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We are 87 Days Away From College Football Kickoff. Another set of players to help get us through the Summer of the off season. We have two service academy players Chad Hennings from Air Force and Bill Carpenter from Army. Both had illustrious careers. Enjoy the countdown to kickoff.
Chad Hennings Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Offense To Defense
Chad Hennings was a standout high school athlete and state wrestling champion before joining the Air Force Academy as a tight end. He earned a varsity letter as a freshman and switched to defense in his sophomore year. In 1985, the Falcons had their best season ever, finishing 12-1, sharing the conference title, beating Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl, and ranking fifth in the final coaches poll. Hennings made the All-WAC second team in his first year as a starter.
Over his college career, he broke four school weightlifting records and ran the 40-yard dash faster than some halfbacks. His 33-inch vertical leap was impressive for his size. Hennings also stood out for his intelligence and determination.
As a junior, he made the first of two All-Conference teams.
In his senior year, he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman, was a unanimous All-America pick, and repeated as an Academic All-America. That year, he led the nation with 24 sacks. Because he had to serve in the military, he was not drafted until the 11th round by the Dallas Cowboys. After four years of service, including time in the first Gulf War, he joined the Cowboys in 1992. He played nine seasons with Dallas and won three Super Bowls.
Another Great #87 Bill Carpenter
While Bill Carpenter was at Springfield High, just outside Philadelphia, he ran the 100 meters in under 10 seconds. Which made college stand up and take notice. Several colleges recruited Carpenter, but he had already decided to go to West Point. The Army team was full of talent, including Pete Dawkins, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1958. That season, which included big wins over Penn State and Notre Dame, coach Red Blaik made Carpenter, then a junior, the “Lonesome End.” Instead of joining the huddle, he lined up near the sideline and watched the quarterback’s feet for the play signal. This forced opposing defenses to spread out, opening up the middle for Army’s strong running game. The team finished 8-0-1 and ranked third in the nation. Carpenter caught 22 passes for 453 yards and two touchdowns.
He was chosen as team captain in 1959, a year when Army’s record fell to 4-4 under new coach Dale Hall. Still, Carpenter broke school receiving records with 43 catches for 591 yards. In a game against Oklahoma, he played with a dislocated shoulder, catching six passes with one hand and returning four kickoffs. His arm was strapped to his side so he could not lift it above his shoulder. Carpenter earned All-American honors in his senior year.
Carpenter started his military career that fall and soon became known as a leader who stood up for his men. When his base commander learned he had an All-American on staff, he was ordered to play for the base football team. This meant giving up his command, which made him angry. In 1963, he asked for a transfer to any post where he would not have to play football. Carpenter was sent to Vietnam as an advisor. He was wounded twice and sent home, but returned in 1964. In June 1966, as a captain, Carpenter’s company fought in the Central Highlands near Dok To. His unit was cut off during the battle and nearly overrun, so he called in a napalm strike on his own position. As the jets approached, he threw a yellow smoke grenade less than 50 feet away. Carpenter and his men survived, and his bold action made him a national hero.
General William Westmoreland quickly took Carpenter off the front lines and made him his aide-de-camp. He later convinced him to let him return to action, and in 1967, he made headlines again by surviving a plane crash in Saigon and carrying an injured officer to safety on his back. After returning to the United States, Carpenter graduated from the Command and General Staff College. He served at the Pentagon as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Army during the Carter administration. He also oversaw the building of Fort Drum in upstate New York and led 250,000 troops on the DMZ in South Korea. Carpenter retired in 1992 as a three-star general. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star and was nominated for the Medal of Honor. Carpenter was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years. They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff. The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers. Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites.
Main Photo: US Air Force Athletics
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