Friday, November 30, 2007

Twas the Night Before the Big XII Championship




'Twas the night before the Big XII and all through the land,

not a Tiger was stirring, not even the band.

Their Jockeys were hung by the locker with care,

in hopes that the Sooners soon would be there.

Truman was nestled all snug in his bed,

while visions of the BCS danced in his head.

And Pinkel in his kerchief full of Tiger pride,

and Bob and the Sooners ready to ride.

When down in San Antone there arose such a clatter,

Chase sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.

He realized the Option was gone in a flash,

and Maclin's dreams of running had just been dashed.

The Tiger tight ends trembled as they watched the show,

A Crimson and Cream luster set the horizon aglow.

When what to their wondering eyes should they find,

but a miniature Schooner, seven National Titles behind.

With a wizened old driver, skilled in leading his troops,

they knew in a moment it must be Bob Stoops.

More rapid than Temple his players they came,

and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

"On Bradford, on Joe John, now Patrick and Murray!

On Chris Brown! On Iglesias! On Hartley and Kelly!

To the top of the conference! To the top of it all!

Now dash their hopes! Dash their dreams! Dash away all!"

And then in a twinkling, the Tigers fought back a scream,

and Chase saw the last of his Heisman trophy dream.

The defense drew in their breath and looked all around,

and realized that their "Pig" was nowhere to be found.

Bob's eyes how they twinkled, his coaches how merry!

As they carried on the legacy left them by Barry.

Gary's sad little face and a fear in his belly,

he shook on the field as his knees turned to jelly.

Pinkel spoke not a word, and the ball they couldn't carry,

Stoops filled up the scoreboard and then turned to Gary.

And laying his hand on the shoulder of his friend,

he gave Pinkel a nod and said, "Like Norman again."

Bob sprang to the Schooner, to his team gave a shout,

to the BCS they flew and left Mizzou down and out.

And we heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,

"Boomer Sooner to All and to All a Good Night!"

47 comments:

Gary said...

Wade,

It is OBVIOUS that you do not have enough to do!

BOOMER SOONER

Gary
Norman - Home of the Sooners

P.S.: the buses and sirens just went past my window on the way to the airport...

wadeburleson.org said...

Gary,

Can't claim to be the author of this one. Don't know who is - just sent to me by a church member.

Blessings,

wade

Anonymous said...

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous said...

For once we agree - Go Sooners. I hope they win big and put an end the the madness of Mizzou being in the championship game.

:)

davidinflorida said...

........GO MIZZOU GO TIGERS........


MAY THE SOONERS WISH THEY NEVER BOOMED INTO TEXAS, AGAIN

......LONGHORNS FOR TIGERS........

Ronnica said...

I don't agree with a lot that you post, but this I can agree with 100%! Boomer Sooner!

Ronnica
Class of 2005

Dave Miller said...

It is hard to find a team to cheer for in this one. Missouri in the title game? Can't happen. But seeing the Sooners humbled (even a little if possible) has appeal.

Good News: One of these teams will lose.

Bad news: Both of these teams can't lose.

Anonymous said...

So, you're saying you're going with the traditionalist establishment on this one, eh?

I cannot. I believe it's time for men to be measured by their ability, not by their public relations departments and the gridiron fantasies of their old men.

Here I stand, I can do no other.

M-I-Z.......Z-O-U

wadeburleson.org said...

Ronnica,

I'm interested in those matters with which you do not agree with me. It would seem that not only do we have a great deal in common, I am one who would affirm your theological pursuits at Southeastern Seminary.

Blessings,

wade

Anonymous said...

I really hope Arkansas plays the Sooners in the Cotton Bowl, which would mean that Mizzou would need to get the best of your team tomorrow :)

greg.w.h said...

Putting my pro-Big XII hat on: I don't think OU makes it to the Sugar Daddy Bowl should they prevail over Mizzou. So I tend to favor the Tigers.

Putting my pro-South hat on: I'd Sooner OU win as A&M did over Kansas State in a similar situation just under a decade ago (1998)

Oh the quandry of deep confliction.

Greg Harvey

Kevin P. Larson said...

What a privilege to do ministry in the beautiful city of Columbia, Missouri. I enjoy reading your blog. Your poem is quite witty, but we'll be doing the laughing tomorrow night when the nation's best offense, and, yes, the Big 12's #1 total defense, and their 8 all Big-12 players, rolls over you in San Antonio. Go Tigers!

he's only chasing safety said...

Wade, if you know what's good for you and for the Big 12 you will change your allegiance this Saturday. Surely you can put aside your Sooner pride for the good of the best conference in the world? Right?

Anyway, Go Jayhawks!

david b mclaughlin said...

if its a close game we lose. We have to win by 14 or more.

texasinafrica said...

Now you've gone and done it, Wade. This is clearly heresy.

Anonymous said...

The desire to keep Ohio State from yet another undeserved appearance in a national championship game is most of the motivation behind my hoping that Mizzou comes out of this on top, that and the fact that it couldn't be a nicer turn of events for a couple of teams like Mizzou and West Virginia to play for the national title, while the perennial powers are at home, watching it on television, and contemplating the concept of "parity."

I think OU is in for a long evening. On a neutral field, with a team that has vastly improved since they met earlier in Norman, I just don't think the Sooners are up to the task of having to beat Mizzou twice.

John Stickley said...

Wow. That was horrible.

Yet another reason to cheer for Mizzou... OU butchering a Christmas classic.

Kaylor said...

I used to think your heart was in the right place, Wade ;)
Go Mizzou!

Anonymous said...

Wade,

I can not agree with you on this one. I hope that the too short, too fat, too slow QB from Southlake, TX, Chase Daniels, puts on a passing demonstration that will have Bob Stoops on his knees crying out to God for mercy. And then I pray that OU plays Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl so all you Okies can know who is the real "Big Red" team in the land.

And all God's people said ... Amen!

David Spriggs

pastorleap said...

Hiram, thanks for coming forth with your identity. I appreciate your willingness to participate in the conversation here even if you do bring an alternative point of view.

As I am finding out since I began blogging and posting, it isn't always easy to own your words. Suddenly, folks who never paid me any attention before are wanting to talk to me and make me accountable for my words. It's not easy, but it is refreshing to be able to converse about differences. That's the reason that I am most thankful for this and other blogs...not because I always agree with the viewpoints presented, but because I really believe we can dialogue and still work together.

I'm just thankful that in this medium, we still have the ability to voice our differences without fear of censure or punishment.

On another note...Go Kansas! I'm a Univ of KY fan, but since we obviously are not having much of a football season, I don't want anyone else to enjoy theirs either! :-)

Terry

pastorleap said...

Type-O...I meant "go WVU" since I live on the WV border.

I got my "UK"s mixed up in my thinking. I don't care a bit about Kansas football!

Go WVU!

irreverend fox said...

Wade,

I...along with "Columbus, Ohio"...would like to thank all the Sooners and all the great Sooner fans in advance.

Bob Cleveland said...

Wade,

I respect the fact that somebody, somewhere, sometime, wrote a poem about your exceedingly flat state's football team, but has Oklahoma ever been referred to, biblically, as holy? Huh? Huh? Has it?

:)

Check Genesis 36:2 (and various other places) for a reflection on the esteem in which Bama is held. Eight times (in the NIV), no less.

Scott Gordon said...

"...and I awoke from my dream,

The truth, it would seem,

Was quite different for the crimson and cream."


As an OkStater and a soon to be Missourian...

Let's Go Tigers!

SOLA GRATIA!

Anonymous said...

Half the Sooners are from Texas--"Go, Sooners!"

Anonymous said...

David, As a Texan, I agree. I often cheer for the University of Texas at Norman.

Ken

Anonymous said...

The University of Texas @ Norman...

That's stinkin' hilarious. Love it.

A Displaced Texan Serving Overseas

Kevin P. Larson said...

You guys are silly. Look how many Mizzou players are from Texas, too (Chase Daniel being the best example). That's because a) you make up your own country size-wise; b) you guys worship football there.

texasinafrica said...

Kevin, you say that like it's a bad thing! :)

wadeburleson.org said...

Phil,

I responded to Hiram on the blog post that relates to that subject.

Dave Miller said...

Moral/Theological Question:

We try to maintain some level of Christian standard of conversation when we comment on various theological/political issues.

But, am I not right that when it comes to football, those rules go out the window?

It is completely acceptable to call names, rant and rave, and belittle others as long as the subject is football, isn't it?

I need clarification.

The good thing about the bowl games is that it brings us closer to the end of football and the beginning of spring training.

I know, with all our differences, the one thing we can agree on is the greatness of the New York Yankees.

Anonymous said...

Wade,

Read your blog everyday to keep becoming informed, but fail to post comments. I cannot refrain any longer : Sooners by 21.

I love you big bro.

BRB

John Daly said...

Considering there is no team from Vermont to cheer for, and the fact that I have been in Missouri for longer than I care to mention--I will be most surprised if OKL can come within 14 points. I think you guys will be looking for something else to watch after half time. But thanks for coming and we have some nice parting gifts for you.

david b mclaughlin said...

It is completely acceptable to call names, rant and rave, and belittle others as long as the subject is football, isn't it?

Only for college level and above. But yes.

:)

My personal take though is to never talk smack about football. Anything can happen.

Scott Gordon said...

Because he is a man of erudition,

I concur with David Miller!

Let's Go Yankees!

SG!

Anonymous said...

Wade, I read about you being censured. I can't say that I am your biggest fan, but I can certainly agree with the issues you have about baptism and private prayer language. I will keep you in my thoughts this week as I know that God will reveal what he wants all involved to learn. He has softened my heart towards you. So I already see some of the fruit. How far his hand stretches.

Dave Miller said...

By the way, what on earth is a Sooner?

wadeburleson.org said...

Dave,

In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison signed the Land Act which opened land in Indian Territory for settlement by the white man. In five land 'races,' the two biggest being held April 22, 1889 (the Oklahoma City area), and September 16, 1993 (the Northwestern Oklahoma area including my city Enid), over 250,000 people, at the firing of a shotgun to begin the race, rode fast and furious on their horses, wagons, and a few on trains to 'stake' out their claim for a quarter section of land that would be given to them, free of charge, by the United States government if they built a dwelling on it and stayed at least five years. Because of the influx of hundreds of thousands of people in a very short time Oklahoma was able to become the 46th state in the union just a little over a decade later - November 16, 2007.

Some people illegally jumped the gun by crossing into Indian Territory before the specified start of the Land Run. They hid from federal Marshalls who were patrolling Indian Territory, and, after the gun fired, popped up out of creeks, holes they had dug in the ground, or clumps of trees and arrived first to 'stake their claim.' These people who jumped the gun - criminals according to the law - were called 'Sooners.'

Those who entered the territory legally were called 'Boomers.'

If 'Sooners' were caught by the Marshalls they were hung on the spot. Overtime, Oklahomans have lost any sense of Sooners being criminals and have adopted the moniker - as in Oklahoma Sooners.

Hope that helps.

Wade

Scott Gordon said...

Short Version:

Law breaking, land grabbing thieves

(HT:Wes Kenney)

BY GRACE ALONE!

Dave Miller said...

I saw that on the Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman movie "Far and Away" some years ago.

davidinflorida said...

..........FIDDLESTICKS.............

david b mclaughlin said...

Boomer!

davidinflorida said...

Wade,

Another little known fact about sooner football.

In 1908, Texas Gov. Thomas Campbell signed into law ; any Texas resident who crosses the Texas/Oklahoma border and plays football for O U, automatically surrenders their Texas residency and may never enter the Lone Star state again. If said person does illegally enter the state of Texas, then he/she may be shot on site or taken into custody for hanging at a later date.

Anonymous said...

Just sadly turned off the T.V. Having just read this AFTER the game in San Antonio, very spooky.

Bryan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bryan said...

David . . .

Sooner!!

irreverend fox said...

To the Sooners...we will never say you have not done anything for us, ever again.

Thanks guys, love ya!

-THE Ohio State Buckeye Nation.