Going back to Norman is unique for all the UH staffers who once lived there, but it is most personal to Lauren and Kellen, who grew up there.
Kellen considers Norman his hometown, and it’s how he answers the question, “Where are you from?” He grew up there, attended elementary, middle, and high school in Norman, then received two degrees at OU.
“I didn’t just go to OU, I was an Oklahoman,” he told Starns Leland and Ryan Monceaux recently.
In early February, Kellen was hit hard by Toby Keith’s death. Keith was a diehard Sooner fan who became a Sampson fan during their years at Oklahoma. Kelvin Sampson had a good relationship with Keith, but it was Kellen and Keith who became close. Over the years, Sampson went to over 100 of his concerts, pop-up shows, and fundraisers.
When he was a grad assistant at OU, Kellen’s job was to handle VIPs. That’s when he really got to know Keith. He even helped the music star get access to OU’s practice facility for his legendary pickup games (before Keith built his own indoor basketball gym).
Kellen shared some thoughts on returning to Oklahoma:
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