on Thursday, tight end Grant Calcaterra announced he was retiring from football due to multiple concussions he has sustained during his career.
“Over a month ago, I received a concussion in practice,” Calcaterra said in an emotional video on Twitter. “What most of you may not know, is that I have had my fair share of concussions in my career. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that it would best for me to step away from the game. Football has been the biggest thrill in my life and it kills me to know it’s over.”
Calcaterra said he will be heading back to California to become a firefighter. He leaves with 637 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
“This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life,” Calcaterra said. “To Sooner Nation, and everyone who’s been apart of my journey, I thank you again so much for making my career to memorable. I gave everything to this team and this game.”
. It will be the final game at Memorial Stadium this season and the final home game for the senior class.
For players like senior defensive back Parnell motley, it is hard to imagine his journey at OU has almost come to an end
“Two years ago I was just playing my first game here, Motley said. “I just kind f had flashbacks on how things went. How it could have been better. I can’t change yesterday, but I can definitely change today.”
That means closing out the regular season strong. That starts with TCU, who usually plays the Sooners tough.
All this senior class has to do is look back to 2015 when TCU came into Norman and also took a victory from them. But a failed 2-point conversion in the final seconds secured the win for the Sooners.
With two games left in the regular season and a possible Big 12 Championship game, the seniors know they still have a lot to play for as they close out their careers.
“I’m trying to soak it all in,” senior Nick Basquine said. “It helps having everything in front of us, knowing we can still win championships and achieve our goals. But you kind of see things along the way and say, ‘Dang, I’m really toward the end.”
Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Michael Kinney is a Freelance Content Provider