When coach Urban Meyer recruited Xavier Nixon, he stopped at Fort Bragg in North Carolina because Nixon's parents are in the Army. For Meyer, it was a sobering reality that put the seriousness of the nation's military and football recruiting in perspective.

"His father is in Afghanistan and I actually had a conference call with him and Xavier's mother," Meyer said. "They are high character people and their morale is high. It humbled me.

"I sat down with a colonel and he briefed me on the status of our country. Think about that for a minute while we are sitting here talking. It was an unbelievable experience for me."



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