My column published in The Madison County Journal's September 27th issue.
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| Daniel Rodriguez |
He is Clemson’s version of Rudy Ruettiger of the movie
“Rudy.” Both are small men who had one large dream; to play college football.
Each dream was fulfilled for both men, but their stories are much different.
The road was much tougher for Clemson’s Daniel Rodriguez. Daniel’s dream to
play college football was put on hold while he served two tours of military duty
overseas. Now at age 24, Rodriguez fought and won a different battle than the
one in Afghanistan; a battle to walk-on with a division 1-A college football
team.
It doesn't matter where your loyalties are in college
football or the colors you wear when representing your team on Saturdays, if Rodriguez’s
story doesn't light you up, you need to check your bulb. His story reaches far
beyond his desire to play college football; it’s mostly about holding true to promises
made. For Rodriguez, his promise to someday walk-on as a college football
player, was the promise he made overseas to his best a week before his friend
was killed in one of the bloodiest battles in the Afghan war. Kevin Thompson
was one of eight killed in on October 3, 2009 under the watch of Rodriguez. On
that day of horror, more than 300 Taliban insurgents attacked the base where
Rodriguez and 52 other soldiers were stationed.
One early morning, Rodriguez was attempting to check his
email at the only spot of his location where the computer was wired for
internet. He was instead immediately surrounded by shots being fired outside.
Daniel, a former slot receiver, defensive back and kickoff return man in 2003
to 2005 at his high school in Virginia, was forced to sprint quickly through
gunfire while off targeted bullets kicked up debris on his ankles. Shortly
after arriving at his machine gun post, his best friend and fellow soldier Thompson
stepped in front of Rodriguez to attempt to point out on coming Taliban.
Thompson was struck in the head and killed. He was dead before he hit the ground.
Daniel attempted to drag his fallen friend inside, but each attempt was met
with more gunfire and as a result, Daniel was struck by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled
grenade. He was first hit in his right leg and then struck a second time in his
neck. Shrapnel that was so hot that his wounds were instantly cauterized and
had to be pulled from his neck with a pair of pliers. Rodriguez and his men
were suddenly overrun by hundreds of enemy soldiers. Daniel was one of 53 soldiers
that survived that 18 hour day at the Battle of Kamdesh. Daniel was awarded a
Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart, but those honors and awards were
small in comparison to his buddies that died that day.
Today, Daniel wears a silver bracelet on his wrist with his
fallen hero’s name inscribed including best friend Kevin Thompson’s name.
Daniel’s time of service ended, but his promise that he made to Thompson to
play college football was just beginning. “I told one of the guys over there that
I would to play college football,” said Rodriguez. While stationed in
Afghanistan, Daniel used a make-shift gym to work out daily and developed a
routine of tough drills. After arriving at his home in Virginia, the 24 year
old army hero hired a personal trainer and continued hours upon hours of drills
and workouts. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain
injury from the RPG attack in Iraq, Daniel copes with all the nightmares and
anger of that day by working out in the weight room. “I just translate that
into the gym,” said Rodriguez. “I force and funnel it all through when I play
football. It just comes out.”
Daniels’ dream came true and his promise is being fulfilled.
Rodriguez was turned down by his lifelong favorite team Virginia Tech, but was
given a chance by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. Now the former high school
football player turned war hero, who enlisted in the Army after his father’s
death in 2006, is fulfilling his promise to his fallen friend. In Clemson’s
first game of the 2012 season, the 5 foot 8, 160 pound Rodriguez was in the
game on the opening kickoff. Later this season, Daniel will lead the Tigers
onto the field carrying the American flag on Military Appreciation Day versus
the same Virginia Tech team that turned him down.
To Rodriguez it’s more than just playing college football
and being a war hero, it’s more about committing to a promise made regardless
of outcome. He’s a hero, leader, and inspiration to many, but he sees it
differently. “The guys who didn't come back are the real heroes,” said Rodriguez.
