CRFF All-Time Cowboy Tournament: Thurman Thomas vs Desmond Mason

Round 1 of the CRFF All-Time Cowboy Tournament has officially started! In yesterday’s matchup, #15 seed, Mike Holder rises above #18 seed, Michele Smith. If you don’t already know about this tournament we are holding, check out the Tournament introductory blog! We have seeded 30 of the best to ever wear the orange and black.

Remember:

What is an “All-Time Cowboy,” exactly? Whatever you think it is. This is not a “who’s better?” contest, this is a tournament for the fans. Who did you idolize growing up as a Pokes fan? Who is constantly representing our beloved University, even past their college days? Who would you most want to sit down next to at the Penny, and drink a limey with? These are the types of questions you should be asking yourself while voting. This is for you guys!

You can check out the full bracket here!

Round 1 / Match 9: #7 Thurman Thomas vs. #26 Desmond Mason

Oklahoma State University used to be known as “Tailback U”, and a huge reason for this moniker was because of Thurman Thomas. Thomas was the definition of a workhorse, carrying the ball 898 times in his 4-year career at OSU. During Thomas’ freshman season, he really showed that he deserved to be handed the reigns to OSU’s offense. The next season, Thomas proved that he deserved to be handed those reigns, posting 1,792 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns. After a knee injury hampered his junior season, he returned back to form for his final campaign in Stillwater, posting 1,797 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns.

Thomas was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 2nd round of the 1988 draft. He played in the NFL for 13 years, and appeared in four Super bowls and five Pro Bowls. He retired after the 2000 season, and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Here is an outstanding quote from Thurman Thomas featured on his Hall of Fame webpage:

I think what got me to the top was that my last two years in college, I had to work really hard to get my game to where I wanted it to be because I had a guy behind me whose name was Barry Sanders. With him being behind me and not wanting him to take my job, if he ran 10 100-yard sprints, I had to run 11. Just to keep that edge. I think that helped me once I got into the pros.

- Thurman Thomas

Desmond Mason is one of the most exciting basketball players in Oklahoma State history. Dude could JAM. However exciting he was, he was also a very complete basketball player, averaging 13.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 1.2 spg (take into account his freshman year in which he only played 16 minutes a game). We all remember the Desmond & Doug days, they were the best.

After OSU, Mason was drafted with the 17th pick in the first round by the Seattle Supersonics. He had a ten year career in which he played for the Sonics, Bucks, Hornets, Thunder and Kings. He ended his career averaging 12.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 1.6 apg. Desmond Mason is not a very successful artist in Oklahoma City.

Ummm... If you need another reason to vote for Desmond:

Voting

Who are you going to vote for? Are you going for the workhorse, or the dunk champ? Vote below and share the tweet with your friends!