Champions' TriBUne Archive

By: Obim Okeke        

Champions' TriBUne is a special feature through Baylor Athletics that gives you the student-athlete's perspective and the chance for them to share their own story. Obim Okeke, a fifth-year senior from Las Vegas, Nev., won a combined five state championships at Bishop Gorman High School. Initially a walk-on with the football team, he joined the basketball team two years ago and was part of last year's NCAA Tournament team. He graduated in May with a degree in management information systems and is working on his master's degree:
 
Five Years. Four coaches. Two sports. One walk-on. This is just a synopsis of my Baylor athletic career. I may be an athlete, but that does not define who I am. Baylor University has been the best thing that has happened to me, however it did not start off that way. Here is my long journey on how I became a two-sport Baylor athlete and a Baylor graduate.
           
My name is Obim Okeke, I am a fifth-year student-athlete at Baylor University. My parents are both from Nigeria, and my brother is a defensive back at the University of Hawaii. I graduated last spring with a BBA in management information systems, and I am currently pursuing a master's in management information systems. My goal is to work in the NBA or NFL, so any organizations reading this I hope you will offer me a job soon.
           
My journey to Baylor started when I was in high school at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nevada. I played football and basketball there, but basketball was really my main sport. A lot of my friends went on to become Division I athletes in baseball, basketball, track, football, etc. I even played with All-Americans in both sports. When I was in high school, I would always watch ESPN whenever I got the chance, and Baylor was always on TV.
           
I've always been intrigued by Baylor, starting with Robert Griffin III winning the Heisman Trophy and watching the basketball team advance to the Elite Eight in the same year. Pierre Jackson, who is also from Vegas, made the interest even more. Baylor and USC were my dream schools. I grew up liking USC, but Baylor kept growing on me, especially after watching Pierre. I always dreamed of getting a scholarship to play basketball there, but after my senior year of high school I had no scholarship offers.
       
I applied at Baylor to potentially attend the school and walk on the basketball team in the spring of 2014 and was admitted, but I did not end up attending. Instead, I decided to go to prep school to keep pursuing a basketball scholarship. I had just turned 17 years old at graduate and was young for my class because I had skipped a grade in middle school. Some schools told me to do a post-graduate year at a prep school because I was so young and that they would recruit me there. I attended Pomfret School, a small school in Connecticut. Things did not work out how I planned, so I decided to apply to Baylor again and was admitted a second time. This time, I would not pass up the opportunity.
           
While I was at prep school, I emailed every single basketball coach at Baylor about potential walk-on tryouts, but the roster was full and it didn't work out. I was discouraged, but I took a chance and emailed the entire Baylor football staff. I did hear back, but they told me that they had no spots. Fast forward to that summer. First time I ever visited Baylor or the state of Texas was for orientation on June 30, 2015. I came with my parents, and I saw the gorgeous campus for the first time. I felt like I was at home and was happy with my decision to attend Baylor.
           
Fast forward to move-in day, August 24, 2015. I was moving into my dorm room in Martin Hall when I got a call from a number in the 254 area code. When I answer, the caller says, "Hey, Obim, do you still want to play football?" Of course, I excitedly repeated, "Yes, I do!" The caller says, "Well, meet us at the football facility in about an hour. We want to meet you and do physicals, etc." I get off the phone and tell my parents, they are excited for me as well, and they take me there. That is when I met my other fellow walk-ons, Marques Jones and Blake Murphy. I did not know it then, but I realized later that those guys would become my best friends during football.


           
My first year with football, I joined the team as a receiver. I was definitely out of shape, but I am just happy to be there and to get through workouts. As a freshman, I think I was in over my head thinking I was going to be prepared or was going to get a fair shot. I was sadly mistaken. I did not know anyone on the team, I didn't really have any relationship with any of the players, especially since I was not recruited, I was not there during the summer and I was not from Texas. 
           
I went through a major learning curve that year. I do not think I was mentally or physically ready for the rigors of a football season, along with academics. And after a couple weeks, I did not feel comfortable and got homesick. I told my mom I wanted to leave Baylor and attend the University of Nevada-Reno. She told me that she would not allow it and that I couldn't just quit because it was hard right now. I took her advice and finished the year. I made a lot of friends that year, because I started talking to the people on the team and in the dorm more, and I think that made me a happier person.
           
The summer of 2016, when I woke up and turned on ESPN, I saw the breaking news alter on what was happening with our football program. I was genuinely shocked, even with all the stories flying around. When I got back on campus and saw the football team, I could tell the players were not right mentally. Enter Jim Grobe. Coach Grobe was a really respectful guy who had a good knowledge of football. He did a great job holding our team together, and through the first six games we did not miss a beat. However, after the loss to Texas, things clearly changed, and the mental and media pressure cracked our team down to our foundation. I believe these events led to a new Baylor culture and foundation.
           
Coach Matt Rhule was brought in, and there was definitely some optimism within the fan base, as well as myself. With the coaching change, I was eager to earn a spot on the travel squad. I was really tight with the players on the team and formed great bonds with the guys. Going into the spring, I was very optimistic about the changes occurring. During the spring, the coaches changed me from receiver to running back, and I liked it a lot. I ended up winning Most Outstanding Walk-on during the spring awards, and that boosted my self-esteem and confidence for the first time since playing football at Baylor.
 
My confidence continued into the fall, but it was quickly shut down when I did not make the travel squad for the first game of the season. I was disappointed, but I was not going to let it get me down, because we were playing Liberty in the season opener and we were projected to beat them by 30 points. When we ended up losing the game, everyone was shell-shocked. It felt like an out-of-body experience, because no one expected to lose. I ended up making the travel squad for the fifth game of the season at Kansas State. I checked the travel squad list and was finally on it, and I was going to be starting on kickoff return. When we got to K-State, I was excited and nervous, imagining the best-case scenarios and worst-case scenarios. During the game, I returned two kickoffs. It was fun touching the ball, but it was disappointing to lose again.


 
During the bye week, David Wetzel, one of our football staffers, asked me if I was interested in being a practice-squad player for the basketball team. I excitedly told him yes, and that's when I started working out at the SLC (Student Life Center) after football practice, trying to get into basketball shape. I got a call to work out with Coach (John) Jakus, and that was probably the hardest 20-minute workout of my life. I was not in shape at all. I thought I did well, and the basketball coaches told me they would be in contact with me. We finished the football season 1-11. The basketball coaches did not contact me for a week. During that week, I was contemplating retiring from football and just finishing up my last year of school and getting a job. After a week, I got a random call from Ty Beard, asking if I still wanted to be a practice player. I accepted immediately.
 
I go through some practices, and before the Wichita State game Coach (Scott) Drew pulled me aside and told me I was suiting up for the game. I stared at him blankly, because I was so surprised. Coach (Jerome) Tang had to repeat what he said before I could even respond. I was so filled with happiness, I was stuck.
 
Fast forward to last year and the most fun I've had with a Baylor team since I have been here. Yes, we did lose to Texas Southern and Stephen F. Austin, but I felt like the team had a good relationship and chemistry with one another. I did not play a lot, but I was not overly focused on that. I was just happy we were winning and projected to go to the NCAA Tournament, compared to the year before when we did not make it. Before the Senior Night game, I told the coaches I planned on entering the transfer portal after the season, and that is why I went through Senior Night. We ended up going to the NCAA Tournament and losing to Gonzaga in the second round. The experience in Salt Lake City was a fun one, and being a part of March Madness was an amazing experience.
 
When I decided to enter the transfer portal, I was just hoping to go to a program where I felt as much love as I did at Baylor, but also get some playing time and good experience. I was hoping to go back home to UNLV or go to Hawaii and join my brother. I even considered going to Hawaii to play football, just so I could finally play with my brother. At the end of the day, I just never felt 100 percent certain about leaving Baylor. I loved the Baylor community, and I have been appreciative of my four years here. I really think that Dr. Linda Livingstone and Mack Rhoades have done a great job of helping change the perceived culture of the school and the athletic program.
 
Even though I do not have a scholarship, I am thankful for the opportunities that Baylor Athletics has given me. I have been blessed with the ability to travel to a lot of places that I grew up watching and getting to play in front of millions of fans. I hope to inspire the next person to continue to follow their dreams and always know that God's timing is the best timing.
 
P.S., I still have a lot of respect and love for Baylor football. I go to every game and still talk to some of the players. I never witnessed Baylor beat Oklahoma, Texas or TCU in my four years here. Hopefully, Coach Rhule and those boys get it done this year!



Previous Champions' TriBUne Features
Volleyball - Gia Milana (Sept. 17, 2019)
Soccer - Raegan Padgett (Sept. 5, 2019) 
Football - Sam Tecklenburg (Aug. 29, 2019)
Men's Golf - Cooper Dossey (July 11, 2019)
Baseball - Richard Cunningham (June 27, 2019)
Men's Tennis - Jimmy Bendeck (June 14, 2019)
Baseball - Shea Langeliers (May 30, 2019) 
Track & Field - Kiana Horton (May 22, 2019)
Men's Golf - Garrett May (May 9, 2019)
Women's Golf - Maria Vesga (May 2, 2019)
Acrobatics & Tumbling - Camryn Bryant (April 25, 2019)
Equestrian - Shannon Hogue (April 16, 2019)
Women's Tennis - Angelina Shakhraichuk (April 9, 2019) 
Women's Basketball - Lauren Cox (March 22, 2019)
Track & Field - Wil London (March 7, 2019)
Men's Basketball - Jake Lindsey (March 4, 2019)
Softball - Nicky Dawson (Feb. 21, 2019)
Baseball - Josh Bissonette (Feb. 14, 2019)
Men's Tennis - Will Little (Jan. 31, 2019)
Men's Basketball - King McClure (Jan. 17, 2019)
Women's Basketball - Chloe Jackson (Jan. 3, 2019)
Football - Blake Blackmar (Dec. 13, 2018)
Volleyball - Braya Hunt (Nov. 29, 2018)
Soccer - Jackie Crowther (Nov. 16, 2018)
Cross Country - Alison Andrews-Paul (Nov. 8, 2018)
Football- Ira Lewis (Nov. 6, 2018)