Bet On Yourself
Kenneth Imo
In the early 1970s, my parents made the courageous decision to leave everything they knew in Nigeria and start a new life in the United States.
They brought with them two young children, $200 in their pocket, and an unwavering dream for a brighter future.
We’ve all heard stories like this before, right?
But this one is mine.
They literally bet on themselves, and I’ve always admired their strength and courage.
It’s a legacy I’ve tried to honor in my own life.
As a kid, they instilled in me the value of hard work and the importance of chasing what you’re passionate about.
If I truly wanted something, I wasn’t afraid to give it everything I had to achieve it.
That’s the gift my parents gave me, and it shaped the person I am today.
Falling in Love with Football
When I was nine years old, I discovered football, and it quickly became my whole world.
I loved every part of it—practice, lifting weights, running drills—because every moment felt like a chance to grow, to get better at my craft, and to become a better version of myself.
When it was time to choose a college, SMU stood out to me.
They had ambitious plans to rebuild their program, and I wanted to be part of it.
Plus, it was close to home, which made my parents happy.
Looking back, I’d make the same choice 1,000 times.
My time at SMU was invaluable, no doubt.
Lessons Learned
One of the biggest challenges I faced at SMU happened during my sophomore year.
I was starting at safety and had found some early success.
We were playing Navy with a chance to start the season 3-1 for the first time in years.
Late in the fourth quarter, I had the perfect opportunity to seal the win with an interception.
The ball came straight to me—right to my chest—and I dropped it.
A few plays later, Navy moved down the field, kicked a field goal, and won the game.
At 19 years old, that was a devastating, public failure.
But what stands out most about that moment isn’t the mistake itself—it’s how my teammates rallied around me.
In one of my lowest moments, they lifted me up.
That experience taught me about the power of resilience and the importance of being part of a team.
I learned to shake off failure, stay in the game, and keep moving forward.
It wasn’t the only lesson I learned at SMU.
There were too many to count.
I started my entire sophomore season but wasn’t the starter during my junior and senior years.
That taught me humility and how to put my ego aside.
I had to figure out how to support the guy who took my spot and still contribute as a leader.
I realized you don’t have to be in the spotlight to make an impact.
Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life and career.
At 19 years old, that was a devastating, public failure. But what stands out most about that moment isn’t the mistake itself—it’s how my teammates rallied around me. In one of my lowest moments, they lifted me up. That experience taught me about the power of resilience and the importance of being part of a team. I learned to shake off failure, stay in the game, and keep moving forward.
Black Excellence
SMU taught me discipline—something I carry with me to this day.
After graduating, I went to law school and then joined the Air Force as a lawyer.
I had to work hard and stay focused to achieve those goals, especially since I wasn’t the best student when I first started college.
But I took the lessons I learned at SMU and applied them, doing incremental things each day to move closer to my goals.
To me, that’s what Black Excellence is all about.
It’s about pride, service to others, and striving for more.
It’s about building a legacy and inspiring those who come after you.
My parents embodied that when they bet on themselves and came to this country.
They didn’t always know where the journey would lead, but they were willing to do the work.
I think they’d be proud to know I’ve done the same.
To current and future student-athletes: never take for granted the unique experience you’re living.
The lessons you’re learning—how to work as a team, how to stay focused on a goal, and how to take care of yourself in pursuit of that goal—are skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.
You might not realize it now, but being a student-athlete is an incredible gift.
The memories and lessons you take from it will stay with you forever.
I know this because I’ve lived it.
Alex Glover, Jabari Hearn and Kenneth Imo are the panelists for the 2025 Black Excellence Brunch at the Flanagan Family Training Table in the Garry Weber End Zone Complex on Saturday, February 22 at noon (REGISTER).
The panelists will be honored at the Men’s Basketball game versus Clemson that tips at 3 p.m. at Moody Coliseum (TICKETS)