Who Would Be On The Sooners' Mount Rushmore?

by dishingoutdimes on Mar 10, 2009 1:36 PM CDT in General Sports

With the latest ESPN interactive contest for the "create each state's Mount Rushmore of sports", it got me thinking - who would be on the OU Mount Rushmore? It would be a monument of the 4 greatest contributors to Sooner sports throughout the ages.

Voice your opinion! Comment on the thread.

I'll take the most common names and put them to a vote in a poll later on. Certainly there are lots of names to choose from - lots of Heisman winners, one of whom is currently at the school - Sam Bradford. In fact there's lots of pretty solid players here right now, which is why we're having such a good sports year.

Once we have a list of maybe 8-10 of the most solid names, I'll type up a quick bio and career stats for each if I can find them and then we'll put it to a vote.

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I'll go ahead and throw a name into the hat

Courtney Paris. She is one of the best women’s college basketball players ever. Probably nobody has ever matched her dominance in the post. She has shattered all kinds of records and the only thing she’s missing is a national championship.

by dishingoutdimes on Mar 10, 2009 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

I'll throw out...

LeeRoy Selmon. Arguably the greatest football player in Sooner history and one of the greatest in all of college football.

by Sooner71 on Mar 10, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

WOW

We only get to pick FOUR?? I’ll put forth two:

Bud Wilkinson. Barry Switzer.

They’re not players, but let’s face it: 3 NCs each. Bud built the Monster and made being from Oklahoma cool again. Barry grew it with the Wishbone. You want contributors to OU sports? Let’s face the facts: what would all the other sports be, especially the non-revenue-producing sports, without the monster football program to bring in 70% of the athletic budget while only consuming about 30-40%?

Bob’s not quite there yet. He turned the program upside down like the other two guys, but his recent bowl losing streak tarnishes his image somewhat.

by ousooner919 on Mar 10, 2009 3:00 PM CDT reply actions

If it's players-only...

I’ll go with Tommy McDonald. Arguably the greatest offensive player during OU’s greatest and most dominant era, AND went on to a very successful pro career. Inducted into both the College and Pro HoF, and is the only other Sooner in the Pro HoF (with LeeRoy, above). Only non-quarterback in OU history to win the Maxwell Award, and the only one to do it in the 20th Century (White and Bradford being the others).

by ousooner919 on Mar 10, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

LeeRoy Selmon, Alvin Adams, Josh Heupel and Wayman Tisdale

Selmon – Greatest football player to play at OU.

Adams – Built the OU basketball program

Heupel – Returned Sooner football to greatness

Tisdale – Best basketball player to play at OU

by ccmachine on Mar 10, 2009 8:32 PM CDT reply actions

My Four

Bud Wilkinson
Barry Switzer
Leeroy Selmon
Wayman Tisdale

Main problem is a coach is there for several years, but in college sports, a player is only there 4

Honorable mentions:
Prentice Gaut
Ryan Minor
Brian Bosworth
Billy Sims
Alvin Adams
Billy Tubbs

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 10, 2009 9:21 PM CDT reply actions

yes this will be a difficult decision

There are a TON of awesome players and coaches at OU. I know everyone focuses on football, but we have had some great basketball players – Wayman Tisdale, etc.

Does Blake Griffin deserve to be in the conversation? I believe he would be the first national player of the year in our basketball program’s history.

ESPN’s Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin went with Bud, Barry, Bob and then Billy Sims. Anyways, a lot of great names out there, and I’ll wait another day or so and then we’ll put it to a vote for like a week and see how it turns out!

by dishingoutdimes on Mar 10, 2009 9:31 PM CDT reply actions

Tough

Obviously, Bud Barry and Bob deserve to be there. Tons of great, worthy players, but I feel like the honor should go the men who turned them into legends. Great arguments can be made for the Heisman winners, the Selmons, McDonald, Gautt, Heupel, etc… the problem is they’re ALL worthy. Picking one would be like choosing one of your children over another.

So I’d say Bennie Owen. He started the great football tradition, but was an excellent hoops coach as well. He’s also OU’s first member in the College Football Hall of Fame, in the inaugural clas.

Any way we could add Mrs. Selmon?

Hoops is a no-brainer with Tisdale, Adams and maybe Tubbs.

If he stays around and our athletic programs overall continue to flourish, I’d think Joe C would merit honor. The dude has brought in and kept great coaches in almost every sport. But that’s down the road

by SoonerCane on Mar 11, 2009 1:08 AM CDT reply actions