Hampton Finds Heroes at Home


	Senior DS Ben Hampton

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Precious Moments figurines collected by his mother, Kim Hampton, didn't do so well when Oklahoma deep snapper Ben Hampton started practicing his skill in the living room.

Some had their arms knocked off. Others lost their wings or their head. At the time, she didn't think all that snapping was worth it. As her son enters his senior season, she understands that it was.

"When I go to the OU games and see him come out on the field, I sometimes think about those Precious Moments," she said. "They've really helped create some new ones."

Hampton learned the skill of snapping from his father, David. He also learned about the game of football from his grandfather, Kelly Hampton, who lives just down the road. "My dad and grandpa were both all-state football players from Grove," Hampton said. "Growing up, I always wanted to be one. One of my goals was to become an all-state football player."

At the time, [Kim]

didn't think all the

snapping was worth

it. As her son enters

his senior season,

she knows it was.

Kelly Hampton was a 1959 football all-stater after playing at Grove High School. He went on to play at Oklahoma State and graduated with a degree in education. Ben's dad and Kelly's son, David, was named to the 1983 all-state football team and graduated from Northeastern State University, also with a degree in education.

"We're all really close," Hampton explained. "My immediate family, my dad's brother and my dad's dad … we all live down the same dirt road. We've all been pretty close."

Growing up on the farm that's been in the family for generations, Hampton always enjoyed hunting and fishing. In the second grade, he picked up football as a sport. In sixth grade, he divided his time between basketball and football.

"My dad first taught me how to deep snap when I was 6 years old, "Hampton explained. "He told me that someday the skill hopefully would pay for my school and help me to play at the college level."

"My dad taught me

how to deep snap

when I was six years

old. He told that

someday the skill

would pay off."

Playing at the college level was something that Hampton's father and, to a great extent, his grandfather hoped would be an opportunity that the younger Hampton would have.

"I spent my whole life programming Ben to go to OSU," Kelly Hampton said. "That's where I went to school on scholarship and played for two years."

Before any talk of playing at the college level became a reality, Hampton continued with the role that his dad taught him. As a deep snapper, Hampton learned that the position had its perks, but there was no room for errors. That fact increased the amount of pressure that comes with playing that position.

His grandfather watched closely as his grandson made every practice and continued to avoid injuries that can sideline dreams. Hampton's efforts and hard work paid off when he became a third generation all-stater from Grove High School in 2006.

"Ben's never had a bad snap since when he started playing in the third grade," his father, David, explained. "Seeing him get all-state was the second most exciting thing I've ever experienced with Ben. The first was when he was born."

The bond shared by grandson, father and grandfather is considered special to all three of them and remains a legacy in Grove today.

"It's an unusual deal that we all played there and got all-state," the elder Hampton said. "Ben's younger brother, Case, is in junior high now, so chances are there might be another one to come along."

"The bond shared by

grandson, father and

grandfather is special

to all three of them

and remains a legacy

in Grove today ."

Although the Hampton trio blazed their own trails after their respective all-state awards, Hampton's father and grandfather couldn't be prouder of the OU walk-on.

"Needless to say, I'm still in shock that Ben went to OU and has done so well as a walk-on," his grandfather continued. "We have a lot of fun together. He's a very hard worker and very serious about what he's doing, whether it's in academics or athletics."

The journey started at home in Grove for all three but ended up in different destinations. Like many things in life, though, it's the journey that matters more than the destination.

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Feature by Stephanie Turner | OU Athletics Media Relations

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