“We wanted to make a difference with children, who haven’t learned yet to be prejudiced. “A lot of us have different opinions about things, but as a group, we aren’t on one side or the other,” Butler said. ODU will take the circle of unity to the Bahamas Bowl. They also started a mentoring group, called Children 4 Humanity. They’ve made a circle, joined hands - often with opponents joining them - and raised their arms to the crowd. In the midst of the most partisan presidential election of modern times, and shorty after police shootings of African Americans in Charlotte and Tulsa, the players decided to form something they called a circle of unity before every game. He began practicing last week and acknowledged putting weight on the ankle was painful.īutler said he’s proud not only of ODU’s 9-3 record, but what it accomplished off the field. Whether he will play against Eastern Michigan isn’t certain. “He’s a fifth-year senior, and typical fifth-year seniors don’t always have their best season. “Until he was hurt, he was our best guy,” offensive line coach Chris Malone said. He was named second-team All-Conference USA two weeks ago. He starred this season before severely spraining an ankle in the 11th game, a victory at Florida Atlantic, that sidelined him during the regular-season finale. Not Butler, who was granted a medical redshirt and has played four of the five positions on the offensive line – all but left tackle.

Instead, some wound up transferring to other schools as the Monarchs recruited bigger and better players. “They came here expecting to play for FCS national championships,” he said. Wilder said Butler is among many players who were collateral damage in the move up. In 2015, the Monarchs finished a field goal short of their sixth victory and were again denied a chance for postseason play. The program was initially ineligible for a bowl, and in 2014 he suffered a season-ending torn ligament in his left ankle. “That’s pretty awesome.”īutler’s next three seasons were less than awesome, as the Monarchs moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Now he’s the only player left from that team.

Butler played as a freshman, when the Monarchs won the 2012 CAA title and lost in the FCS quarterfinals. ODU coaches offered a scholarship during an ODU summer camp before his senior year, and 24 hours later, he accepted.Īt the time, ODU was in the Colonial Athletic Association, its only ambition to win an FCS national championship. Just feeling the energy in the stadium was amazing. “I didn’t know much about ODU, but when I went to the game, I thought it was awesome. But I’m proud and happy that I picked ODU,” he said.īutler became sold on the Monarchs when he went to a game at Foreman Field in 2010 with some friends. “Its fun to fantasize about what might have happened. He was also recruited by James Madison, which is playing in the Football Championship Subdivision national championship game in January. WMU is unbeaten this season and will meet Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl on Jan.?2. “I couldn’t think of a better way to end my college career,” said Butler, a senior from Chesapeake’s Hickory High.īutler chose ODU over Ball State and Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference, and, yes, he wonders at times what might have been. E-Pilot Evening Edition Home Page Close Menu

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