April 25, 2024

Grupomodo

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Kenny Evans made Top Daug come alive for OU Sooners men’s basketball

OU fan Catlin Gundy, 4, pokes OU mascot Top Daug, portrayed by Kenny Evans, during an OU-Texas men's basketball game on Feb. 21, 2004.

Kenny Evans died lately. Maybe you do not acknowledge the identify. Then once more, maybe you do. That was Evans’ magic. 

He did more than carry a mascot to life. Evans created the man in the mascot uniform subject to folks. 

From 1987-90, Evans was OU’s Top Daug, the Billy Tubbs-influenced mascot who became the feeling at all those wild Sooner video games of the Billyball period. From crowdsurfing with the pupils to keeping up playing cards mocking Bobby Knight, Evans resonated with OU supporters. 

In 2003, long just after his times as an OU college student, Kelvin Sampson questioned Evans to return to the job. Alas, OU in 2004 retired Leading Daug (and wrestling’s Underdog), in favor of Boomer and Sooner. 

But no OU mascot achieved fans the way Top Daug did, and no a single ever remodeled Leading Daug the way Kenny Evans did. 

Far more:OU & Oklahoma State men’s basketball opponents established for 2023 SEC/Huge 12 Challenge