By Nick Seuberling
Seubs@pigskinpodcast.com
For those of you who are familiar with the Charlie Brown cartoon, you all know the football story. Lucy would try to convince Charlie to kick the football from her hold and every time Charlie would refuse adamantly. Finally, Lucy would crack Charlie and he would run up to the ball at a full sprint. Just as he's about to kick the ball, Lucy pulls it away and starts laughing hysterically while Charlie somersaults through the air.
If you don't know his story, 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell was a four-year starter for the Army Black Knights. He was a very talented safety and many scouts projected him as a late-round pick. In an attempt to help bolster a good public image and recruiting base, the Army decided to allow athletes who are drafted to go pro right after college instead of reporting to active duty.
We all witnessed the incredible scene in New York when Campbell was drafted in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions, the first Army player drafted in 11 years. I really felt proud for the guy. You kind of had this sense that his life was just saved right before your eyes.
Well, folks, the United States Department of Defense "pulled a Lucy" on Campbell this week. They led him on, making him believe he could skip active duty to pursue a dream job in the NFL until training camp was about to begin. Then, they pulled the football away. The D.O.D. rescinded the rule that allowed Campbell to skip active duty after graduation. So instead of Campbell learning the Lions playbook, he's refreshing his memory of the rules of war. Just one day before he was to report to Lions training camp, Lions general manager Matt Millen had to break the news. Talk about heartbreaking.
I'm proud to be an American. I'm respectful of the flag, respectful of the pledge and I'll admit I even like singing the "Star Spangled Banner" at ballgames. I'm the guy who welled up at a Brooks and Dunn concert when the duo brought out members of the armed forces during their encore of "Only in America." I love my country and everyday I'm thankful for those in the service, defending my rights. The Army should be ashamed of its collective self. They knew that such a rule was illegal and that the D.O.D. was not going to allow this kind of activity. But before they let Campbell know, they waited until July so that they could milk all of the good publicity out of it.
I wish Campbell nothing but the best. I hope that someday I'll get to see him in his No. 47 blue Lions jersey. I pray that he, along with the millions of other men and women in our armed forces are safe, and that one day, they'll all return home to their loved ones.
In the words of Charlie Brown ... good grief.
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