If you’re anything like Homerism, you probably can’t get enough of the new OSU anthem, Cowboys Forever, making its way around the Internet. Who knew that setting the legend of Frank Eaton to what sounds like an even more milquetoast version of a song by The Fray could be so magical?
The prairie wind touches our skin
Another maverick morning begins
Wild west eyes rise before the sun
We are young guns on the run
Scene: The video opens with a shot of maverick OSU head coach Mike Gundy getting out of bed in the morning at his palatial digs. He shakes the sleep out of his eyes, rubs his lucky T. Boone Pickens bust next to his bed and heads to the bathroom, opening the window to feel the Stillwater breeze. (Splice in some footage of Gundy quarterbacking during his playing days.) Cut to a shot of running backs Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston opening the doors of the awe-inspiring new OSU practice facilities. Cut back to Gundy’s bathroom. He hops out of the shower, puts on his orange and black polo, gels up his hair and shouts “I’M A MAN!” at himself in the mirror.
Hang ‘em high, pistols to the skyWe ride, we ride, ‘cross the line
Scene: Pickens emerges from a Scrooge McDuck-like pool of gold coins and his manservant hands him a towel.
It’s in our veins
The feel of the reins
.45’s, chaps, bandannas and spurs
We are cowboys forever
Scene: The OSU weight room for a montage of the Cowboys in training: Russell Okung doing squats; Zac Robinson doing diamond push-ups; Andre Sexton boxing. Cut to the locker room, where some Pokes are cutting up. Bill Young sneaks in and snaps Perrish Cox with a towel.
Stay here today, gone tomorrow
The open range is our home
All that we own lives inside our soul
We are cowboy to the bone
Scene: A grainy compilation of video featuring OSU legends: Barry Sanders, Hart Lee Dykes, Thurman Thomas, Toné Jones, Keith Burns.
Hang ‘em high, pistols to the sky
We ride, we ride, ‘cross the line
Scene: Pickens stands in front of a mirror with his personal tailor finishing up the alterations on a new suit, complete with orange boots, a bolo tie and 10-gallon hat with an orange band around it.
It is in our veins
The feel of the reins
.45’s, chaps, bandannas and spurs
We are cowboys forever
Scene: Back to the weight room: a sweaty Terrance Anderson hanging upside down doing crunches; DeMarcus Conner showing Justin Blackmon the ropes in the cone drill; Patrick Lavine karate chopping through six or seven concrete slabs. Cut to the film room. Markelle Martin walks in and sits on a whoopee cushion. His teammates crack up laughing.
Riding Bullet across the plains
To avenge our kin’s blood and name
In bedlam we will rise and stand
With strength and honor to defend our land
Scene: Dez Bryant stares directly into the camera, palming a football. He assumes a sprinter’s position, takes his mark and looks to his right. Who’s he racing? It’s Bullet! They take off. Slo-mo shot of Bryant and the big steed running side by side.
Hang ‘em high, pistols to the sky
We ride, we ride, ‘cross the line
Scene: The camera follows Pickens, wearing his new suit, as he emerges from the tunnel onto the field to survey his handiwork at T. Boone Pickens Stadium. He bends down to feel the playing surface, then pumps his fist with quiet confidence.
It’s in our veins
The feel of the reins
.45’s, chaps, bandannas and spurs
We are cowboys forever
Scene: We’re back in the weight room, where the action is really heating up. Now Okung is on the bench press, where he’s dripping with sweat and giving all he’s got to finish up his set. Robinson strains to do his last curl. Hunter pushes up a leg press… With Pistol Pete on it! Gundy enters the room. He surveys his exhausted players with a satisfied look.
We are, we are
Cowboys forever
Scene: Montage of the greatest moments in OSU football history: an elated female fan holds up an “OSU 12″ bumper sticker; Rashaun Woods and Kevin Williams high five after the classic 2002 Houston Bowl win over Southern Miss; a Cowboys player holds a rose in his teeth after a 4-7 OSU team upset OU in 2001, killing the Sooners’ hopes of a national championship repeat.
