AndyPopCat
08-28-2005, 03:25 AM
Football is more than just a sport in Lt. Col. Skip Johnson's family.
The annual fall ritual has kept this military family together for years, and it's likely not to change anytime soon.
Two of his three sons play college football, and his youngest is the top college prospect in Kentucky.
Football has kept this family close even when Johnson has been away for training or deployed to other countries.
His oldest son, Nathaniel, plays tight end at Laney College in Oakland, Calif. His middle son, Christian, is a freshman at the University of Kentucky, listed No. 2 at the depth chart at left guard. Micah, a 6 foot 5 inch, 255-pound linebacker likely will make his college decision when his dad is in Iraq.
"It's tough. It's tough being away from home, period," Skip Johnson said. "We're a close family, so it makes it a little tougher. We talk a lot, and Micah understands my responsibilities. We make the best of it and work together.
"We'll go there (to Iraq), do our thing for a year and come back home."
Skip Johnson was home when Christian signed his paperwork with Kentucky. He knows it will be difficult to be away when Micah signs his college intent.
"I told him this time next year I'll be watching him in college," Skip Johnson said. "But those days are special. I was here for my middle son on National Signing Day at UK, and that was special."...
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/NEWS01/508270309/1002 (http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/NEWS01/508270309/1002)
The annual fall ritual has kept this military family together for years, and it's likely not to change anytime soon.
Two of his three sons play college football, and his youngest is the top college prospect in Kentucky.
Football has kept this family close even when Johnson has been away for training or deployed to other countries.
His oldest son, Nathaniel, plays tight end at Laney College in Oakland, Calif. His middle son, Christian, is a freshman at the University of Kentucky, listed No. 2 at the depth chart at left guard. Micah, a 6 foot 5 inch, 255-pound linebacker likely will make his college decision when his dad is in Iraq.
"It's tough. It's tough being away from home, period," Skip Johnson said. "We're a close family, so it makes it a little tougher. We talk a lot, and Micah understands my responsibilities. We make the best of it and work together.
"We'll go there (to Iraq), do our thing for a year and come back home."
Skip Johnson was home when Christian signed his paperwork with Kentucky. He knows it will be difficult to be away when Micah signs his college intent.
"I told him this time next year I'll be watching him in college," Skip Johnson said. "But those days are special. I was here for my middle son on National Signing Day at UK, and that was special."...
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/NEWS01/508270309/1002 (http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/NEWS01/508270309/1002)
