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 ...
Brought tears to my eyes. So proud our country is still putting out fine young men like Mr. Woods.
To those who think of MD as a "blue state" .. as in most, it's brilliant red outside the DC bedroom counties and Baltimore. Go, Maryland!
Thanks, and thanks.
A good man.
Wow! What a wonderful young man. May God bless and keep him.
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