A couple TCU offensive linemen have a podcast to focus on those ‘deep conversations’
David Bolisomi came to the United States in 2008 as an African refugee and is now the starting right tackle for TCU’s powerhouse football program.
Kellton Hollins could’ve gone down the wrong path in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but has always been determined to not become product of his environment. Now he’s one of leaders and most respected voices in the Horned Frogs’ locker room.
Every player has a story, whether it’s similar to Bolisomi or Hollins or someone else. Locker rooms are a quintessential melting pot, where players have a variety of backgrounds and upbringings.
And that’s why Bolisomi and Hollins have started a podcast called “KeySquared,” where “key” stands for “keep educating the youth.”
Bolisomi and Hollins both pride themselves on being more than football players and are determined to use their platform to extend beyond the field.
They want to have conversations beyond football that dive deeper into issues, whether it’s talking race, politics or another pressing issue.
“We’re having conversations that you can’t just walk up to a stranger and talk about because those are deep conversations,” Bolisomi said. “They’re conversations that hurt. They’re conversations that make you feel very vulnerable.
“The good thing about sports is you bleed together. You sweat together. You cry together. You laugh together. Those walls are essentially down. We all tell each other exactly how we feel. Normal people don’t have these talks because sports makes us break that vulnerability down.”
Hollins agreed and felt like the conversations he and Bolisomi, as well as other members of the team, were worth bringing to the public.
“We’re not just talking about X’s and O’s,” Hollins said. “We’re not talking about double teams or our opponents. We’re talking about social issues, political issues, the things we see important.
“We love to debate and we love talking. One day I sat Big Dave down and we had a long conversation, ‘Why not do a podcast?’ We talk all day, 24-7, so why not just put it out there and see how people respond to it?”
So far, the response has been positive. The latest episode was recorded live last week when the two players talked business and life with former TCU players Cedric James and twins Tim and Terrence Maiden.
It was part of the school’s ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week.’ The live podcast was put on through the athletic department’s Student-Athlete Development Office, which received funds when former great LaDainian Tomlinson created The Tomlinson Student-Athlete Development Endowment Fund last spring.
James is a former NFL player who is now associate director of TCU’s IdeaFactory. The Maidens are successful businessmen who founded the nonprofit Two Wins to inspire local youth on “educational attainment, career readiness and character development.”
“It was big-time to have those guys come back,” Hollins said. “They walked in the shoes that we’re walking in right now. They were on this campus, they played football for TCU and now they’re where we’re striving to be as business leaders.
“To have them come back and drop wisdom and give us knowledge, you can’t ask for anything more than that.”
TCU’s football team returns to action against West Virginia on Friday afternoon. The Frogs (5-6) are facing a must-win situation to become bowl eligible. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
