Herman Blount keeps a keen eye on current events, especially those related to the war in Iraq.
Blount, a walk-on running back at Winston-Salem State, served more than a year as an Army specialist in 2004 and 2005 in Iraq. Blount, 23, has been back at WSSU since last fall, but he says that the memories of that experience are vivid.
"Basically, when I was over there we did humanitarian duties and provided security to the people," Blount said. "And we tried to help them establish a government and sweep out all the bad guys."
Blount is a former star at Northampton County High School West in Gaston, from which he graduated in 2002. He said that serving in Iraq was an eye-opener.
"I saw a lot of crazy stuff over there," Blount said. "But the thing that sticks with me the most were the little kids on the side of the road rubbing their bellies to tell us they were hungry. Those kids would yell and say, 'Mister, can you feed me?'"
After completing his tour of duty last year, he came back to WSSU to continue his education. He had attended WSSU for one semester in 2002 right after high school, but then enlisted in the Army and was sent to Iraq.
His original plan in 2002 was to try to walk-on with the Rams, but that didn't work out. But he gave it another shot in this past spring's practice and impressed the coaches enough that they asked him to play this season.
The Rams lost their top two rushers from last season in Martin Hicks (graduation) and Jed Bines (academics), so Blount hopes to add depth to the backfield. Tionti Powell and Brandon McRae are the team's top returning running backs.
Coach Kermit Blount (no relation) said that Herman has shown a lot of promise since camp opened last week.
"We don't know about where he is right now," Blount said. "But he's a hard working kid who has some talent. We'll see where he fits into the mix."
Kermit Blount joked that he doesn't call Herman by his last name. "I call him X because he hasn't earned my name yet," he said laughing.
Herman Blount, who is 5-7 and 183 pounds, amassed nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards and scored 26 touchdowns as a senior at Northhampton. Some small colleges recruited him, but because a cousin had gone to WSSU, he decided to go there.
But when playing football didn't work out, he chose to enlist in the Army.
Blount said that he didn't lose any close friends or others in his company during his time in Iraq. But there were nights when he wondered if he was just lucky.
"There was also the stress of not knowing what was going on back home with my family," Blount said. "And then every night you wonder if something's going to happen to you the next day or whenever."
He also missed not being at home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
"And my grandfather passed when I was over there, and I missed his funeral," he said. "I couldn't get back in time, so it was tough."
Practice can be hot this time of the year, but Blount said that it's nothing compared to Iraq.
"It got to be like 140 degrees," he said. "So with these practices ... this is nothing."
Blount said that he could be deployed again at any time, but he says that it's unlikely. He wants to concentrate on school and football.
"It really makes me appreciate life after what I've seen over there," Blount said. "That experience makes me look at life a lot differently. I mean, I know what it's like in a Third World country and how nice that we have it over here."
Blount says that a lot of his teammates have asked about his experience in Iraq.
"I feel like I'm a man now with what I've gone through," Blount said. "Now, I don't look to mom and dad anymore, and I'm making my own way."
• John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement