Up close with OSU's Kye Staley
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11/21/12 at 4:52 AM
Position: Fullback
Year: Senior
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 236 pounds
Hometown: Guthrie
Major: Education, health nutrition
A severe knee injury nearly ended his playing career and it took two years for him to recover, but Staley returned in 2011 and has scored two touchdowns in 2012. He recently was granted a sixth year of eligibility, extending his time at OSU through next season.
Being from Oklahoma, what does Bedlam mean to you?
It's basically a state divided - OSU, OU. A lot of good games in the past. Last year we had a great game against them. We'll try to make it two years in a row.
At what point did you know for sure you would be back for a sixth year?
When our compliance guy sent me a message saying I had received it, two weeks ago.
What that a sigh of relief for you?
It was. I was overwhelmed. I told my mom, and she kind of teared up a little bit. She was more happy than anybody. I've heard probably from the whole town of Guthrie. It was a great feeling that day.
What do your tattoos say?
All three of my sisters' (names) and my mother's. I've actually got a lot of them ... 28, 30, something like that.
Do you get them done in Stillwater?
Yeah, I got them done at a tattoo shop called College Ink.
You're giving them a shoutout, but you're not getting any discounts or anything, right?
(Leaning toward recorder) I paid full price for my tattoos. I don't trade any rings, tickets, none of that stuff. It's straight up front, my own money. Let that be known.
Are you going to graduate before you finish up with football?
If not December, I will in May, for sure.
What do you want to do?
I really want to coach, and a lot of people ask me why. Back in Guthrie, there was tons of kids I felt could have gone D-1, but they didn't have the grades. It's not that the coaches didn't care; they just didn't really monitor it. ... It's not just high school. It's somebody's future. I feel like if I go back to a school I could be that coach to push those kids with the athletic ability to get the grades.
Do you think your story motivates athletes who go through serious injuries?
I really do. I've had many people ask me about it. The first thing I tell them is to keep God first, because without Him nothing is possible. And just stay positive and believe in the rehab, because I know there was a certain point where I was down on myself and I didn't believe I could do it.
Original Print Headline: Up Close: Kye Staley
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