OU's Pooh More than Fluff


	Senior WR Adron Tennell

NORMAN, Okla. -- The adventures of Christopher Robin in the A.A. Milne/Disney classic The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh depict the imagination of a boy who believed life had no limits. His magical adventures are illustrated with the help of his loveable friends, in particular Winnie the Pooh.

Now you may be asking yourself, "What does a children's classic have to do with OU football?" The answer is surprising … both have a "Pooh" at the center of attention.

As a child, Adron "Pooh" Tennell found himself curled up at his grandfather's house anxiously anticipating the newest Winnie the Pooh program. In fact, it was the honey-loving bear that gave Tennell the nickname his family and friends know him by today.

"He (Adron) and my dad watched Winnie the Pooh together," said Adron's father, Dexter Tennell. "That was the only thing that would keep Adron quiet back then. When it would come on, he would run to watch it so we started calling him 'Winnie the Pooh Bear' and eventually it turned into 'Pooh.'"

While his grandfather gave him the nickname that has stuck with him throughout the years, it is another moment he and his grandfather shared that demonstrated to Tennell that he was faster than most at the age of nine.

"That was the only

thing that would keep

Adron quiet back then

so we started calling

calling him 'Pooh.'"

"I had a broken down bike and the chain kept popping off," said Tennell. "Every time the chain popped off, I threw the bike down. My Grandpa was standing on the porch watching me, telling me, 'You better not do that again or I'm going to come get you.'"

Much to Tennell's displeasure, the chain popped off again and down went the bike.

"My grandpa jumped off the porch and started chasing me," said Tennell. "I was running down the street as fast as I could, juking him back and forth. I made a good cut move and he fell down. That was when I realized I could run away from people."

The next season, Tennell switched positions from tight end to running back and wide receiver. But even then, Tennell did not realize that he had the talent to play at the collegiate level.

Since making it

to the college level,

Tennell says he wants

to give back to those

who helped him get

where he is today.

"I didn't know until college coaches started telling me during my junior year of high school that I could play at the collegiate level," said Tennell. "I thought I was just an average player. I didn't know anything -- I was just out there playing."

In addition to being one of the top high school football players in the country, Tennell was a highly sought after track and field and basketball prospect.

Since Tennell has made it to the collegiate level, he says he wants to give back to those who helped him get where he is today. He wants to be a mentor to young athletes who come from similar backgrounds.

"My major is sociology. I just want to go back home and help anyone who needs help," said Tennell. "I would help people in any way they need it. I want kids, like myself, to know that they can make it past high school and do big things in their lives."

Tennell's passion to give back to his community stems from the leadership skills he has acquired since stepping onto campus.

"The thing about Pooh is his ability to overcome adversity and keep coming," said wide receivers coach Jay Norvell. "That is the biggest credit to him and a lot of young guys learn that from him. I think he is a great example of fine leadership. He is a great example to those young guys. The guys look up to him. He is a great leader who is real positive."

Tennell's passion to

give back stems from

from the leadership

skills he has acquired

since stepping onto

the OU campus.

However, one player close to him believes it is not just Tennell's leadership skills that would make him a great mentor to young adults, but his goofy attitude.

"Pooh is a real goofy guy," said junior wide receiver Mossis Madu. "I think he would mesh with younger kids really well by being his goofy self. At the same time, he knows when to get serious. I think it would be good for kids to see that. A guy coming from his background, Irving, Texas, it would be good for him to do that."

The next time the Adventures of Christopher Robin appears, you can think of the adventures of Adron "Pooh" Tennell and everything that has developed to make OU's Pooh bigger than the bear.

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Feature by Jason Bodin | OU Athletics Media Relations

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