It’s finally happening: The return of the best mascot ever and all of his hype antics along with him. When Top Daug returns for his first appearance in 15 years Tuesday, the OU men’s basketball team will be taking on the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lloyd Noble Center. It was shaping up to be an interesting game already, but now there is the air of an all-time-memorable program moment.
Maybe losses Saturday by both KU and OU make it sound like I’m exaggerating, but I know many fans out there feel the same way:
This is the ideal mascot body. You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like. #Sooners @OU_MBBall @OU_Athletics #TopDaug pic.twitter.com/GNdZfOc7wz
— JB (@Jeebsalexander) January 6, 2020
A lot of it is nostalgia, not only for Top Daug, but also for the ’80s and ’90s era of exciting OU basketball. When the university announced Top Daug wouldn’t be coming back in 2005, I was more upset about it than I thought I would be. I even made a comic about it for the OU Daily (below), and Top Daug has reappeared in a couple of Sundaze comics since.
I have no doubt that when Top Daug returns he will bring energy and attitude that a new generation of fans will enjoy. I hope it is contagious to the team.
Past Sundaze comics
Stitt, tribal leaders pack their poker faces for court
Cookie mishap: Santa high in the sky of Oklahoma
Blinded by the unholy headlights
The value of a car that gets you to and from work
The Cybertruck: Weird, different and polarizing
Ask Ludacris for input on new OKC area code
With the Sooner Schooner on blocks, it’s Top Daug time
NBA’s and players’ comments on China wimpy so far
Topless ruling has some blowing their tops in Oklahoma
New OKC food halls make for tough choices
A decade’s difference in the OKC concert scene
Park opening could get extreme with release of scissortails
Daddy, which side were you on in the Chicken War?
Rest or party? Sooners on Sunday a good conundrum
OKC aquarium idea destined for lackluster sequels?
MAPS 7: After pickleball stadium’s success, voters pitched Joystick Arena
Democrat Kombat: Whose soul will be whose?
How to turn your Equifax settlement into a hangover
FaceApp recap: If you put it on the internet …
Sam Presti blows up the OKC Thunder as we know it
It’s official: College costs an arm and a leg
