posted by Jake

Standing front and center is number 28 - JP Bolwahnn. As in, the University of San Diego’s 34 year-old sophomore running back JP Bolwahnn. As in, formerly Special Operator 1st Class JP Bolwahnn. After a 13-year military career JP is back in school and playing the game he loves, regardless of his age. He also has special touchdown celebration planned for the University of San Diego’s game Saturday against Western New Mexico. If Bolwahnn scores he is going to simply turn and salute the American flag to honor his fallen friends and fellow soldiers on the eve of 9/11. As the LA Times reports:

The gesture will be for Petty Officer Danny Dietz, killed six years ago in a firefight with Taliban guerrillas. It will be for Lt. Cmdr. Jonas Kelsall and Chief Petty Officer Robert James Reeves, who died last month when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. And it will be for all the other Navy SEALs still fighting abroad.

“I remember their names, I remember seeing their faces,” Bolwahnn said of Kelsall and Reeves, whom he trained during a four-year stint as a SEALs instructor. He was even closer to Dietz, shepherding the fresh-faced recruit through his early days in Bolwahnn’s unit.

I think it goes without saying that it should be San Diego’s first priority is to get him in the endzone. And I will say it, I think Western New Mexico should let Bolwahnn go in untouched. But, I’m also a sucker for anything honoring the military. Weaknesses like that are probably the reason I’m not a college football coach. You know, because I care more about honoring the men and women who serve the United State of America on the eve of 9/11 more than I care about 6 points in a meaningless Division 1-AA football game.