Donnie Woods is forgoing his senior season — not for the NFL, but for the U.S. of A.
The Maryland guard will play his final football game in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29 before graduating in May with a criminal justice degree. Then it’s hopefully off to the Army’s Officer Training School before leading ground troops in Iraq.
“I always felt like I wanted to fight for my country and whatit stands for,” Woods said. “Freedom is an amazing thing. I want to serve this country and this feels right.”
Woods’ brother, Sean, served two tours in Iraq in the Army while father Don Woods is a Navy veteran who later played basketball at Florida State. There are 10 children in the Woods family and the military pride runs deep.
Listening to his brother’s stories of fighting in Iraq didn’t discourage Woods’ military plans any more than worried friends and family.
“[War stories] don’t bother me that much,” Woods said. “I’ve always wanted to do this. I felt like this was the perfect time for me to do it. I’ve heard [concern] from my teammates, close friends and family, but people support me in whatever I want to do.”
Former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman was killed in 2004 in Afghanistan after leaving the NFL to join the Army two years earlier. Woods cited Tillman as a role model.
“Tillman was amazing to give up millions [of dollars] to do what he thought was right,” Woods said. “I’m giving up a year [of football], but it’s nothing close to what he did.”
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen supports Woods’ departure on the condition the latter first graduates.
“Fifth year is usually your best year,” Friedgen said. “I just didn’t want Donnie to look back and regret that. He seemed pretty determined about it.”
Quarterback Sam Hollenbach was also impressed over Woods’ choice.
“What a selfless decision that is,” Hollenbach said. “It gets a lot of respect from me and the team as well.”
Woods is forgoing his final year partly for fear an injury would make him unfit for military service. A neck injury in October suffered during a game against Florida State in College Park forced Woods to be medevaced to a Baltimore hospital.
“I’ve been pretty banged up since I’ve been here,” said Woods, who plans to lose 60 pounds toget down to around 230 after the season. “It would be hard to clear a medical exam if I suffered another severe injury.”
Woods seems to have had enough of football. Giving up a potential pro career or even leaving college early doesn’t haunt him. He’s ready for something else, but will remember the game fondly.
“I’ll probably sit down next fall and watch college football,” he said. “But even if I played next year, a year later I would still miss it.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
