FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 17, 2014) -- Although there's a 29-year difference between Bobby Risdon, a lieutenant colonel in the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, and his son Carson Risdon, a freshman at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School, the two share football like a lot of fathers and sons.
This father and son both play football, but at different levels.
Football buff and Fort Benning Doughboy offensive lineman Bobby Risdon said his motivation to play football comes from the "unfinished business" of not being able to play in college and from his son, Pacelli Vikings tight end and defensive end, who pushes him.
"(Carson) is playing now, why wouldn't I give this a shot and play," Bobby Risdon said. "(I want to) show him that his old man still has a little bit of juice left."
Carson said he finds his father's participation interesting and supports his decision to play.
Bobby Risdon said he hoped after more than a 20-year break, his body was going to be able to deal with the smashing from playing again.
"It has been a little while since I put a helmet and shoulder pads on, but I knew the game enough that I was able to get back into it," he said. "The stingers are a little bit much on my neck and my head, I just need to be a little bit more careful. I don't remember getting those when I played, so I don't know if that's my spine being a little older or my neck not being as strong ... but other than that, things are not so bad."
Although the elder Risdon said his father influenced him to play football by the age of 6, Bobby Risdon said he wanted his son to make the decision to play football on his own, and he did.
"I didn't want him to do it for me," he said. "I wanted him to do it because he wanted to do it and I think that's why he has grown."
Carson said he dabbled in football, but seventh grade is where he realized he wanted to buckle down and work on his skills.
"In seventh grade, I was slow and terrible," he said. "I got sick of it and wanted to work on everything there was to work on so I could get better in eighth grade."
Bobby Risdon said seventh grade was a turning point in the mental part of the game for his son.
"If you're not mentally tough, you're not ever going to be able to play football," he said.
While the elder Risdon was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Carson in Columbus for school, it didn't stop the two from establishing a training regimen with Carson spending two summers in North Carolina.
Bobby Risdon said the two would train in the morning at the gym and then would work on pass and catch skills on the football field in the afternoon.
Carson said they still go to the gym in the morning and work on things such as lifting, plyometrics, running, tire flips, footwork, power cleans, bench pressing and squats.
Bobby Risdon said when they work in the gym they try to mimic what's going to be done on the field.
"It's important that he's strong, explosive, fast, (has) quick feet and understands the game," he said.
With the shared enthusiasm for the game and being able to work together, Bobby Risdon said Carson has underwent a transformation.
"I call him a plant," he said. "All you have to do is pour water on him and he grows. He is extremely focused for a 14-year-old (and) he's got his goals that are out in front of him and he doesn't want to miss a day."
To add memory to the adventure, the elder Risdon serves as an announcer for Carson's games.
Bobby Risdon said one memory came from a moment in his own practice with the Doughboys where he got goose bumps while kneeling on his football helmet.
"I thought 'holy crap, you're leaning on a football helmet right now ... this is amazing, ... you're playing football again,'" he said.
After not playing for 20 years, Bobby Risdon said he said he wants Carson to enjoy the ride because time goes by fast and he should make the most of it.
"Enjoy every single day with your friends on the field with your helmet and shoulder pads," he said. "I'm speaking from 20-plus years of missing (football) to the point where I am at (it again at) the age I am, willing to do what I'm doing so that I can play again."
On Sept. 12, the Pacelli High School Vikings beat the Central High School Hawks of Talbotton 49-6. A day later, Bobby Risdon and his Doughboy teammates posted an impressive 36-0 victory over the Greenville Firebirds.
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