By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
Most of Oklahoma's players admit their memories of Wayman Tisdale are faint at best.
You blame them for that. OU doesn't have player on its roster born before 1987, two years after Tisdale played his final game at OU.
That doesn't mean those same players can't draw inspiration from the man widely considered to be the best Sooner basketball player ever.
"He's a huge inspiration for anyone that ever comes here," junior guard Cade Davis said about Tisdale. "Not just sports, but anyone. He's just part of this school."
Tisdale's esteemed place in Sooner basketball history will be vividly displayed at 3 p.m. Saturday when OU hosts No. 10 Texas at Lloyd Noble Center.
Tisdale died last May after a battle with cancer. Saturday's game will serve as a public celebration of his life as the Sooners' all-time leading scorer and rebounder and a successful jazz bassist.
Tisdale's wife, Regina, and children, as well as other family members and former teammates and coaches, will be in attendance and recognized Saturday.
A pregame concert, featuring members of Tisdale's band, will take place from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. inside Lloyd Noble Center. The National Anthem will be performed by Tom Braxton, the saxophonist from Tisdale's band.
Also scheduled throughout the afternoon are in-game video messages from some of Tisdale's coaches, teammates and fellow musicians. A special preview of the upcoming documentary "The Wayman Tisdale Story" will be shown on the video board at halftime and will be followed by a special music tribute by Toby Keith and members of Tisdale's jazz band.
The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative 5x7 card that features a Tisdale jersey patch.
For most fans over 30, Saturday's game will be a trip down memory lane. Sooner coach Jeff Capel, 34, wasn't even a teenager when Tisdale played his final OU game. That hasn't stopped him from making sure his players know who came before them.
Davis and senior guard Tony Crocker vividly recall the time Tisdale arrived in their film room for an inspirational chat.
"He told us how much he loved to play here and how much passion he has for the university," Davis said. "What it meant to him and he hoped that would carry over and we would feel the same way and play and exemplify how we were supposed to represent the University of Oklahoma."
It was Tisdale's spirit Capel sought prior to OU's Jan. 11 game against Oklahoma State. The Sooners were coming off a 31-point loss to open Big 12 Conference play. A day before the Bedlam game, he showed his team a video of Tisdale highlights.
"It was about pride and what you represent," Capel said. "That's what was exemplified in the video that we showed them. Just the pride he had in the University of Oklahoma and what it meant to wear the jersey. What the game of basketball meant to him and how it is supposed to be played. That was the message."
Even with Tisdale gone, he's still an inspiring figure to the Sooners. His old No. 23 hangs from Lloyd Noble Center's rafters. Those old enough remember why. Those not old enough will get a clear picture Saturday.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
