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Oklahoma’s Greatest Football All-American: Paul "Buddy" Burris or Josh Heupel

Buddy_medium Heupel_medium

 Josh Heupel led the Sooners to the 2000 national championship while Paul “Buddy” Burris helped OU win three consecutive conference championships from 1946-1948 while also being named an All-American all three of those years. Which accomplishment was greater? You tell us!

Paul "Buddy" Burris, G - 1946, 1947, 1948
Paul "Buddy" Burris became the first Sooner to earn All-America honors three times, including being named a consensus All-American in 1948. He said after his career was over that he should have been playing as a linebacker, but his play as both an offensive and defensive guard helped bring about an OU dynasty during the '50s.

Burris started a similar dynasty as four of his brothers would follow him into Norman to play for the Sooners. It's probably the largest family from one generation ever to play for Oklahoma.

He was drafted in the ninth round by Brooklyn in 1949. Burris was also the first player from OU to be inducted into the Helms Athletic Foundation Football Hall of Fame.

Josh Heupel, QB - 2000
The runner-up for the 2000 Heisman Trophy (by 76 votes), Josh Heupel became OU?s first consensus All-America quarterback and the first Sooner QB to earn All-America honors since Jack Mildren in 1971.

A two-time team captain, Heupel is largely credited with turning an offense that statistically ranked as one of the worst in the nation before his arrival into one of the most explosive in the country.

Heupel was named Associated Press Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, The Sporting News Player of the Year, CBS Sports Player of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2000. The first-team all-conference selection guided OU to a school-record 13 wins and its seventh national championship.

Heupel holds virtually every OU and numerous Big 12 passing records.


Poll

Who was the better All-American?

This poll is closed

  • 45%
    Paul "Buddy" Burris
    (41 votes)
  • 54%
    Josh Heupel
    (50 votes)
91 votes total Vote Now