PAWHUSKA, Okla.—When Derek Shaw was a young boy, he dreamed of being a football player for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, his favorite team.
Now 19, he's the starting deep snapper for the Sooners and he's not taking a moment for granted.
["Playing for OU] it's been wild, amazing," said Shaw, who wears the number 52 for the Sooners. "Being a huge OU fan, growing up being such a big fan ... like when we would play football in the front yard I would always be like ‘I'm OU!' and now I'm playing for OU. It's kind of like a dream come true almost."
The OU sophomore, who walked on to the team when he was a freshman and won the starting deep snapper position, has helped win two Big XII Championships for OU, received the Derrick Sheppard Most Inspirational Walk-on Award by OU coaches in 2006, lettered as a true freshman in 2006 and was recently awarded a full football scholarship from OU head coach Bob Stoops. It will take effect in June.
Shaw is also culturally involved with his Osage heritage. Since the age of 3, he has danced in the tribe's traditional In-Lon-Schka dances each June. He has served as a water boy and is a member of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka Dance Committee.
Shaw was honored last month by the Osage Nation Congress for being a positive role model for all youth and the Osage people. The honoring took place during the Osage Nation congressional Hun-Kah session. Congressman Anthony Shackelford read a citation of Shaw's accomplishments before Congress, members of the public and Shaw's family. Shaw received a standing ovation.
"The thing about Derek is, he's got a lot of good qualities and attributes," Shackelford said. "Because he is Native American, it gives everyone a sense of pride. But more importantly, he is a product of his environment. If he didn't have parents that didn't support his endeavors, he wouldn't be as successful.
"In the summertime he doesn't forget where he came from and he's back here for the [In-Lon-Schka] dances," Shackelford said. "He exhibits all that is best in Native Americans. He's got his culture and his education, and he's close to his parents and I think everyone should be proud of him as well as his tribe. He comes across as a very genuine and sincere young man."
Asked if he ever thought he would be honored by his Osage tribal congress, Shaw just shook his head and looked down at the floor.
"No, I never thought this would happen. I mean, it feels good . . . They said I was a positive role model and I never thought I'd be a positive role model for kids," Shaw said. "It means a lot to me."
Shaw is regularly sought out by young Native American football fans who want photos and autographs and offer him support on and off the football field, Shackelford said.
Shaw is seeking a degree in law enforcement at OU. After college, he hopes to join the U.S. Marshals Service, he said.
"After graduation I will hopefully go through the [Tulsa] police academy and join the Tulsa Police Department," said Shaw, who is from Sand Springs, Okla. "I hope to eventually work my way up to U.S. marshal. That's what I'm hoping."
Derek Kenny Shaw, Osage/Ponca/Pottawatomie, is the son of Pam and John Shaw of Sand Springs; the grandson of Beth and Jerry Shaw of Wichita, Kans.; the grandson of Darrell Merriman of Cleveland, Okla. and the great grandson of Virginia Primeaux of Oklahoma City, Okla.
To read the full citation honoring Shaw, visit the Osage Nation's Web page [1] about the legislative session and click on Resolution ONCR 08-12.
This story originally was published by the Osage News [2] and is used with permission. Reporter Shannon Shaw is Derek Shaw's cousin.