Walker’s quiet conviction

It’s amazing, the way some young men embody humility while the spotlight shines so brightly on them.

Juxtaposed against three camo-clad members of the National Guard, Daniel Walker, in full Milledgeville uniform, proudly carried the American flag to midfield before the Missiles’ clash with Orangeville on Friday night.

“It was an honor, to pretty much say the least,” Walker said. “It’s a big thing, to not just work for yourself, but to work for a bigger cause.”

If I was a football coach – I never will be. I’m a writer who happens to enjoy sports, not a sports mind who happens to write – I’d take three dozen Walkers, if I could.

Not just because he’s a one-man wrecking crew, but because, after the game, each and every one of his responses to my questions began with “sir.” I don’t get that very much. Maybe it’s my casual disposition.

So I asked Walker where such respect comes from.

“Sir, it’s just how I was brought up,” Walker said.

His grandfather, uncle and two brothers have all served in the military, and he will complete his AIT (advanced individual training) next year. Walker’s coach, Jason Wroble, says he took to football “like a fish to water” after playing soccer up until his freshman year, when he came out a week late.

Similarly, he sacrificed all his reps this summer to go through basic training. Wroble marvels at the way he drags defenders, chases down ball-carriers all over the field and, even after covering dozens of yards to get there, still blasts them with great might.

He marvels because at basic training, Walker ran and ran then ran some more, resulting in losing a lot of weight. So he insisted on lifting 4 days a week, with both the varsity and fresh-soph.

We could all learn from Walker’s conviction. He plans, after serving several years, to go into SWAT or border patrol. He’s looking farther down the road than my GPS can track.

But in the moment Friday night, after the game, he wasn’t just respectful. He was upset. Because as much as he loves his country, he loves his school and his town. So when the Missiles couldn’t slow Dan Zimmerman and Co., he didn’t take it well.

“I have a lot of emotions,” he said. “Coming off a win, you want to keep the streak going and bring honor to your town.”

I could tell our conversation made him uncomfortable. He didn’t want to talk about the great things he did after his team lost.

Even if they’d won, I have a feeling Walker wouldn’t like to bring the spotlight to himself.

If I could take a moment and speak directly to Walker, I’d like to say something.

It took me a few minutes to recognize something: You deserve the recognition. I’d be remiss – even doing my craft a great disservice – if I didn’t point out your rare traits.

You make me proud and hopeful, even if I hardly know you.