From the name that adorned his Tulsa high school to the parents who attended his Booker T. Washington games, he witnessed an ever-present parade of educators and lawyers, business owners and civic leaders.
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Today, another role model has been added to the list — presidential nominee.
Thursday night, Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States.
Forty-five years to the day after Martin Luther King told the world "I Have a Dream,” a black man stepped onto the threshold of the Oval Office.
These are heady days for a country only a couple of generations removed from blacks having to pay a tax to vote and use a separate water fountain.
For Chaney's grandparents, there was civil rights legislation.
For the Oklahoma receiver's parents, there was Jesse Jackson.
Now, on the eve of the college football season, there is Barack Obama running for the highest office in the land.
Chaney is like most college football players in our fair state and across the entire country; every moment is scheduled. Eat breakfast. Go to class. Eat lunch. Watch video. Go to practice. Lift weights. Eat dinner. Study. Sleep.
Repeat.
He hasn't been sitting around watching MSNBC. He hasn't had the time to break down every speech or listen to every pundit.
He wasn't even sure whether he'd be able to watch Obama's acceptance speech.
Yet, many a college football player is aware of the significance of this moment.
"It's something that a lot of people have talked about,” Chaney said, "but now, it's something that could actually happen.”
The power of possibility is strong.
It always is.
Throughout his days at Booker T. High — named after a man born into slavery who became a renowned educator, author and civil rights leader — Chaney saw successful adults who came from similar neighborhoods. They rose from similar backgrounds.
Their examples became his template.
"It's almost a must that you have to keep the legacy going,” he said. "You have to graduate from college. You have to keep your academic success.”
Several of his high school buddies have already gone on to professional sports, Felix Jones and Robert Meachem among them. They left college without their degrees, but they know that they'll eventually return to school and earn that diploma.
Chaney will graduate, too, because the alternative isn't an option.
"To me," he said, "it wouldn't feel right."
His role models taught him as much.
Who knows what lessons Barack Obama may impart? Who knows what dreams he may launch?
And it's necessarily about him being elected president. No doubt that would open up a whole new world of possibilities, but Obama has already inspired many. Many have been moved to join the political process. For some, that means going to rallies and wearing buttons and making yard signs. For others, it's been registering to vote for the first time.
What will college football players be moved to do?
Will they register? Will they get absentee ballots if they're from out of state? Will they vote?
We don't know.
But this much is sure — there is a new role model for young and old alike.
"I look at it and say, ‘Hey, that's just one of many African-Americans that has that type of intellect,'” Chaney said. "He's been a role model for a lot of parents as well, not just the kids.”
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wow, just what i needed, election advice from a 22 year old college senior AND jeni carlson. i will say obama and quentin share one similiarity, they both inspire you to hope for better results but you're not sure you want their number called when it matters most.
Quality stuff once again. Maybe during ou's first nationally televised game, they will do a special on this, just like showing the louisville quarterback noodling. The only difference would be that the noodling piece was interesting.
This is one of the most absurd articles by Ms. Carlson that I've ever read, and that's saying a lot. I'd say that I wish you'd "stick to sports" but that wouldn't be an honest statement either. Please find another day job.
Yeah, I guess Obama is a good role model of Chaney, they have a lot of similarities...you know, having done absolutely nothing useful in the past 4 years when they were supposed to be changing the world...
I thought for a moment Chaney was going to claim Obumo as his 'daddy' and was going to appear on the Jerry Sprinkles show and try to prove it. He needs to concentrate on football....
This started off as a good article giving the history of Booker T. Washington and emphasizing leaders from the Tulsa community. But in the end Jenni spun it into an Obama propaganda piece. Sprinkled with her fair share of typos might I add?
Shad is spewing rhetoric and no one should pay it any attention. And I do look forward to the day when we can say something of someone without adding a distinction in front of it…Jenni. Perhaps the polarization of sides wouldn’t be so deep if we dropped the prefix to American? Just a thought.
Yeah Jesse has turned into a punch line. Hate to say it, but........ Historical facts aside, race shouldn't have anything to do with this. When and if Obama is elected, he would be the president for ALL OF US. Last I checked, we were all paying the same price at the pumps and we all have someone we know fighting in Iraq.
i think bill cosby wood have been a better choice 4 a roll model cuz jesse jackson always tries 2 use the race card in politics and cosby preaches about takin responsibility my fellow brothers
Typical remarks from a socialist...Obama is a snake oil salesman and you know there is no substance behind the props. He is the one allowing these potentially productive members of society to believe they are the victims. Apparently you are drinking the Koolaid because anyone who has opposing views is stupid. It is not surprising that you are so easily deceived.
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Quentin Chaney catches a Joey Halzle pass in OU's spring Red- White game. BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
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