With gridiron will, walk-ons chase dream at Missouri, Kentucky
After scouring the nation for months, here are two more inspirational walk-on stories from the world of college football.
While most college students are taking one or two classes during the summer or working part time at the mall, Missouri's Zach Milligan is spending time at Camp Ripley in Minnesota and Camp Shelby in Mississippi.
But he isn't playing kickball or making macramé bracelets with 9-year-olds.
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| Zach Milligan has his sights set on playing special teams for Missouri in '07. (AP) |
Along with his duties outside of school, he is currently a walk-on defensive end for the Tigers and majoring in mechanical engineering.
"On top of all that stuff, there is family, a new girlfriend and time with god," said Milligan. "You get spread real thin, but I work hard and go in every day refreshed with a clean slate. It gets hectic, no doubt about it, but I've been (able) to handle it without too much problem."
Milligan joined the military during his senior year of high school for what he calls "personal and family reasons." But while he was in the Army, he still had thoughts of going to college.
So when he finally enrolled in 2004, he began to start thinking of playing football at the Division I-A level. Milligan earned all-state honors as an offensive lineman at Hardin-Central High School, but that was years ago.
"My only question was if I would be able to hang with a Division I school," said Milligan. "There are a lot of great athletes and I didn't think I was one of them, but if I could make the practice squad, that would be awesome."
But that would have to wait.
Milligan was shipped out to Iraq, where he would spend 11 months as a vehicle mechanic repairing Hummers and tankers. Everything was business as usual for Milligan, until that one night in April 2005. During post watch around midnight, Milligan and a fellow soldier were in the observation deck looking for suspicious activity.
"I looked out to scan the perimeter with my night-vision goggles and didn't see anything. I looked away and out of the corner of my eye, the sky went bright red," said Milligan.
A rocket had exploded 50 meters from the observation point. Shrapnel landed near him and his friend; they were OK, though "it was definitely scary and even scarier for the next week or so."
After his tour was up, Milligan returned to school and this time joined the team. He spent all of last season on the practice squad, but was able to experience the Sun Bowl against Oregon State.
He hopes to play special teams this year and hopes the Tigers can reach the Big 12 title game. He continues to improve his speed, strength and agility to help those dreams become a reality, but in the back of his mind he knows his military service can change all that.
"Anything can happen, I can be pulled up at any time," said Milligan. "I kind of go with that mentality and I'm just thankful for every day."
Terry Clayton, Kentucky: He might only have one tackle in 10 career games for the Wildcats, but senior linebacker Terry Clayton is more than just your average walk-on.
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| Terry Clayton entered spring practice as the third-string strongside linebacker on the Kentucky's depth chart. (Provided to SportsLine) |
Clayton lost his hearing at age 5 after a bout with chicken pox and high fever, but has never let it get in the way of what he wants to accomplish.
He is majoring in kinesiology and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2005 and '06, earning a 3.6 one semester. Last season he was honored with the Carol S. Adelstein Outstanding Student Award, presented to the student with a disability who serves as an inspiration to the community. He also returned to the Kentucky School for the Deaf, where he attended as a child, to encourage students.
"Battling school and football is tough, so I keep going. I want to be successful and a role model to people who are like me," added Clayton.
Recently, Clayton was fitted with a hearing aid that has allowed him to hear some sounds. One sound he remembered from his childhood.
"The first time I had it on, it was totally different because it was so loud," said Clayton. "I could hear when I was young, so I could still remember my mother's voice in my head. It was good to hear the sound of voices again from my mother and family, too."
