Strength Measured by Different Yardsticks


	Senior WR Quentin Chaney

NORMAN, Okla. -- Big, strong, fast. That's how coaches, teammates and fans describe Oklahoma wide receiver Quentin Chaney. Chaney's mother, Regina Chaney, uses the same words to describe her son. For his mother, though, the words have a different meaning.

In his mother's eyes, size refers not to Chaney's 6-5, 203-pound frame, but to the Tulsa native's big personality and oversized smile.

Everyone who meets Chaney is struck by his positive attitude and his friendliness. Chaney puts strangers at ease and keeps teammates entertained with his jokes and carefree approach to life.

"Quentin just has a warm spirit about him, and he is very approachable," Regina Chaney said. "He is really goofy and is always up to some crazy antics. Quentin really likes to make people laugh. He is always smiling and just enjoys seeing that the people around him are happy and smiling, too."

Senior defensive back Lendy Holmes agrees saying, "Quentin is a really fun guy and one of my best friends on the team. He is always up to something and is always doing something silly."

Chaney puts strangers

at ease and keeps his

teammates entertained

with jokes and a laid

back approach to life.

Unlike coaches and football fans, his mother does not measure her son's strength based on how much he can bench press, but by the strength of his character.

His strong character and conviction are two things that have always stood out to his mother. She saw just how important these traits were to her son during his senior year of high school. While at a basketball tournament in Houston, Texas, Chaney's younger cousin found a wallet in the gymnasium where the tournament was held. When Chaney found out about the lost wallet, he explained to his cousin that they needed to return it. They searched the Houston phonebook for names that matched the one on the driver's license located inside the wallet.

"As a parent, I was very proud," Regina Chaney said. "You don't always get to hear about young people doing the right things. Often, you hear more about the negative things. Quentin set an example for his younger cousin and did a good thing not because he wanted attention, but because it was the right thing to do."

And for his mother, Chaney's speed on the football field is no more impressive than his ability to quickly figure out what's important in life.

Chaney's speed on

the field is no more

impressive than his

ability to quickly

figure out what's

important in life.

Like many high school athletes, Chaney received numerous offers from schools across the nation to play college athletics. Chaney began to narrow his choices based on where he could be a two-sport athlete.

"I played basketball and football in high school, and I wanted to play both in college," Chaney said. "All of the recruiters said I would be able to play both sports. I was looking forward to it."

However, a shoulder injury sustained during basketball season kept Chaney from being a member of the OU basketball team.

"I injured my shoulder during my sophomore year of high school and re-injured it my senior year," Chaney said. "I had reconstructive surgery during my senior year of high school, and then I had to have arthroscopic surgery during my freshman year at OU."

Even though Chaney's original plan of becoming a two-sport athlete was derailed by his injury, his plans for academic success remained the same. Chaney has found the perfect balance between academics and athletics during his four years at OU. It is obvious that he understands what is important in life. He is presently on track to be certified as an elementary teacher after he graduates.

"People are usually pretty surprised to hear that about me," Chaney said. "You don't find very many 6-5 teachers."

Chaney wants to teach at the elementary level because, as he says, "I've always liked kids and being around them. And for some reason they are attracted to me."

Chaney's mother agrees. "If there are kids in the room, they are going to find Quentin whether they know him or not."

"There are some really

solid individuals working

to become productive

citizens and Quentin has

has always been one

of those people."

His teammate, Holmes, also thinks teaching will be a good fit for Chaney.

"Quentin is definitely great with kids; he has always liked to play with my kids."

His mother remains proud of her son's accomplishments and is excited about his future.

"There are some really solid individuals working to become productive citizens and Quentin has always been one of those people," Regina said. "I'm so proud of him. I know that no matter what he does he will definitely make his mark."

Chaney has already made his mark on the OU football team. Now he looks forward to making his mark in the classroom.

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Feature by Kristin Conder | OU Athletics Media Relations

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