‘From boys to men’: Kansas football’s barbershop of choice has some stories to tell

Tucked inside a Walmart in Lawrence is a second home for members of the Kansas football team.

No, it’s not a restaurant or cafe. Instead, it’s a barbershop — Watson’s Barbershop.

The location is new, but the barbershop certainly is not. Watson’s has been a Lawrence staple for decades. It was initially located near Royal Crest Lanes, a bowling alley.

If you’re on the Kansas football team, there’s a high chance you’re going to Watson’s to get a haircut. (And full disclosure: This reporter also visits the shop every 3-4 weeks for a fresh fade and a beard trim.)

Among current Jayhawks to visit the shop: cornerback Mello Dotson, running back Devin Neal, quarterback Jalon Daniels, linebacker Jayson Gilliom and others, including some Kansas coaches.

The shop is typically busy and loud. There’s usually some sort of debate ongoing, often involving sports.

The three barbers who most often cut the hair of KU football players — Tim “Nelly” Nelson, Martin “Marty” Watson and Jermaine “Gametime” Jackson — have more than 80 years of hair-cutting experience.

And life experience? Even more than that. So when the trio talks, Kansas football players listen.

“Kenny (Logan) took me there, and I’ve kind of just been (going) ever since I got to college,” safety OJ Burroughs told The Star. “That’s all they do is talk ball. Every time I go in there, they talk ball. It gives that feeling (I get back) at home.”

Gilliom, known in the shop as “Aquaman” (due to his resemblance to Jason Momoa), shared a similar sentiment. He typically goes to Watson’s every other week and gets a taper haircut — the most popular among the team.

“One of the first weeks (in college), I started coming here,” he said. “Coming into a place where you trust somebody with your hair, but also like a cool environment. It’s someplace that you don’t see a lot unless you are back home. It means a lot.”

Nelson added: “We’re just the uncles from a different state.”

Nelson told The Star that the KU football team has been a fixture at the shop since he joined in 2004. Before he worked at Watson’s, the first KU athletes’ hair he cut were former Kansas basketball star Paul Pierce and former KU football nose tackle Gilbert Brown.

Nelson, a Lawrence native, proudly described himself as “born and raised a Jayhawk.” However, he will root for one Kansas State Wildcat: his stepson and current K-State cornerback Keenan Garber.

Surprisingly, there’s little trash talk between Nelson and KU players, even during the week that KU plays Kansas State.

“I’m going to cheer for all my guys; there’s just one I want to win, but I’m cheering for all of them,” he said. “(Born in) ‘71. I’m born and raised a Jayhawk. I can’t get rid of my (heritage) that quick.”

Like many KU fans, Nelson had high expectations for KU heading into the season. But he says he’s not concerned by the Jayhawks’ surprising 1-3 start.

“I thought it was going to be another year (like 2008),” he said. “But the things that this coach (Lance Leipold) is doing — it won’t be long.”

Watson is the youngest barber of the trio. He typically does the haircuts for the KU football coaches and linemen. He and Nelson both joined the shop together.

For him, cutting a player’s hair doesn’t feel any different than anybody else’s. That is ... with one exception.

“The only person who ever made me be starstruck cutting their hair is Gale Sayers,” Watson said. “He’s who my dad talked about and he was the Kansas Comet — the best thing walking. When I got to cut his hair and build a relationship with him, it was really cool.”

Jackson is the oldest member of the trio of barbers. Jackson cuts the hair of Lawrence natives Devin Neal and Zeke Mayo, the latter of whom is a KU basketball guard.

“I’ve been cutting him (Neal) since he was a little kid,” Jackson said. “He’s like a little nephew to me. … I tell both their parents that these two young men are going to be special. They played football together as kids, man. Zeke was a quarterback and Devin was a running back. I knew that they were going to be special and here they are.”

Neal always enjoys his visits to Watson’s.

“My barber in there, he’s been cutting me since I was really young, so obviously I have a really good relationship with him,” Neal said. “I think it’s a family-type vibe. Every time we go in there, it’s all cool vibes; they’re all big supporters. It’s just unique to feel supported and have a normal conversation.”

For the barbers at Watson’s, watching KU players grow on and off the field is one of the most rewarding parts of their jobs.

“Unlike the fans, we get to see them go from boys to men,” Watson said. “They come in here as young men and they leave out (as men). They come back with families, as fathers. (Kansas football analyst AJ) Steward, on the coaching staff, I saw him come in here in his freshman year as a quarterback, then tight end and go on his coaching career. Now he’s back. He’s still the same.”