THE OKLAHOMAN’S SUPER 30 Uncommon goal drives Tulsa Union lineman
As the sound of metal scraping on concrete came to a stop, Ricky Stromberg found himself hanging upside down in his truck.
The 6-foot-3, 320pound Tulsa Unionoffensive lineman said climbing out of his overturned vehicle was like waking up from a dream.
A dream that was nearly a nightmare.
“I just remember the smell,” Stromberg said. “It was just this terrible stench of fire and airbags.”
Stromberg’s harrowing incident came in late March as he was driving to school right after an overnight rainstorm. A car had pulled out in front of him as he was making his way to an early morning workout.
Stromberg’s Ford pickup collided with the other vehicle and flipped.
Stromberg said the immediate moments after the collision are gone from his memory, he believes he must’ve blacked out because all he remembered next was seeing his world flipped upside down.
Miraculously, despite the savage look of the wreck, Stromberg said he emerged with only a few scrapes and bruises.
“I think God was watching over me,” Stromberg said. “There’s definitely something to learn from an event like that. I definitely think what I learned was God was looking out for me.”
Stromberg, who is ranked No. 13 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 rankings for the top football prospects in the state, is a committed man.
Now several months removed from the wreck, Stromberg had made up his mind about where he wants to play his college ball.
He announced he would continue his playing career in the town he grew up in, committing to play at the University of Tulsa. Stromberg also had scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Central Michigan, Colorado State and Eastern Michigan.
“Tulsa is just super interesting to me,” he said. “To get to stay close to home but play for a very exciting program would be great. It’s a unique deal.”
Unique is probably the best word for Stromberg says Tulsa Union coach Kirk Fridrich.
In his 11 years as head coach, Fridrich believes Stromberg could be the best lineman he’s had play for him.
“Ricky is very athletic and has great footwork and I just how physical he is,” Fridrich said. “He loves contact. He loves getting involved in the trenches and he’s been our best lineman for three years now.”
Stromberg said he prides himself on his work ethic. He likes to make sure he gets in extra reps and wants to make sure he’s never outworked.
“My goal is to be uncommon,” Stromberg said. “I just want to be different and work harder than everybody. Just do things differently and I think I’ll always find success.”
On the field, Stromberg is heading full speed toward his senior season, hoping to cap his career with a title after losing out to Owasso last year in the state championship game.
But off the field, Stromberg is taking it a bit slower and trying to encourage his friends to do the same.
“When I’m with my friends now in the car I’m like ‘slow down,’” Stromberg said. “I am a little paranoid now. But I just want everybody to be safe.”