Head coach Jen Gomez said she wants the volleyball team to build on last year’s successes. Photo courtesy of gothunderwolves.com.

Entering the 2015 fall sports season, a common theme has emerged for many of Colorado State University-Pueblo’s athletic programs: high expectations.

After capturing the university’s first Division II Football National Championship, all eyes are on the Pack in their defense of the title. CSU-P football, however, is not the only athletic program hoping to emulate and build upon a highly successful 2014 campaign.

The volleyball program at CSU-Pueblo also has high hopes for the season ahead.

Coached by Jen Gomez, the ThunderWolves found their stride at the end of last season, winning five out of their last six contests and concluding the season with 17 wins, their highest season total since 1997.

“I think the key to last year’s success was just that we were more balanced as a whole, both offensively and defensively,” Gomez said.

“We were one of the best blocking teams in the conference last year and I think that really helped us a lot, plus we had some kids that could really put the ball away,” she said.

According to Go Thunderwolves, the school’s official sports site, the team finished with an overall record of 17-12 in 2014.

With an advantageously low turnover in personnel going into 2015, Gomez and the ThunderWolves hope only to improve upon that success.

“We only lost one player on our roster from last year,” Gomez said. “We really just want to build on what we did and be better than the year before.”

A tough schedule will provide some intriguing obstacles for the Pack with the 2015 campaign featuring contests with RMAC rivals, old and new.

“We always want to beat Adams State. We always want to play tough and beat Colorado School of Mines and Metro State and Regis, especially since in the past we haven’t been able to get over the hump on those teams,” Gomez said.

The 2015 schedule kicks off with Pack Volleyball’s first trip down to west Texas, where the ThunderWolves will compete in the 2015 Lady Buff Classic, according to Go ThunderWolves. There, the team will face off against teams like Dallas Baptist, Adams State, Lubbock Christian, and top-25 rated powerhouse and tournament hosts West Texas A&M.

“I think we’re ready for it. Right off the bat we’re playing in-region teams that could impact us for the season, so it’s a big weekend for us right out of the gate,” Gomez said.

The Pack will kick off their home opener on the weekend of Sept. 11-12 in a tournament that should “give everyone a real good taste of what our team is like and what they can expect to see from us this year,” Gomez said.

Careful not to overreach on season goals or expectations, Gomez seeks to measure the season’s success not by statistics, but also by improvement.

“We just want to build on what we did last year. Each year we try to do better than the year before. We want to be better than what we were,” said Gomez, “We want to make the RMAC tournament again. We want to win the conference.”

The Running Dead Obstacle Course aims to educate students about the dangers of drunk driving. Image courtesy of CSU-Pueblo health education and prevention.

CSU-Pueblo students are gearing up this week in order to prepare themselves for a coming zombie apocalypse.

Unlike the strikingly sudden and terrifying zombie apocalypses most are familiar with seeing on television, however, this zombie apocalypse is not only expected, but also quite a bit of fun.

The third annual “Even Zombies Know” Running Dead Obstacle Course will held across the campus April 22 in order to raise awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving.

“It’s a social-norming campaign that gives us the opportunity to promote prevention in regards to drunk driving,” said Quatisha Franklin, coordinator of CSU-Pueblo’s health education and prevention program.

CSU-Pueblo students decided to go with the zombie-themed campaign three years ago. By doing so, the club capitalized on the growing popularity of zombie movies and television shows like AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

The campaign’s slogan is “Even zombies know not to drink and drive.”

Every year since its inception, the health education and prevention program, with the help of CSU-Pueblo community volunteers, has facilitated the event and studied its affect on students.

According to surveys conducted before and after the event, of students who participated, “82 percent say they’ve spoken up to prevent an intoxicated person from driving, and 71 percent of students also said they’ve given someone a ride to prevent them from drinking and driving,” Franklin said.

Finding fun and entertaining ways to get students involved in spreading awareness for worthy causes is no easy feat.

“A lot of students say there is nothing else to do in Pueblo (besides drink) so we try to give them alternate activities,” she said.

This year’s course is slightly longer than a mile and will span throughout the entirety of the CSU-Pueblo campus. It has changed from past years in order to provide a new challenge for students who have competed before.

“I thought it would be beneficial to change the course every year to make more students participate,” Franklin said.

With a variety of obstacles like a slip-and-slide, a hoola-hoop station, and tire-flip and speed ladder obstacles, students are all but ensured their experience will come with some difficult challenges. All of these obstacles will be in addition to escaping the water-gun baring zombies trying to devour their brains.

According to a CSU-Pueblo news release, the team with the best time has the chance to win parking passes for the next academic year.

Second place finishers will receive $25 in Thunderbucks per team member, while third place team members will each receive a $10 Chili’s gift card.

In addition to the raising awareness aspect of the event, Franklin believes participation is highly beneficial to all students, if nothing else to burn a bit of stress before their upcoming finals.

“We always try to do the event the week before finals. It gives students a chance to relieve some stress. It gives them a chance to go through the slip-and-slide, get a little wet, have a little fun and get some good exercise as well,” Franklin said.

David Lehmpuhl | Photo courtesy of csupueblo.edu

Following the departure of Rick Kreminski to the office of CSU-Pueblo Provost, the university has a new acting dean of the college of science and math.

Professor David Lehmpuhl, department chair for the chemistry department, will act as dean for the CSM until a permanent replacement is decided at the end of the summer.

For as long as he holds the office, Lehmpuhl most certainly has his work cut out for him.

“This semester is a matter of keeping my head above water,” Lehmpuhl said.

In addition to balancing faculty budgets, conducting evaluations, performing tenure and promotion reviews and keeping up with on-going research, Lehmpuhl still has to find time to develop challenging lesson plans for his students, just like any other CSU-Pueblo professor.

“I’m still teaching my load I had as chair which includes a brand new prep for a course that is half physics, half chemistry for elementary school teachers. It’s a lot of work since it has an integrated lab component to it, but I’m enjoying it very much,” Lehmpuhl said.

“I’m definitely not at a loss for things to do,” he said.

A lifelong science enthusiast, Lehmpuhl knew growing up that he wanted to study science.

For a man who is now so involved in the field, the deciding factor of his decision to study chemistry was a mere $100.

“The primary reason I’m a chemist today is due to a $100 scholarship from my high school. The scholarship was given to someone who was in AP chemistry in high school and who chose chemistry as a major in college. I thought, ‘What the heck, I can always change it if I want to,’” he said.

That simple $100 scholarship propelled Lehmpuhl into the chemistry department at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, where he would eventually graduate with his bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

“I don’t know who sponsored that scholarship, but they definitely got their money’s worth in my case,” Lehmpuhl said.

Throughout his undergraduate and post-graduate years, Lehmpuhl then harnessed a passion for teaching to rival his passion for science.

“I love teaching, I love seeing the light go on in the students eyes when they discover something or learn something new,” he said.

Lehmpuhl now seeks to translate that passion into the administrative aspect of collegiate academics.

“There are good points and bad points to both (administrating and teaching) and I like the challenges each one presents,” he said. “Administrating is sort of like teaching at the next level. Being able to help guide programs into doing the best job they possibly can while maintaining a good work and learning environment is a huge challenge, but can also be hugely rewarding.”

Although no significant changes are likely to be made in the CSM until the new dean is named at the end of summer, Lehmpuhl is certain to stay busy until that point.

“One of my main goals is to make sure the hiring process for new hires for fall goes as smoothly as possible and that we get the best instructors we can for our students. This is one of the most important things a dean does and can influence the tenor and direction that a program takes for many years in the future,” Lehmpuhl said.

“I’m proud to serve the university in my capacity as acting dean and look forward to doing all I can to enhance the education of our students,” he said.

CSU-Pueblo’s College Combative Club encourages students to join.

As anyone who has seen the movie “Fight Club,” can tell you, the first and second rules about fight club are you don’t talk about fight club.

For Dave Fields, boxing coach and founder of the new CSU-Pueblo College Combative Club, however, talking about fight club is exactly what he wants you to do.

“We just want to get the word out there and get the fans behind us,” Fields said. “This (club) is here, so come take advantage of it.”

Fields, a graduate student at CSU-Pueblo and passionate fight fan who boxed at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, founded the club in order to “lay the foundation” for fight sports at CSU-Pueblo.

Although formally registered as a boxing club in order to allow members to compete collegiately, the CC club teaches and promotes a vast variety of fight sports including judo, boxing, mixed martial arts, tae kwon do and wrestling.

The club will soon be officially eligible to compete against other schools across the country in boxing and judo, but Fields hopes that someday, clubs like the CC will lead to collegiate level MMA competition across the country.

“MMA is the future,” Fields said.

With undergraduate students, post graduate students and CSU-Pueblo engineering professor Nebojsa Jaksic as instructors, MMA and fight sports certainly seem to be establishing a future at the university.

Although the CC club offers comprehensive training for fighters who wish to either hone their skills or take their abilities to the next level of competition, its doors are open to any student who wants to learn.

After three orientation sessions with the club, members can choose whether they wish to train competitively, get in better shape or just want to gain some experience with self-defense.

“You determine if and when to go to competition, whether you want to join for weight loss or even just for more self confidence,” Fields said.

The orientation workout sessions are open to all students, although any wishing to train competitively must officially register in order to spar against other competitors.

In addition to weight loss, increased self-confidence, and some pretty sweet bruises, Fields believes the CC club also provides its members with a unique sense of community.

“MMA is everywhere. It’s a mold of opportunity to connect to other cultures and it’s a world sport so it gives great social perspective,” he said.

“Here in Pueblo we might not have the population of a Virginia Military Institute or an Annapolis, but there are a lot of great people in this town that are willing to connect. It’s a large Hispanic community and boxing is their lifeblood,” he said.

Virginia Military Institute and Annapolis are military academies and boxing powerhouses.

Interested students are encouraged to seek further information through the club’s interactive Facebook page, which contains training techniques, club logistics and informative articles and videos about fight sports.

Although Fields and the CC club are certainly not a group to shy from a fight, students should not expect to see any “meet me at the flagpole” schoolyard challenges or bare-knuckle brawls behind the student center any time soon.

“We’re ambassadors for MMA. We don’t street fight,” Fields said.

So whether students are looking for a tough workout to burn calories or an intensely competitive sporting event, any student who joins the CC club is guaranteed to have their mettle tested.

“Fighters are serious athletes, you have to live like a fighter and that’s 24/7. It’s your weight, it’s your diet, it’s not going out and partying all night,” Fields said. “A fighter is a certain kind of guy or girl.”

Director of Alumni Relations Tracy Samora
File photo

Colorado State University-Pueblo students, alumni and staff are invited to attend a free networking event Tuesday, on the eve of CSU-Pueblo’s annual career fair.

The Student to Community Networking Mixer will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Occhiato University Center Hearthwell Lounge and is hosted by the CSU-Pueblo Alumni Association, the CSU-Pueblo Career Center and other community partners.

The mixer was designed with the intent to help students engage with business owners from across the Pueblo community, as well as develop meaningful contacts to assist them in their future careers.

In an email detailing the event to the CSU-Pueblo community, Director of Alumni Relations Tracy Samora said, “You have an opportunity to win a pair of Beats (headphones), and also make some helpful career contacts as you begin to build your professional resume and personal network.”

Networking events such as the SCNM can prove invaluable for students seeking to soon transition from college into the business world, as contacts made can have a strong influence on beginning and maintaining professional relationships.

“Because the benefits of networking are essential in any career path, students should understand that participation in the event could lead to internship opportunities as well as possible employment,” Samora said.

All CSU-Pueblo students are welcome to attend, as well as faculty, alumni and community members throughout the city of Pueblo.

Event attendance is highly encouraged, as it “gives students the opportunity to speak one-on-one with business leaders from our community, many of whom are successful CSU-Pueblo alumni,” said Samora.

Thanks to school and community sponsors, the mixer is held at no cost to attendees, although prior RSVP through Samora and professional business attire are encouraged.

“Please come to this exciting event…We look forward to seeing you Tuesday!” Samora said.

Like many other students from Colorado Springs, I have chosen to commute to CSU-Pueblo to pursue my degree.

As a student making the 45 mile trip south from my home in Colorado Springs, I recently encountered some car trouble and learned firsthand the difficulty of the commute for those without personal transportation.

Because of my situation, I thought I might be able to collect information to help commuting students by providing information on how to get to and from school without their own transportation. This would not only be a guide for those with sudden vehicle troubles, but also as a reference for students who wish to save money and gas through public transportation.

Unfortunately, my search was fruitless, as no such form of transportation currently exists.

Barring airport shuttle services that run to and from Colorado Springs, with rates from Pueblo to the Colorado Springs Airport costing $60 one-way and $100 round-trip, or ultra-expensive taxi rides, virtually no reliable transportation is available for commuters between the two cities.

Even “Bustang,” the new inter-regional express bus service from the Colorado Department of Transportation, which claims to connect commuters along the I-25 corridor, ventures no further south than downtown Colorado Springs.

Commuting students have called for more organized commuting networks since 2008, as detailed in a Colorado Springs Independent story by then CSU-Pueblo student, Amanda Lundgren, entitled “Going the Distance.”

In the article, Lundgren details the outlets available to commuting students to organize their own carpools, she said, “Besides meal plans, Student Life and Auxiliary Services offer commuters a separate lounge, and makes bulletin boards available to all students. But there is a limit to how many non-campus postings like carpool requests can be made, and few seem to know about the lounge.”

Still,with no current network in place for commuters and no outlet to arrange carpools besides bulletin board access, it seems that not much has changed with regard to the commuting issue since Lundgren’s article seven years ago.

One thing that has changed though is the amount of incoming students.

According to a CSU-Pueblo press release in September, the fall semester of 2014 boasted, “a double digit percentage increase in freshman enrollment (from 2013).” And Paul Orscheln, vice president of student services and enrollment management at CSU-Pueblo, said in a recent interview with KRDO that the university has received even more applications for the 2015-2016 school year.

With this increase in new students comes a greater demand for both late-start and general education classes, precisely the types of courses that are offered at the university’s Colorado Springs Tower location.

Students who live in Pueblo are beginning to face the same dilemma that their out of town counterparts have had for years: “Is the class worth the drive?”

If current enrollment in courses at the Colorado Springs location is any indicator, students have found the answer to be a resounding, “no.”

According to the CSU-Pueblo course listings, not one of the 43 listed courses in Colorado Springs is full, with most classes less than half full.

It’s unclear whether or not this enrollment might be boosted with more adequate commuter transportation.

According to an article in Forbes, CSU-Pueblo is one of the fastest growing universities in the state, and as CSU-Pueblo continues to grow, so will the number of commuter students.  This means that the issue of students commuting is one that will need to be addressed in the near future.

File photo

Student government presidents and representatives from the four-year public institutions across the state will gather at CSU-Pueblo this Saturday to discuss higher education in Colorado for a meeting and subsequent reception of the Colorado Student Government Coalition.

The coalition was formed with the intent to “represent the students of Colorado institutions through voicing the concerns and sentiments of its constituency, especially through political advocacy,” according to the CSGC official constitution. The meeting Saturday will be the third since its formation in October of 2014.

CSU-Pueblo Associated Students’ Government President Timothy Zercher, who is public relations and hosting director for the event, said, “(The coalition) is devoted to bringing about positive change, and for offering a cohesive voice for the students of Colorado to the leaders of Colorado.”

Zercher, who stressed the importance of these CSGC meetings, said, “For the students of Colorado, it allows their voices to be heard on a much larger scale than was possible before CSGC existed. Student issues can be broadcasted with much more authority now that multiple universities’ student governments can band together easily.”

“For higher education in Colorado in general, it is important because it allows state legislature to really hear what is going on at universities as students see it,” he said.

In the coalition’s previous two formal meetings at Metropolitan State University and Colorado University-Boulder, resolutions were discussed and passed to address on-campus sexual assaults, as well as the need for increased funding for higher education throughout Colorado.

Saturday’s meeting will include various topics of discussion, including resolutions of support for Senate House Bill 15-1027, a bill that would make American Indian students from tribes with historic ties to Colorado eligible for resident tuition rates at state colleges and universities, as well as one of support to Native American higher education.

CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare, who will attend and speak at the event, has personally funded the meeting in support of the CSGC and its importance for higher education throughout the state.

“She is underwriting this event to show support for the students of Colorado. She understands how important an organization like CSGC could be for the students and believes that it could have a very positive impact on higher education,” Zercher said.

Saturday’s meeting will also feature an entirely new aspect in the form of an informal, closed reception, also funded by Di Mare.

“The formal meetings are very procedural and we follow Roberts Rules (of order) very closely. The reception however is a completely new event. We have never had a reception like this, so we are excited to see how it goes,” Zercher said.

As to the future of the organization, Zercher said, “I see the CSGC as continuing to gain momentum in the coming years so that it’s eventually both widely known, and widely respected by state leadership. If future generations of CSU-Pueblo ASG presidents stay committed to the state’s growth through the CSGC, CSU-Pueblo ASG could continue to be a strong influence in this coalition.”

Photo by Jessica Warren

Colorado State University-Pueblo football coaches, alumni and fans gathered in the Occhiato University Center Ballroom Wednesday to welcome the school’s new crop of incoming athletes on National Signing Day.

The seventh annual Signing Day Boosters event and social hour saw the football staff and fans rubbing elbows, sharing a cash bar and enjoying hors d’oeuvres, in an evening designed to give ThunderWolves fans a firsthand look at the school’s new signing class.

The key speaker for Signing Day was CSU-Pueblo football head coach and National Division II Coach of the Year John Wristen, who gave fans a small peek into the program’s recruiting process.

After a stellar year where the ThunderWolves reached for the stars and succeeded with a national championship, Wristen graciously thanked CSU-Pueblo boosters and the Pueblo community for their continued support.

Hoping to build on last year’s success, CSU-Pueblo coaches targeted numerous high school players with experience in big games. Wristen detailed the coaching staff’s excitement in signing “nine incoming freshmen from state championship winning teams.”

While some coaches of a national championship team might use their new-found success to sit back and let recruits come to them, Wristen said the coaching staff prioritized a more personalized recruiting system.

“When we recruit here, it’s very important for myself or one of the other coaches to take the time to sit down inside of the home of the kids we’ll be coaching,” he said.

The main attraction of the Signing Day event was the revealing of the team’s new recruits.

Wristen broke down highlights of some of the team’s new signees, providing fans with a view of what the coaching staff looks for in the abilities of each player.

Fans got their first inside look at the two transfer students and 28 incoming freshmen who will soon seek to leave their mark on ThunderW

olves football.

The 2015 class, containing 16 offensive and 12 defensive recruits, as well as one special teams and one two-way player, will provide both depth and talent for the Pack in the upcoming season.

The event drew a solid crowd of CSU-Pueblo supporters and raised money for the program through admission and concessions. The CSU-Pueblo bookstore was also in attendance, selling merchandise to commemorate the team’s Division II National Championship.

In an event designed to excite CSU-Pueblo fans and alumni and to promote fundraising, the 2015 Signing Day Boosters event did not disappoint.

Jason Prescott, a mass communications major at CSU-Pueblo and event attendee said, “(The thing I’m most excited about) is the fact we were able to recruit guys from some of the big high schools like Valor Christian and Cherry Creek.”

“Denver kids usually tend to go to Colorado University or to Colorado State, so being able to pull some of that talent down here is nice,” he said.

Only two short months removed from the National Championship victory, the Pueblo community and CSU-Pueblo campus are once again buzzing with excitement over their football team.

“I just think it’s cool that we’re talking CSU-Pueblo football in February. It’s a big deal, and it’s becoming a big deal year-round,” Prescott said.

Following the December resignation of former Colorado State University-Pueblo Provost Carl Wright, proceedings are underway to select the man or woman who will take over this important administrative position.

Wright, who began his new role with CSU-Pueblo in January as a tenured professor for the Hasan School of Business, has taught business and accounting courses since 1976. As he now turns his focus back to teaching, the CSU-Pueblo campus community has turned its focus toward who will take his place as Provost for the coming years.

In an email announcing Wright’s resignation to the university last December, President Lesley Di Mare commended him for his service, saying, “I would like to thank Dr. Wright for his work at CSU-Pueblo during a very difficult period which involved budget reductions and eliminations in workforce. I appreciate his efforts to move the campus forward despite the barriers we encountered and wish him the best in his new role.”

Wright’s resignation has left the provost’s duties temporarily in the hands of Di Mare, who now spearheads the committee charged with the task of selecting his replacement.

In a January email to campus staff and faculty, Di Mare said, “(Because of Wright’s resignation) it is therefore necessary to begin the internal process of searching for a replacement who will begin his/her new duties in February 2015.”

In order to qualify for candidacy, applicants must adhere to stringent academic, as well as professional requirements.

According to the schools written description of the provost position, these requirements include, “An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited college or university,” as well as, “five or more years of progressively responsible academic administrative experience on a university level including working as a department chair, director and/or dean.”

The official position description goes on to detail numerous other requirements, as well as preferences for candidates, including experience with enrollment management, academic program coordination and also a “demonstrated leadership style suitable for a culturally diverse staff, faculty, student body and community.”

Nominations will be submitted by faculty and staff, and accepted until Jan. 28, at which point, “The selection committee, comprised of members of the cabinet and presidents of the faculty senate, administrative/professional council and classified staff council, will review nominations and recommend the top three candidates for consideration to me Friday, Jan. 30^,” Di Mare said.

The top three candidates will then be asked a series of questions concerning their perception of the provost’s role, to which they will share written responses not exceeding three pages.

These short written responses will then be made available for campus review and feedback from Feb. 9-Feb.13.

At the conclusion of this review period, “Both the selection committee and I will review campus feedback to candidate responses and the selection committee will make their final candidate recommendation,” said Di Mare.

According to Di Mare, the university community will receive word of the selection committee’s collective decision in an official notice announcing the individual appointed as provost Wednesday, Feb.18.

ThunderWolves quarterback Chris Bonner
Photo credit: Dustin Cox

Nothing in former ThunderWolves quarterback Chris Bonner’s life is small.

He plays big, he dreams big and not to mention, he’s 6-feet-7 inches tall.

At 6’7, Bonner is listed as the second tallest man on the ThunderWolves 2014 roster, trailing only 6’8, 275 pound senior defensive end Josh Bredl. But Bonner thinks he might have a slight edge.

The former three-sport Clairemont High School athlete, who played power forward and center for the basketball team, found out quickly in his football career that being 6’7 can come with its advantages.

“(Being tall) helps for the most part with vision and arm strength,” Bonner said. “I was kind of raw at first, but I’ve always had an arm so coaches liked that.”

 After turning his focus primarily to football his junior and senior years, it wasn’t long before the former basketball big man began to develop a talent that rivaled his size.

Following high school, Bonner played quarterback for Grossmont College in San Diego for two years before transferring to CSU-Pueblo following a stellar sophomore campaign.

It didn’t take long for Bonner to learn the difference between high school and college level athletics.

“Size and speed. I remember my first day of college practice. I was like, ‘the smallest guy here is bigger than the biggest guy I played with in high school,’” Bonner said.

Not one to shy from a tall task, Bonner came to CSU-Pueblo and stepped almost seamlessly into his new role as the ThunderWolves quarterback, leading the team to a 12-0 regular season, only to be disappointed in the second round of the 2013 playoffs.

Harnessing that disappointment the following year, Bonner and the ThunderWolves would not be stopped.

“I think it was just the experience. We had been there before, and we knew what we had done the previous year, so we just learned from our mistakes and held each other accountable and knew what it took to make it all the way,” Bonner said.

After achieving the pinnacle of Division II football accomplishments, however, Bonner had little time to relax before his next big challenge: an appearance Jan. 10 in the annual Medal of Honor Bowl, a college all-star game for senior NFL prospects across the country.

“(The week leading up to the game) was pretty intense, it felt like we were in camp. The practices were really high competition, and there were a lot of scouts on the sidelines,” Bonner said.

Most of its participants being from FBS schools, the Medal of Honor Bowl is the last chance for college seniors to make an impression with NFL teams going into the 2015 NFL scouting combine in February.

That kind of exposure is pivotal, especially for Bonner, one of the event’s only Division II attendees.

“It’s a lot of pressure, but you just try not to think about it,” Bonner said. “You get to talk to NFL teams one-on-one. A lot of the guys said they had never heard of me, but they saw me throwing and leading in practice, and they were impressed so I thought I made a good impression out there.”

Although Division II football players have a much more difficult path to the NFL than their Division I counterparts, Bonner has never been one to settle for what is easiest or most convenient. From unknown high school quarterback, to Division II national champion, to NFL hopeful, Bonner’s dreams just keep getting bigger and bigger.

“I’m taking the semester off so I can focus (on getting ready for the draft.) I’m putting everything I’ve got into it so I’ll have a good chance,” Bonner said. “So I’m going to see where football takes me.”