Cbz40
The Grand Poobah
- Messages
- 31,387
- Reaction score
- 39
[SIZE=+2]UT's Lewis, Cowboys' Hennings cross paths
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]11:39 PM CDT on Thursday, October 4, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
chipbrown@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE] When Chad and Tammy Hennings welcome Jerry and Debby Lewis into their Dallas home this week to celebrate the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma, the circle will be complete.
It was in the Hennings' study, a little more than three years ago, that Jerry and Debby's son, Aaron, a junior defensive end at Texas, called Longhorns coach Mack Brown and committed to playing for UT.
"I don't believe in luck because of who I am," said Jerry Lewis, a chaplain in the Air Force the last 22 years. "I call it God incidents."
Added Hennings, "It was providence. Pure and simple. It was meant to be."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/colleges/This story of hope and faith, of lives connecting and growing more enriched, of boys becoming men and dreams coming true begins on a basketball court at the twin air force bases of RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, England, in 1989.
Chad Hennings, who won three Super Bowls as a defensive tackle with the Cowboys in the 1990s, was in the first full year of a four-year stint flying A-10 Thunderbolts in the Air Force.
Jerry Lewis, now a full colonel in the Air Force, was only a captain. And Aaron Lewis, the starting power defensive end at Texas, was still in preschool.
Hennings and Jerry Lewis competed against each other in an intramural basketball league at Bentwaters-Woodbridge.
"I kept wondering who this guy was who was all over me, hacking me, playing really aggressive," said Hennings, who was 6-6, 275 pounds at the time.
Added Jerry Lewis, who was 6-3, 225 back then, "It got physical inside, so I just stayed on his hip and tried to keep him out of the lane."
Hennings was blown away to learn that the hyperaggressive hackmaster guarding him was a man of God.
"I thought, 'How cool is that?' " Hennings said. "Here's this chaplain out there mixing it up."
A spiritual guide
Hennings immediately sought out Lewis as a spiritual guide on the base.
Lewis held a Bible study at his home that Chad and Tammy Hennings attended every week.
When Chad began flying missions based in northern Iraq during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Tammy Hennings sought out Jerry and Debby Lewis for prayer and support.
Hennings dreamed of playing in the NFL, ever since the Cowboys drafted him in the 11th round in 1988. But he never thought it would be a reality until the Air Force started a draw-down program after the war in 1992, allowing some to take early leave from their military commitment.
"When Chad was drafted, it almost seemed impossible he was going to get out from being a pilot," Lewis said. "But when the military began downsizing, God opened a door for Chad."
Suddenly, the oversized fighter pilot who would come over to the Lewis' house and fall asleep on the couch watching John Wayne movies was being released from the Air Force to pursue his NFL dream with the Cowboys at age 27.
"Jerry was instrumental in counseling me before I came to the Cowboys to keep up with my faith journey, my walk as a Christian," Hennings said.
At the time, Hennings was nothing more than a giant teddy bear or tackling dummy – depending on the day – to 5-year-old Aaron Lewis. Whenever Chad came over to the house, there was Aaron pulling on his pants leg, demanding they go outside and play ball or wrestle on the floor.
"Chad was huge," Aaron said. "I just remember him picking me up and lifting me over his head with one arm."
Recalled Hennings, "Aaron was an active 5-year-old, I can tell you that."
From friend to fan
Not even a year later, Aaron was no longer attempting to tackle Hennings in his yard but instead watching Hennings tackle the Buffalo Bills' Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas in the first of three Super Bowl victories.
The two families stayed in touch, and each year Hennings would invite the Lewises to Dallas for a Cowboys game. Jerry baptized Hennings' son, Chase. Aaron and Jerry would accompany Chad to team Bible studies, and Aaron was allowed into the locker room to meet the likes of Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman.
"I always told my dad I wanted to be just like Chad," Aaron said.
As Aaron grew to 6-4 in high school, he and Jerry would call Chad on Tuesdays – Hennings' day off in the NFL – and solicit pointers for Aaron's burgeoning football career.
"I'd just tell him little stuff to watch for like if an offensive lineman is heavy on his hand, it's probably a run, or light on his hand, it's probably a pass," Hennings said. "I'd tell him to watch the back to see if he's set up close – to block – or back 7 yards to run.
"I told him to look at the center to see if he does anything right before the snap to be able to anticipate. Mostly, we talked about how to be a holistic athlete."
All those conversations meant the world to Aaron, who wore No. 95, just like Hennings. Aaron attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M., while his dad served at Kirtland Air Force Base. By the time Aaron finished, he was a Parade All-American being recruited by all the top schools in the country.
Reunited in Texas
Aaron and Jerry spent part of the summer in 2004 crisscrossing the nation, visiting schools. First, they visited Texas, then Georgia Tech and Florida State. Aaron was born in Florida while his father was assigned to Homestead Air Force Base. He grew up doing Florida State's tomahawk chop and always followed the Seminoles.
Aaron left Florida State knowing it would come down to the Seminoles and Longhorns. Aaron wanted to go back to the UT campus before making his final decision.
"So we drove back to Texas, and Aaron was led by God to go there," Jerry said. "After he had a long visit that day, he took a breath in the parking lot and said, 'Dad, that's where I need to go.' We rejoiced together."
More than a 10-hour drive from Albuquerque, Aaron and Jerry drove to Dallas to spend the night at Chad and Tammy Hennings' house.
"So after dinner that night, we went into Chad's study, and that's where both worlds came together," Jerry said. "In his office is all of Chad's Super Bowl memorabilia and the Outland Trophy he won at the Air Force Academy. It's gorgeous from all the blessings of his life."
With Chad sitting right next to him, Aaron dialed Mack and Sally Brown, who were on vacation in North Carolina, and put the phone on speaker.
"How was your visit on campus?" Brown asked.
"Really good," Aaron said. "Do you have No. 95 available?"
"I don't know, someone else handles that," Brown said.
At that point Sally Brown interrupted her husband and said, "Listen to what he's telling you."
Brown paused for a second and said, "Are you coming to Texas?"
Aaron replied, "Yeah, I want to be a Longhorn and wear No. 95."
After a couple of minutes of banter, including Hennings saying hello to Brown, they hung up.
"Aaron was kind of a momma's boy and a homebody as a kid," Hennings said. "Very personable, very blessed with athletic talent and a humble kid. I'm impressed and pleased with how he's turned out with the influence of his parents. He's a role model for young kids on how to do things right."
When Tammy Hennings sees Lewis playing, she says, "He looks like a younger version of Chad in that No. 95 uniform."
Coming full-circle
Now, instead of Hennings getting tickets for Aaron to attend Cowboys games, it's Aaron getting tickets for Hennings to attend the Texas-Oklahoma, Red River Shootout each of the last three years.
"Every year for OU, my parents stay with Chad and Tammy, and Chad comes to the game," Aaron said. "It's great to have him watch me after the days when he was picking me up as a kid. I think I can hold my own against him now because he's retired. We used to arm wrestle, but he won't do that with me anymore. I've been trying to talk him into it."
Just like Aaron used to marvel at Chad defeating double teams to make a tackle in three Super Bowl victories, now Chad is the one applauding Aaron, who defeated a block and chased down running back Adrian Peterson from behind for a 3-yard loss in last year's 28-10 victory over OU.
"You're talking about a chance meeting on a basketball court 15 years ago," Hennings said. "And at the time, I had no idea I would go play for the Cowboys. And they had no idea Aaron would one day be playing at a Division I college football program.
"Now, here we are sharing a common experience. God has a funny way of putting those things together. It's providence. Pure and simple. It was meant to be."
AARON LEWIS
School: Texas
Pos.: Defensive end
Ht.-Wt.: 6-4, 260
Class: Jr. Age: 21
High school: La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Notable: Leads team in tackles for losses with seven. ... Has 18 tackles, two sacks and eight QB pressures through five games. ... Texas coach Mack Brown calls Lewis underappreciated because his primary responsibility at power end is defending the run. ... In his UT career, he has 47 tackles, 16 TFL, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. ... Set career highs against Nebraska last season while playing for injured starter Brian Robison with six tackles, including two for losses, and a fumble recovery. ... Parade All-American who also played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-America Bowl. ... Named 2004 New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year. ... Like any Air Force brat, Lewis was born at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida and has also lived in England, Colorado Springs, Colo., Wheaton, Ill., and San Antonio. ... Father Jerry ran track and played soccer at Methodist College in North Carolina. ... Lists sports hero in Texas media guide as Chad Hennings.
Quotable: "You have to have a physical presence on the tight end, and Aaron gives us that," Texas co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina said. "Aaron's a tough guy who is also very responsible. Him being on the tight end, obviously a lot of guys want to be on the open side, where there's a little more air and you can create a little more space for yourself. Aaron's got a dirty man's job, and he handles it well."
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]11:39 PM CDT on Thursday, October 4, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
chipbrown@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE] When Chad and Tammy Hennings welcome Jerry and Debby Lewis into their Dallas home this week to celebrate the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma, the circle will be complete.
It was in the Hennings' study, a little more than three years ago, that Jerry and Debby's son, Aaron, a junior defensive end at Texas, called Longhorns coach Mack Brown and committed to playing for UT.
"I don't believe in luck because of who I am," said Jerry Lewis, a chaplain in the Air Force the last 22 years. "I call it God incidents."
Added Hennings, "It was providence. Pure and simple. It was meant to be."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/colleges/This story of hope and faith, of lives connecting and growing more enriched, of boys becoming men and dreams coming true begins on a basketball court at the twin air force bases of RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, England, in 1989.
Chad Hennings, who won three Super Bowls as a defensive tackle with the Cowboys in the 1990s, was in the first full year of a four-year stint flying A-10 Thunderbolts in the Air Force.
Jerry Lewis, now a full colonel in the Air Force, was only a captain. And Aaron Lewis, the starting power defensive end at Texas, was still in preschool.
Hennings and Jerry Lewis competed against each other in an intramural basketball league at Bentwaters-Woodbridge.
"I kept wondering who this guy was who was all over me, hacking me, playing really aggressive," said Hennings, who was 6-6, 275 pounds at the time.
Added Jerry Lewis, who was 6-3, 225 back then, "It got physical inside, so I just stayed on his hip and tried to keep him out of the lane."
Hennings was blown away to learn that the hyperaggressive hackmaster guarding him was a man of God.
"I thought, 'How cool is that?' " Hennings said. "Here's this chaplain out there mixing it up."
A spiritual guide
Hennings immediately sought out Lewis as a spiritual guide on the base.
Lewis held a Bible study at his home that Chad and Tammy Hennings attended every week.
When Chad began flying missions based in northern Iraq during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Tammy Hennings sought out Jerry and Debby Lewis for prayer and support.
Hennings dreamed of playing in the NFL, ever since the Cowboys drafted him in the 11th round in 1988. But he never thought it would be a reality until the Air Force started a draw-down program after the war in 1992, allowing some to take early leave from their military commitment.
"When Chad was drafted, it almost seemed impossible he was going to get out from being a pilot," Lewis said. "But when the military began downsizing, God opened a door for Chad."
Suddenly, the oversized fighter pilot who would come over to the Lewis' house and fall asleep on the couch watching John Wayne movies was being released from the Air Force to pursue his NFL dream with the Cowboys at age 27.
"Jerry was instrumental in counseling me before I came to the Cowboys to keep up with my faith journey, my walk as a Christian," Hennings said.
At the time, Hennings was nothing more than a giant teddy bear or tackling dummy – depending on the day – to 5-year-old Aaron Lewis. Whenever Chad came over to the house, there was Aaron pulling on his pants leg, demanding they go outside and play ball or wrestle on the floor.
"Chad was huge," Aaron said. "I just remember him picking me up and lifting me over his head with one arm."
Recalled Hennings, "Aaron was an active 5-year-old, I can tell you that."
From friend to fan
Not even a year later, Aaron was no longer attempting to tackle Hennings in his yard but instead watching Hennings tackle the Buffalo Bills' Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas in the first of three Super Bowl victories.
The two families stayed in touch, and each year Hennings would invite the Lewises to Dallas for a Cowboys game. Jerry baptized Hennings' son, Chase. Aaron and Jerry would accompany Chad to team Bible studies, and Aaron was allowed into the locker room to meet the likes of Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman.
"I always told my dad I wanted to be just like Chad," Aaron said.
As Aaron grew to 6-4 in high school, he and Jerry would call Chad on Tuesdays – Hennings' day off in the NFL – and solicit pointers for Aaron's burgeoning football career.
"I'd just tell him little stuff to watch for like if an offensive lineman is heavy on his hand, it's probably a run, or light on his hand, it's probably a pass," Hennings said. "I'd tell him to watch the back to see if he's set up close – to block – or back 7 yards to run.
"I told him to look at the center to see if he does anything right before the snap to be able to anticipate. Mostly, we talked about how to be a holistic athlete."
All those conversations meant the world to Aaron, who wore No. 95, just like Hennings. Aaron attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M., while his dad served at Kirtland Air Force Base. By the time Aaron finished, he was a Parade All-American being recruited by all the top schools in the country.
Reunited in Texas
Aaron and Jerry spent part of the summer in 2004 crisscrossing the nation, visiting schools. First, they visited Texas, then Georgia Tech and Florida State. Aaron was born in Florida while his father was assigned to Homestead Air Force Base. He grew up doing Florida State's tomahawk chop and always followed the Seminoles.
Aaron left Florida State knowing it would come down to the Seminoles and Longhorns. Aaron wanted to go back to the UT campus before making his final decision.
"So we drove back to Texas, and Aaron was led by God to go there," Jerry said. "After he had a long visit that day, he took a breath in the parking lot and said, 'Dad, that's where I need to go.' We rejoiced together."
More than a 10-hour drive from Albuquerque, Aaron and Jerry drove to Dallas to spend the night at Chad and Tammy Hennings' house.
"So after dinner that night, we went into Chad's study, and that's where both worlds came together," Jerry said. "In his office is all of Chad's Super Bowl memorabilia and the Outland Trophy he won at the Air Force Academy. It's gorgeous from all the blessings of his life."
With Chad sitting right next to him, Aaron dialed Mack and Sally Brown, who were on vacation in North Carolina, and put the phone on speaker.
"How was your visit on campus?" Brown asked.
"Really good," Aaron said. "Do you have No. 95 available?"
"I don't know, someone else handles that," Brown said.
At that point Sally Brown interrupted her husband and said, "Listen to what he's telling you."
Brown paused for a second and said, "Are you coming to Texas?"
Aaron replied, "Yeah, I want to be a Longhorn and wear No. 95."
After a couple of minutes of banter, including Hennings saying hello to Brown, they hung up.
"Aaron was kind of a momma's boy and a homebody as a kid," Hennings said. "Very personable, very blessed with athletic talent and a humble kid. I'm impressed and pleased with how he's turned out with the influence of his parents. He's a role model for young kids on how to do things right."
When Tammy Hennings sees Lewis playing, she says, "He looks like a younger version of Chad in that No. 95 uniform."
Coming full-circle
Now, instead of Hennings getting tickets for Aaron to attend Cowboys games, it's Aaron getting tickets for Hennings to attend the Texas-Oklahoma, Red River Shootout each of the last three years.
"Every year for OU, my parents stay with Chad and Tammy, and Chad comes to the game," Aaron said. "It's great to have him watch me after the days when he was picking me up as a kid. I think I can hold my own against him now because he's retired. We used to arm wrestle, but he won't do that with me anymore. I've been trying to talk him into it."
Just like Aaron used to marvel at Chad defeating double teams to make a tackle in three Super Bowl victories, now Chad is the one applauding Aaron, who defeated a block and chased down running back Adrian Peterson from behind for a 3-yard loss in last year's 28-10 victory over OU.
"You're talking about a chance meeting on a basketball court 15 years ago," Hennings said. "And at the time, I had no idea I would go play for the Cowboys. And they had no idea Aaron would one day be playing at a Division I college football program.
"Now, here we are sharing a common experience. God has a funny way of putting those things together. It's providence. Pure and simple. It was meant to be."
AARON LEWIS
School: Texas
Pos.: Defensive end
Ht.-Wt.: 6-4, 260
Class: Jr. Age: 21
High school: La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Notable: Leads team in tackles for losses with seven. ... Has 18 tackles, two sacks and eight QB pressures through five games. ... Texas coach Mack Brown calls Lewis underappreciated because his primary responsibility at power end is defending the run. ... In his UT career, he has 47 tackles, 16 TFL, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. ... Set career highs against Nebraska last season while playing for injured starter Brian Robison with six tackles, including two for losses, and a fumble recovery. ... Parade All-American who also played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-America Bowl. ... Named 2004 New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year. ... Like any Air Force brat, Lewis was born at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida and has also lived in England, Colorado Springs, Colo., Wheaton, Ill., and San Antonio. ... Father Jerry ran track and played soccer at Methodist College in North Carolina. ... Lists sports hero in Texas media guide as Chad Hennings.
Quotable: "You have to have a physical presence on the tight end, and Aaron gives us that," Texas co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina said. "Aaron's a tough guy who is also very responsible. Him being on the tight end, obviously a lot of guys want to be on the open side, where there's a little more air and you can create a little more space for yourself. Aaron's got a dirty man's job, and he handles it well."