In October of 2011 I wrote a story about how then OU-wide receiver had created a buzz around Oklahoma with his hairstyle called Rock Star Status. Six years later, that style is still going strong (Photo above at Payneless Image). Below is the initial article that ran.
By Michael Kinney
When Kenny Stills arrived at the University of Oklahoma last year, it was easy to see something was different about him. On the field, his talent spoke for itself. But it was the off-the-field flair that garnered the California native a huge fan following.
So it was only a slight shock when Stills showed up to start this season sporting a blown-out, blonde mohawk.
“The hair was a simple decision I made,” Stills said before the season began. “Somebody told me I wouldn’t do it, so I did. I am big on controversy, doing stuff that people told me I can’t do. People always tell me I can’t do stuff. People told me I couldn’t play Division I football, that I was more of a soccer player and not a football player. Look where I’m at now.”
However, what Stills couldn’t have known at the time was the influence his hair would have on kids. It has taken on a life of its own. It even has its own Twitter account.
Corey Sutter, who goes by the name Mr. Scissorhands, is a longtime barber in Oklahoma City at Fades R Us. He has been cutting Stills’ hair since last year.
“Man, that is all we’ve been getting,” Sutter said. “The Kenny Stills haircut. I call it Rock Star Status.”
One of the people who loved the cut from the moment he saw it on Stills was Jackson Stallings. The junior is an H-back and outside linebacker for Southmoore High. He said the player and hairstyle go hand-in-hand and it’s easy to see why it has become so popular in the state.
“It’s just swaggin,” Stallings said. “That’s all it is. It’s real cool. He’s a great player. When you are a great player and you have something cool going, everybody is going to start doing it. That’s what got people started. The way he plays, he embodies his haircut. He is just all over the place. He makes plays. He is crazy, he’s wild. He’s just fun to watch. His personality goes along with his game.”
Stallings wanted to get the Rock Star Status cut for himself, along with two other teammates. But he decided if he was going to get it, he would do it for a good cause. Instead of trying to copy Stills, on Wednesday he had Sutter dye his hair black and pink for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Stallings wanted to bring attention to a cause that was close to his heart. And he could think of no better way than to emulate one of his favorite players.
“One of my best friends since I was younger, Jhames West, his mom passed away a couple of years ago due to breast cancer,” Stallings said. “She was a big part of my life, very influential in my life. I thought I would take it a step further this week and put the pink in the back of the hair with the breast cancer ribbon on the side. Just to show that she is someone that means a lot to me in my life. We remember all those who have fallen to breast cancer, as well.”
Stallings went as far as to go to Sutter, who takes care of many of the Oklahoma players. Sutter has been cutting hair since he was in high school. And he has never seen a certain style pick up traction so quickly and turn into a trend.
Along with the shark design that Travis Lewis began sporting this season, Sutter said most of his work these days revolves around the Sooners.
“I’m surprised, but at the same time, I’m blessed because it’s just bringing more business in,” Sutter said. “It’s something I’ve never seen. Somebody with a mohawk with just the back part blonde, and he wears it wild. I’ve never seen that. And I’ve never seen anybody that plays football with a shark in their head, unless the name of the team is the Sharks.
“We had a lady that brought her son all the way from Weatherford, Okla., at nighttime because he wanted to get that Rock Star Status.”
Michael Kinney is a Freelance Content Writer with Eyeamtruth.com
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