BleedGopher
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per Cleveland.com: Boddy-Calhoun made it out of one of America's most dangerous cities and hopes to inspire others to do the same
Boddy-Calhoun has a degree in elementary education. He says it was inspired by Hunter, the man he still calls Coach Bo.
"He meant everything," Boddy-Calhoun said. "Once I got down to Coffeyville ... he would call me weekly just to check in on me, see how I'm doing mentally, spiritually. ... Every week he had some gem. ... 'Make sure you're focused on this. Make sure you're in your books.'"
Hunter, for his part, takes great pride in the man Boddy-Calhoun has become, even if he doesn't want to take much credit.
"It gets me emotional because I'm happy," Hunter said. "I'm so happy for this young man."
And even though Boddy-Calhoun has gotten out, it doesn't mean he won't go back to Wilmington.
"I would like to be that bridge to show people that you can make it out and whatever it is you want to do, you can do," he said.
He's inspired, in part, by his time at Coffeyville, where he found out teammates were getting offers from strong Division I programs, players he knew weren't better than guys he went against in Wilmington.
"All I wanted to do at that time was run back home and tell everybody don't give up. Don't fall into this trap," he said. "You don't have to sell drugs. You need school. Stay in school."
When he came out to train with Hunter this summer, Boddy-Calhoun tossed an NFL football to the local kids working out with him.
"He says, 'Listen, I want you all to see me. See my height. See that I'm no different from you all,'" recalled Hunter. "'You've got an opportunity. You've got a chance.'"
Even at 5-foot-9, getting out of Murder Town USA was never too big of a task for the man they call Boddy.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/10/briean_boddy-calhoun_cleveland.html
Go Gophers!!
Boddy-Calhoun has a degree in elementary education. He says it was inspired by Hunter, the man he still calls Coach Bo.
"He meant everything," Boddy-Calhoun said. "Once I got down to Coffeyville ... he would call me weekly just to check in on me, see how I'm doing mentally, spiritually. ... Every week he had some gem. ... 'Make sure you're focused on this. Make sure you're in your books.'"
Hunter, for his part, takes great pride in the man Boddy-Calhoun has become, even if he doesn't want to take much credit.
"It gets me emotional because I'm happy," Hunter said. "I'm so happy for this young man."
And even though Boddy-Calhoun has gotten out, it doesn't mean he won't go back to Wilmington.
"I would like to be that bridge to show people that you can make it out and whatever it is you want to do, you can do," he said.
He's inspired, in part, by his time at Coffeyville, where he found out teammates were getting offers from strong Division I programs, players he knew weren't better than guys he went against in Wilmington.
"All I wanted to do at that time was run back home and tell everybody don't give up. Don't fall into this trap," he said. "You don't have to sell drugs. You need school. Stay in school."
When he came out to train with Hunter this summer, Boddy-Calhoun tossed an NFL football to the local kids working out with him.
"He says, 'Listen, I want you all to see me. See my height. See that I'm no different from you all,'" recalled Hunter. "'You've got an opportunity. You've got a chance.'"
Even at 5-foot-9, getting out of Murder Town USA was never too big of a task for the man they call Boddy.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/10/briean_boddy-calhoun_cleveland.html
Go Gophers!!