Porter Moser pays heartfelt tribute to the late Toby Keith

The death of country music icon Toby Keith rocked the world on Tuesday, with those in the state of Oklahoma mourning the passing of one of its dearest.

Oklahoma basketball coach Porter Moser joined in with those offering tribute to Keith, bringing a single red Solo cup to his post-game press conference after a win over BYU on Tuesday night.

“Today’s a tough day for Sooner Nation,” Moser began. “We lost a dear friend in Toby Keith and I heard his songs blaring in the arena. I’ve been here three years and (he) became a true friend of mine, him and his family.”

Keith was a huge Oklahoma fan, often seen at Sooners sporting events. He had been a guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay representing Oklahoma back in 2018.

And while it was ultimately his music that touched so many, Keith had begun to develop a relationship with Moser. The basketball coach knew him a little better than most. He shared that there was so much more to the country music legend than just the songs.

“He is everything you want to be about. He’s Sooner Nation,” Moser said. “To all of his friends around the country, in the music industry, in the sports world, friends in all different things, today we raise a glass to Toby Keith. I wish there was something different than water in this glass right now, because he is a true legend, a true friend to everybody, and I just want to say our guys played their hearts out for Toby Keith tonight to get this win, and I know he was looking down on us tonight.”

Porter Moser opens his postgame presser with a red Solo cup and a statement on Toby Keith’s passing: pic.twitter.com/h2a4w8VWPv

— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) February 7, 2024

Oklahoma beat No. 21 BYU 82-66, securing a significant win and one that Keith could have been proud of.

But before Moser got into any of the breakdown of the game, how his team won or what it meant going forward, he was sure to sign on with a tribute to Keith.

Holding his red Solo cup, Moser finished.

“To everyone who hears this around Sooner Nation, friends, all across the country, raise your glass tonight to Toby Keith,” he said.

Oklahoma itself also reached out with a message to the Keith family on behalf of the entire Sooner Nation.

“The OU Athletics family is incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend Toby Keith,” OU wrote in a statement. “It’s a profoundly sad reality to exist in a world where Toby doesn’t. He brought life and joy to every room he entered, and our hearts are dimmer today without him. An American icon and a stalwart Sooner. A superstar talent and a fierce friend of our program. We thank him for the unwavering support he always gave, his generosity as a human being and the countless smiles and memories he created here in Oklahoma and around the world.

“All our love to Tricia, Shelley, Krystal, Stelen and their families. We’ll miss you on campus, TK. We’re crying for us.”