Top Sooner Plays & Games of the 00's

Soonersports.com is running a couple of fan polls to determine both the 10 best plays and games from OU football in the current decade. For the most part, the choices are good. You simply pick your favorite 10 from 20 possible games/plays. The only play that I wish would've been on the list (that's not) is the Derrick Strait INT return against Nebraska in 2000, that proved to be the door slammer for the Sooners against the #1 Cornhuskers. In my opinion, that was the most important game in (recent, at least) OU football history, because it put OU back to #1 and showed that the Sooners were back. Another I would've liked to see was Garrett Hartley hitting a 49 yard FG to force a second OT against Baylor in 2005, or DeMarco Murray's busted play 92 yard (and 5 second) kickoff return against Baylor in '07.

Anyway, here are my top 10 plays, and why I may think so. As soon as I find the final poll, I'll show those too. The polling for top 10 games has already closed, so I'll post the final results as they're announced.

Top 10 Plays

10. Mark Bradley (2004) OSU TD tip & run - Had he caught it initially, he probably wouldn't have scored. But after deflecting it, the defenders flinched and he raced down the sideline.

9. DeMarco Murray (2007) Texas hurdle - Showed he's potentially the most explosive player in the nation after hurdling his own blocker then outrunning the Texas D for a 65 yard score

8. Andre Woolfold (2000) Nebraska juggle - Tips a Josh Heupel pass twice before reaching his left arm out and catching it while laying on his back.

7. Adrian Peterson (2004) OSU Spin & gone - Took a simple run right up the middle, spun away from one tackle at the line of scrimmage, then said bye bye to the Cowpokes. The signature moment from his Heisman runner up year.

6. Rocky Calmus (2000) Florida State Weinke fumble - Calmus stepped up and nailed a scrambling Chris Weinke deep in FSU territory late in the 4th quarter of the Orange Bowl, causing a fumble that would immediately lead to the game's only touchdown.

5. Mark Clayton (2003) Texas YAC - Catching a slant from Jason White, Clayton quickly ran out of room on the left sideline before stopping on a dime, juking twice, then cutting back to the right before scoring all the way in the right corner of the endzone.

4. Adrian Peterson (2005) Tulsa spinorama - Ran around the right side before blowing up a linebacker, spinning out of a tackle, running backwards three steps, then spinning and sprinting into the endzone for the nail in the coffin TD.

3. Torrance Marshall (2000) Texas A&M INT Return - Saved the season for the resurgent #1 Sooners, picking off Mark Ferris and running it back 35 yards (with the help of a Rocky Calmus clip) for the go-ahead TD late in the 4th Quarter.

2. Roy Williams (2001) Texas Superman - After a Longhorn mistake, Williams soared over a low block and landed on Chris Sims just as he brought his arm back to pass. The ball fluttered into the hands of Teddy Lehman, who took two steps into the endzone.

1. Renaldo Works (2002) Alabama snake run - Williams has the most memorable play on this list, but Works has the most impressive. Taking a screen pass, Renaldo weaved his way through the Tide defense before hurdling a tackler downfield and getting the Sooners a first and goal late in the 4th quarter of this classic game.

TOP 10 GAMES SINCE 2000

10. 2003 - OU 20 - Alabama 13

9. 2000 - OU 41 - Kansas State 31