Summer is drawing to a close, and that can only mean one thing. But since Oklahoma finds itself without a representative in this year’s WNBA Playoffs, we turn our attention instead to the Oklahoma Football Sooners. Yes friends, it’s that time of year when the heartland is buzzing about the annual Preseason Dudey Awards, the most prestigious honor known to Sooner Nation.

The results have been tallied, and we can honestly tell you that this year’s vote was the closest in Dudeys history. Dreams will be come true, hearts will be broken and recounts will be demanded. You don’t want to miss a moment of the action. So sit back, relax and enjoy the 2010 Preseason Dudey Awards (brought to you by Miller Light, Levi’s and 3M Scotch Brand Household Scissors).

Sam Bradford Award: Best Offensive Player

Ryan Broyles

Honorable Mention: Demarco Murray

Lee Roy Selmon Award: Best Defensive Player

Jeremy Beal

Honorable Mention: Travis Lewis

Bud Wilkinson Award: Outstanding Coach

Josh Heupel

Honorable Mention: Jackie Shipp

Adrian Peterson Award: Outstanding Freshman

Kenny Stills

Honorable Mention: Tony Jefferson, Brennan Clay

Brian Bosworth Award: Most Swagger

Travis Lewis

Honorable Mention: Ronnell Lewis

Quentin Griffin Award: Underrated player

Jonathan Nelson

Honorable Mention: Landry Jones

Game Ball Award: 2010 MVP

Demarcro Murray

Honorable Mention: Ryan Broyles

OCU Award: Rising Star

Tom Wort

Honorable Mention: Demontre Hurst

Most to Prove

Landry Jones

Honorable Mention: Donald Stephenson, Dejuan Miller

Marcus Dupree Award: Prized 2011 Recruit

Trey Metoyer

Honorabe Mention: Brandon Williams, Jordan Phillips

OU GQ Award: Sharpest in His Uni

Dejuan Miller

Honorable Mention: Ronnell Lewis, Travis Lewis

Best Game Day Libation

Miller Light

Honorable Mention: Coors Lights, Screwdrivers for 11 AM kickoff

Best ESPN Talking Head

Dari Nowkhah

Honorable Mention: Desmond Howard, None

Best Texas State Fair Menu Item

Fried Beer (This one wasn’t close)

Honorable Mention: Fried Bacon

Best Place to Watch Outside Norman

Cotton Bowl

Honorable Mention: Your Sooner Man Cave

Best Off-Season Pastime

OKC Thunder Basketball

Honorable Mention: Waiting for football, Embarrassing Yourself on the Golf Course

Facebook Warrior

Brennan Clay

Honorable Mention: The Sooner Dudes

Best Game Day Fashion Decision

Jorts

Honorable Mention: Jersey T-Shirt

Most Hated Man in Sooner Nation

Mack Brown

Honorable Mention: Tim Tebow

Most Respected Program

Alabama

Honorable Mention: Nebraska, Duke

Miller Light Award: Most Fun to Have a Beer With

The King

Honorable Mention: Billy Sims, Capital Sooner

Stadium We’d Most Like to Visit

The Big House

Honorable Mention: Neyland Stadium, Bryant-Denny Stadium

Best Timeless Tradition

Cotton Bowl Split Down the Middle

Honorable Mention: “Play Like A Champion Today”

Best Mascot (Other than Boomer and Sooner)

The Stanford Tree

Honorable Mention: Starsky

Best Fight Song (Other than Boomer Sooner)

Hail to the Victors

Honorable Mention: The Aggie War Hymn, Anchors Away

Best Tailgating Spot

Lindsey Street

Honorable Mention: Parking Lot Northeast of the Stadium

Best Tailgate Activity

12 Oz. Curls

Honorable Mention: Cornhole

Best Pregame Spot on Campus

Old O’Connell’s

Honorable Mention: Louie’s

Team that is Owed the Most Payback

Texas

Honorable Mention: USC, LSU, Florida

Help the Dudes get back their “ness” by following them on Facebook.

Sometimes universities should just stay away from trying to reach their fan base on the internet. Especially universities with Kansas in their name.

Everyone who pays attention to college sports has seen the Kansas State “power towel, and Willie’s Chant” YouTube video from the days when Ron Prince was prowling the sideline in Manhattan. (scroll down for a reminder)

I guess it’s KU’s turn to embarrass the state of Kansas. The other day a video promoted by the school surfaced of the band’s drum major teaching fans how to clap along to the fight song.

Is your fight really that musically challenging that your fans can’t follow along?

Here is the K State power towel video, in case you forgot what it was all about:

And I gotta throw in this video. Classic. Georgia was so embarrassed they tried to make it private:

From sideline to sideline, a Crimson Curtain has descended across the field.

Late last night ESPN blogger Tim Griffin put up some posts about the Sooner D that will give you the excitement jitters like you haven’t had since you were 9 years old on Christmas Eve.

Tim’s first post, “Sooners see tight battle for DE,” backs up everything The Buck has said about Jeremy Beal: ”Oklahoma defensive ends coach Jackie Shipp said that Beal is the only player who assured himself of a starting position after the first week of preseason practice.

“It’s still really a battle for the first three guys,” Shipp said. “Frank is coming on and playing well and R.J. is stepping out. But Jeremy Beal is standing out well…..Austin and Frank are still competing for the starting job,” Shipp said. “The competition is really stiff for us.”

As a Sooner fan, those words are music to your ears. Regardless of who gains the opposite starting spot from Jeremy, our second rotation will be just as strong as the starters. How does it make you feel knowing that our second rotation of DEs, and the entire DL for that matter is good enough to start at any other of the 118 D-1 schools?

Tim then posts a second late night post about our up-and-coming safeties, “New OU safeties thriving in starting roles.” I know that we know nothing until we see the Sooners on the field, but Tim brought some comfort and confidence in what many analysts believe is the Sooners biggest weakness.

Dom Franks, who I believe will be the best corner in football this year, said of the new safeties, “We don’t consider Q a new guy…he’s been back there three or four years and knows our system. He’s also started for us for a few games and we didn’t miss a beat…It would make you afraid to jump a lot of routes, but knowing you have a veteran guy like Q or Proctor lets you play a little differently…they’ve been in the system and we know they can play. A lot of fans might not know if they play, but we know it. We trust them. It gives me or Brian confidence to take a chance and jump a route. Having them makes it a lot easier for our corners.”

After all, they shouldn’t consider Q a new guy, as Tim so gently reminded us when he brought up Q’s decleating of Jeremy Maclin in the Big XII Championship game last December:

Boom. Roasted.

With all this pre-season hype surrounding the D, I really can’t wait to answer the question: “How good is this Oklahoma defense?” Could this be one of the best D-units in OU history? Out producing the defenses of the Selmon brothers’, the Casillas’s, the Boz’s, the William’s, the Calmus’s?

It has its potential, Dom Franks is on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, McCoy is on the Outland and Lombardi list and a guarantee to be on Bednarik list released later today, Beal and English are on the Hendricks list, and the list will expand next week when the Nagurski and Butkus lists are released.

Brent Venables has the tools in place. A returning D-line that recorded 42 sacks last year, tied for third in the FBS. A healthy Ryan Reynolds, who, if he can stay healthy will be on the stage as a finalist for the Butkus award, playing along side LB phenom Travis Lewis. And two shut down corners, playing with a safety that can lay the wood. While watching Sam and his offensive machine is fun, I’m excited to get back to the Sooners of the beginning of the Stoops era.

Tenacious defense.

SchoonerPhil is back and has recovered from the BCS Game, March Madness, and Blake Griffin going to the Clippers. (Clippers nation representin’ right here, party of 1!)

I’m ready to take on the ’09 campaign, and started by analyzing Coach Stoops summer depth chart. Check it.

Boomer Sooner in ’09.

The Sooner Dudes would like to add our condolences to the Tisdale family and Sooner Nation for the loss of Wayman Tisdale yesterday.  Also, thanks to Kings of Leon for honoring Tisdale last night on The Tonight Show (Tisdale’s #23 is displayed on the drummer’s bass drum below the OU logo in “KOL.”)  Tisdale is a Sooner legend and will be missed by all.  RIP, Wayman, and Boomer Sooner.

Before the 2008 football season kicked off, Brandon, SchoonerPhil, and CapitolSooner had the idea to start a blog about our beloved Sooners. We had a lot to be excited for in 2008-2009. Sam and the boys on the field, and Blake and the crew on the hardwood.

Things got off to a ferocious start after kickoff, for both the Soonerdudes and Sam. We had to slow our pace, because at the rate we were posting along with the rate Sam was lobbing TDs, the Sooner Nation would have had an overload. We found the perfect balance and maintained a steady stream of post throughout the season until one mid-November weekend.

It was this weekend that both the football season became extremely intense at the same time that Blake and the crew took to the hardwood.

We didn’t know what to do. Ultimately, just like most of Sooner Nation our focus for the time being was all about Sam. We knew there would be plenty of time to watch Blake Griffin dominate, but Sam was doing something special. What we didn’t know was on that fateful mid-November weekend a Sooner Dude would go missing from the blogosphere…

CapitolSooner disappeared, much to our shock. We called, wrote, and facebook stalked everyday, and he would only gives us one defense: “Sorry guys, I’ve been real busy.”

I became very weary, and really wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with my fellow Sooner Dude.

This is what I knew about CapitolSooner and the situation. He came from basketball roots (undergrad at Duke), he was always stealing things from Brandon (his opponent in every sporting competition growing up), he would only give us one defense as to where he was, and he quit blogging 3/4 of the way through the football season.

I initially thought maybe he was so “busy” focusing on the  Sooners basketball season, he didn’t have time to write a post for the blog. I ran with the idea. And I ended up running in the right direction…

Let me ask you what I asked myself:

“Who in the Sooners basketball family came from basketball roots?”

Well, everyone.

“Who in the Sooners basketball family steals alot?”

Well, the guards maybe? Willie, AJ, or TC? I know Willie tried to steal AJ’s girl….

“Who in the Sooners basketball family only gives us defense?”

Hmmm. Cade Davis? TC? Patillo?

“Who in the Sooners basketball family quit playing 3/4 through the season?

(Light bulb!) Tony Crocker was blogging with us the entire time!

It made perfect sense. CapitolSooner has; basketball roots (undergrad at Duke), he is always stealing things from Brandon (his opponent), he only gives us a defensive answer, and he quit blogging 3/4 way through the season. And, Tony; has been playing basketball his entire life, he is always stealing the ball from the opponents, he only give us defense, and he quit playing 3/4 of the way through the season.

I solved it. Case closed.

Now all that is left to do is hope that Tony Crocker, aka CapitolSooner, will show up in all aspects of his game.

BOOMER SOONER

beat ‘Cuse.

p.s. TC, I love you baby, keep doing what you are doing.

p.s.s. CapitolSooner, come on now. Does have to come to this?

It’s pretty rare for a university to be home to the best player in their respective sport.

It’s especially rare when a university is home to two players who are the best in their respective sports.

It’s downright unreal when a university is home to three players who are the best in their respective sports.

Which begs the question: Just exactly what are they putting in the water down in Norman, Oklahoma? (Shake ‘n’ Bake, maybe?)

All basketball season we have been hearing about the possibility of Blake Griffin joining Sam Bradford as Player of the Year in each of their sports. Which would be the first time the football and basketball Players of the Year can call the same university home.

What we haven’t been hearing all season is the possibility of OU being the home to three National Player of the Year award winners (all in the same year).

Enter Courtney Paris.

Norman is about to become the Hollywood of college athletics. On any given day, you will be able to stroll down the South Oval or the North Oval, take a seat in the Union, or grab a bite to eat on Campus Corner and you will potentially stroll by or sit down next to the Heisman Trophy Winner, the Mens National Basketball Player of the Year, or the Womens National Basketball Player of the Year. (If I was a recruit, and OU was on my list, I would take this paragraph into serious consideration, just a thought. Maybe you want to be Player of the Year someday?)

And it’s not like Sam, Blake, and Courtney played ball in a down year. Sam was competing against two men named Tim Tebow (the previous Heisman), and Colt McCoy. Blake is up against the likes of Tyler Hansbrough (previous recipient), Stephen Curry, Hasheem Thabeet, and Dejuan Blair. And Courtney is up for the award along with a UCONN team with five starters that all lay legitimate claim, I mean they are 34-0.

These kids are just winning (or in contention for) awards by the skin of their hides. They are completely dominating their sport. Sam threw for 48 TDs and only 6 INTs. Blake, well Blake is a man among boys averaging over 20 pts and 15 RBs. Courtney was going on 112 straight double-doubles before the streak ended, and has a recorded a double-double in every game this season except for one.

So here is to The Norman Three Party, Sam, Blake, and Courtney, and the three amazing seasons they have brought us this year.

(I’m still holding out for one of the latter two to bring home a Nat’l Champ Trophy.)

BOOMER SOONER

Hey Texas and Okie Lite, how are you guys enjoying your time in the Sweet 16?

Her Sunday best.

Blake Griffin pajamas.

Hey Damion, fyi, the license plate of the semi-truck that is about to steamroll you reads, B-L-A-K-E.

Sick.

That is the only word in the english dictionary that can describe Blake Griffin.

Averaging 22.5 points per game and 14.1 rebounds per game, Blake has had a double-double in 13 of the Sooners first 16 games. Those are the numbers of a grown man.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRaiSlJEEvM&feature=related]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-42dQVvm_o&feature=related]

The Sooners are 15-1 (1-0 in conf.) and off to their best start since the 1988-1989 Final Four team.

…Pause for a quick shout out to the days of Billy Ball, (We want 100, we want 100!) and Stacey King, Harvey Grant, and Mookie Blaylock. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YglrzDO2etA] Billy may come close to topping Mr. Knight with that one. “Regardless of how terrible the officiating is, do not throw anything on the court.”…

Capel has his boys in form for conference season and I expect nothing less than a solid W tonight against the shortwhorns. I wouldn’t even mind if it were a low scoring affair, say, oh I don’t know, 45-35? OU of course.

There is no other place Blake Griffin shines more than on national television, he might just go ahead and score all 45 points for OU. But I wouldn’t put it past Rick Barnes to deploy some less that sportsmanlike tactics to stop the man. (I’m looking at you USC and Utah.) Besides using illegal tactics, I would assume that Rick Barnes learned his lesson from the OU-K State game this past weekend and will throw a double team at Blake. If they do, they MAY be lucky and hold Blake under 15. No worries though, I’m sensing a hot hand for T-Croc tonight.

My predicition – OU 74 saxet 61

It’s time Sooner fans. Time to turn your attention from the sensational sophomore on the field, Mr. Sam Bradford, to the sensational sophomore on the hardwood, Mr. Blake Griffin. Time to pay attention to Capel and the boys, cause they are going to have a stellar run this year. And time to get your blood running Crimson and Cream once again, cause it’s OU/tx, the hardwood edition pt. 1.

BOOMER SOONER

and as always

saxet SUCKS