University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Freshman Kenny Barrett Leaves North Texas
8/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, August 15, 2009, 10:46 p.m.
North Texas redshirt freshman receiver Kenny Barrett has left the team. Barrett wasn't upset with the coaches, he didn't lose his love of the game, or anything else. He had a higher calling to serve his country. He's joining the United States Army.
"I've been thinking about this for a long time," Barrett said. "Ever since my senior year in high school, I've wanted to join the Army but I had a lot of offers to play football so I thought I would try that, but I've always wanted to do this."
Barrett isn't joining the Army for kicks, fun, or because he doesn't have any other options. It's in his blood.
"My uncle has been in the Army for over 30 years, I've got a cousin who's been in the Army for over six years now and my best friend has been in the Army for almost six months," Barrett said.
This wasn't a decision that Barrett made lightly and one that he knew would be difficult to leave his football family behind.
"I can't tell you how hard it was to leave Coach Dodge and my teammates and wish nothing but the best for them," Barrett said.
He isn't sure what the Army has in store for him. He will enlist next week and report to boot camp by the end of the month. He wasn't fazed at all by any questions of risks involved in his decision.
"I talked to a lot of people and they think that the Army is just about war, but it isn't," Barrett said. "I know what possibilities are when it comes to going overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan, but that's something I'm ready to do, it's my duty."
Barrett already has his career path chosen out after the Army. "I want to get into the medical field, maybe a doctor."
Let me be the first to salute Barrett for his service to the Mean Green and more importantly thank him for his service to our country.
