Even after Tubbs left and Kelvin Sampson arrived, Top Daug remained. His antics enthralled kids and thrilled adults. Rapid tugging of his floppy ears. Belly slides across the court. Impromptu dances with fans in the stands.
But in 2004, OU athletics introduced new mascots for all sports — Boomer and Sooner. Nothing intrinsically wrong with Boomer or Sooner. But for 15 years, the pony mascots have been derided by OU fans, primarily because they’re not Top Daug.
Tuesday night, when OU hosts Kansas, Top Daug returns to the Lloyd Noble Center. OU and most every athletic department in America has been trying to entice fans back to basketball arenas.