Posted on 12/22/2006 6:37:14 AM PST by rabidralph
Maryland offensive lineman Donnie Woods is healthy, recovered from a head injury that required him to be airlifted from the playing field earlier this season. He remains on track to graduate with a criminal justice degree thanks to a full-ride scholarship earned with his aptitude for a game he started playing at age 7. He smiles easily under a mop of scruffy dark hair and has a face that looks as if it hasn't seen a razor since spring camp.
And unlike where he's going, nobody will yell at him for it.
It's one of the perks that comes with the relatively comfortable existence of a Division I-A college football player. His father calls it the "preferred lifestyle."
But sometime next year, Woods will leave that life behind, and his duty to provide protection will grow far beyond keeping his quarterback off the turf.
Woods is trading in X's and O's for MREs and will skip his final season of eligibility to serve in the U.S. Army.
"It was an easy decision for me," said Woods, who plans to attend Officer Candidate School after graduating from Maryland. "I know what I stand for, I know what this country stands for. I'm willing to sacrifice to fight for this country, to do what I think is right. That's what I feel and I feel strongly about it."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hooah.
A true American Patriot. Wonder what words of encouragement charlie rangel or jfffnk have for this young college graduate?
Rangel and Kerry cannot hold a candle to this man.
Go get 'em kid!
Not so, patriot Woods, we understand and applaud you for it! God Bless you!
Fear the Turtle!
Pinging the DC Chapter to this story about a college athlete who understands the Big Picture.
I miss you all, too, Tak. But I'm doing well and enjoying life up North. Merry Christmas to you and yours and to the whole DC Chapter.
God Bless this patriotic young man.
And Merry Christmas, RR!
Merry Christmas to you, as well, Piss :-0
Thanks for the PING
Of course some clueless folks will claim that his head injury is what prompts his actions. :-) But we FReepers do understand and appreciate his decision to serve his country. Thank you Mr. Woods!
"Nobody really truly understands what I'm doing," Woods said.
*******
For a truly competitive person, perhaps just watching others fight this war is unsatisfactory, and being able to meet the requirements to join the fight is preferable emotionallly, than just playing football for one more season.
Woods sees his peers in uniform as the true A-Team.
It really is a crime that our 'news' reporters are blind to this fact. And they are just congenitally unable to see the suberb professional caliber of todays troops.
'News' reporters are so anti-American-military that they consider a positive story about the actions of soldiers to be "propaganda from the Pentagon" which justifies not publishing such articles. Heaven forbid that an American journalist should ever participate in disseminating propaganda! /sarc
Well, said. Nice yacht!
Nice find EPIC. Goes to show that it's still morning in America.
Merry Christmas!
Hey, Rabidralph, Have a great Christmas!
Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you, too, JVB! I hope you'll enjoy some quality cigars and good times with the family!
Merry Christmas, Albion. I hope you are doing well and enjoying the Christmas season.
BufordP has made me a Cigars International fan.
Brandy and cigars are on the menu for the Christmas celebration.
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