• last year
Oklahoma Sooners Owen Heinecke and Major Melson talk to AllSooners about OU's new NIL opportunities for walk-ons.
Transcript
00:00 Chris Hammonds came by, dropped off.
00:02 Some really good news for the Oklahoma walk-ons.
00:04 Tell me about it.
00:05 Yes, sir.
00:06 So I only made the meeting.
00:07 I didn't make the dinner.
00:09 But he came in, and he started off
00:11 kind of telling us his story about how he started off
00:13 as a walk-on and ended up being a captain of the 2000
00:17 National Championship team.
00:19 And surprised us at the very end,
00:22 saying that his law firm, through him,
00:24 was going to provide all the walk-ons, the NIL opportunity.
00:29 And that was pretty exciting for me
00:31 and for all the other walk-ons, just
00:33 knowing that being a walk-on, you pay for your school,
00:36 you pay for your housing, you don't get the stipend,
00:39 all that.
00:39 So having somebody that is willing to reach out and give
00:43 you money that can help towards gas,
00:45 can help towards groceries, rent, all that stuff,
00:47 it was just-- it was awesome for everybody,
00:50 especially for me, yes, sir.
00:51 What did that-- what was the scene like?
00:53 And you think you've got a former walk-on,
00:56 and they're giving you an inspiring story.
00:58 So you said, I'm going to give you guys an NIL deal.
01:00 It was pretty awesome.
01:01 It took me by surprise.
01:02 I think a couple of the guys knew it.
01:05 They were told to keep it a secret, I think.
01:07 But for the rest of us, it was awesome.
01:09 That was not what we were expecting.
01:11 We just thought it was kind of a cool story and a story
01:13 that we all obviously aspire to achieve one day.
01:18 And so when he surprised us with it,
01:20 it erupted pretty loud from all the walk-ons.
01:22 He had all the walk-ons stand up,
01:23 and at that point, you knew something was happening.
01:25 And when he told us that he was going to reach out
01:27 and give us an NIL opportunity, obviously everyone was excited.
01:29 Scholarship and non-scholarship guys were excited for us.
01:32 Do you mind telling us about how Chris Hammonds has kind
01:35 of changed, maybe how--
01:37 or affected the way walk-ons are seen here
01:39 at the University of Oklahoma?
01:40 Yeah, I think really he's just kind of brought some,
01:42 like, I guess you could say awareness, but just more
01:45 like recognition.
01:46 You know, like, honestly, the guys are the ones that play,
01:51 but they couldn't really--
01:52 we prepare them to get ready.
01:54 We're the guys that nobody really sees.
01:56 Like, yeah, we get crazy on the sideline,
01:58 but we all come to work.
02:00 Like Coach Winneble says all the time,
02:03 we all share the same status, but not everybody
02:05 has the same role.
02:06 So Chris Hammonds coming back and kind of bringing
02:09 some light to just the walk-ons and just helping us out
02:12 a little bit financially, it's been a huge blessing.
02:15 I'm really appreciative of it.
02:17 A 2000 national champion, a co-captain,
02:20 coming back here and doing that for his alma mater.
02:22 What does that mean to you?
02:24 How special is that?
02:25 I mean, for me, I mean, it's like, OK, that's the example.
02:28 Like, look, he did it, obviously.
02:31 And it's just like, I've always been a big--
02:34 sooner, like my dad played here.
02:36 It's born and raised, like they say.
02:39 But it just-- it means a lot to me.
02:41 Like, this place means tons to me,
02:44 like more than you could ever imagine.
02:45 And just to be able to play here each day,
02:47 like just come out and practice without knowing what
02:50 rewards out there for me.
02:51 But just being able to be a part of it, it's just been awesome.
02:54 And for somebody like Chris to come back and show us support,
02:58 and it's really refreshing.
03:00 And I mean, I love it, honestly.
03:03 It's like, man, he did exactly what I've set out to do.
03:07 Are you able to show some examples
03:10 or maybe discuss some examples of how
03:13 life for a walk-on is a little more challenging than life
03:15 for a scholarship guy?
03:16 Oh, I mean, obviously, financially.
03:19 I mean, I've been blessed.
03:21 My family's pretty financially stable.
03:23 But still, like gas and food and rent, like everything adds up.
03:28 And it's just-- scholarship guys don't necessarily
03:31 have to worry about all that.
03:32 They get a check every month.
03:34 But then just on a base level, you're
03:38 not promised anything here.
03:40 Yeah, I guess you could say a scholarship guy's not
03:42 promised playing time either.
03:44 But they have a scholarship.
03:45 They have a spot.
03:46 We're not guaranteed a lifetime contract here either.
03:49 I've seen-- I've been here for four years.
03:51 And I've seen tons of walk-ons come and go and get cut.
03:54 I mean, I'm blessed to still be here.
03:56 But it's just challenging because you're not
03:58 promised anything.
03:59 You really have to go out and work for it every single day.
04:01 He essentially explained that he started off
04:04 as a scholarship athlete at East Central.
04:07 And after, I think it was a year,
04:09 he decided that he felt like his calling
04:11 was to go play and prove himself somewhere like Oklahoma,
04:14 like all the walk-ons at Oklahoma are trying to do.
04:19 And he said that during a summer workout,
04:23 I think his second year here, he kicked a couple of guys
04:27 out of the practice.
04:31 And Coach Schmidte walked up to him and he said,
04:33 Hambone, if I had 12 guys like you,
04:37 we would win the national championship.
04:39 And Chris said that he said to Schmidte, he said,
04:45 I'm just a walk-on.
04:46 Why would you want 11 other walk-ons?
04:49 And Coach Schmidte didn't know that he was a walk-on
04:51 and essentially said, we're going to get that fixed.
04:53 And Hambone said that the next day he was on scholarship.
04:57 And so, I mean, obviously, that's a dream come true
04:59 story for walk-ons, telling the coach
05:02 that you're not on scholarship the next day being put on.
05:06 And then obviously becoming a captain in a winning 2000
05:09 championship team.
05:11 So that's kind of the dream for everybody
05:13 and something to aspire to, for sure.
05:16 Major, you've gotten some playing time
05:18 earlier this season.
05:19 Yes, sir.
05:19 Especially on special teams.
05:20 Tell me about your role and how much you enjoy contributing.
05:23 Oh, I mean, there's nothing more rewarding
05:25 than playing in the game, obviously.
05:26 But man, I mean, for me, this is my fourth year.
05:31 And that was the first time I played at all.
05:34 Those were my first snaps as a sooner.
05:36 It was just super rewarding.
05:37 I mean, almost surreal, but not really.
05:42 I'm a big believer in Proverbs 14.23,
05:44 all hard work produces a profit.
05:46 So I mean, it's just like, oh my gosh, that's like--
05:51 it's true.
05:52 It's true for me.
05:53 All the hard work that I put in and just
05:55 to be able to be rewarded with some playing time
05:57 and even get a half tackle on a kickoff, man, I loved it.
06:02 That was awesome.
06:02 And it's just a small taste.
06:04 It definitely left me hungry for more.
06:06 But I'll be ready for that opportunity when it comes.
06:10 What special teams unit are you on?
06:11 I am on all the special teams unit,
06:13 except for field goal and field goal block.
06:15 So kickoff, kickoff return, punt, and punt block.
06:19 You're getting a lot of snaps.
06:20 Yes, sir.
06:21 Yes, sir.
06:21 Do you feel like you're living out your dream?
06:23 I am, for sure.
06:24 I told my dad, he reminded me of this.
06:26 Like whenever it feels like it's getting tough here,
06:28 he said he reminds me of a call that I had with him
06:31 before I decided to leave Ohio State.
06:34 I told him that I would rather sit on the sideline playing
06:38 at OU for four years than be a starter playing
06:41 lacrosse at Ohio State.
06:42 So even just getting to come out and practice
06:44 when the weather's nice.
06:45 And I'm on scout team right now.
06:47 But even just getting to do that, I enjoy it every day.
06:50 And I enjoy the friends I've made,
06:51 and getting to play under Coach Venables and all that.
06:53 So yes, sir.
06:54 I'm definitely getting to live out my dream right now.