The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Meet the Unsung Heroes of UAB Football
11/2/2017 11:23:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Among the commotion on the UAB football sideline everyday stands two student equipment managers poised and ready for action.
From fixing broken helmets to carrying tackling dummies or holding the down and distance, these two men are on the front lines of making the operation run smoothly, which is nothing new to them.
Meet Wayne Dowdy, 48, a senior majoring in kinesiology/fitness leadership and Dequindre Jelks, 23, a sophomore also majoring in kinesiology, who both enrolled at UAB and gravitated to UAB football after active service in the military.
Dowdy enlisted in the Army in 2004 where he specialized as a combat medic with 26 recorded jumps in airborne operations as a paratrooper. He did two tours in Iraq, the first being a 15-month tour from Germany and the second a 12-month operation in the Anbar Province.
After his second tour, Dowdy returned to Fort Bragg in North Carolina where he attended the special operations medical course under the Green Berets and was assigned to the Dwight Eisenhower Hospital in Fort Gordon, Ga. He then left active duty to join the Army National Guard in Birmingham as part of the 20th Special Forces Airborne Unit. After four years with the National Guard, he enrolled at UAB.
Jelks graduated from Birmingham's Woodlawn High School in 2011 and took a year off before enlisting in the Marines in 2012. After three months in Paris Island, S.C. at boot camp, Jelks was stationed in Okinawa, Japan for a year and a half, which included an eight-month deployment in Afghanistan. He returned to North Carolina where he finished his time in the Marines as a combat engineer.
Along with sharing the commonality of serving to protect our country, Dowdy and Jelks share the bond of wanting to be a part of something more at UAB, which led them to UAB football.
Dowdy found the opportunity on a flyer in the Student Hill Center, while Jelks saw a graphic on Twitter. Both were quick to jump on the chance to work with "The Return."
"I have always been a Blazer fan so to be able to help with The Return has been great," Dowdy said. "I haven't felt a part of a team like this since I left the Army so I think I enjoy that part the most."
Like Dowdy, Jelks also feels the brotherhood of UAB football.
"Building relationships with the players has been great," said Jelks. "They are like my needy little brothers and I enjoy that. It is really cool to be a part of history. I wanted to be more involved in school and I think I've gotten my money's worth."
But admittedly so and like anything in life, transition can be hard.
"Not only transitioning from a military mindset back to a civilian mindset after so long, but things like algebra, I hadn't done algebra in 15 years," Dowdy said. "It was a heck of a learning curve but the people at UAB have been great and have helped me along the way."
And this Saturday, amidst of all the chaos that goes into a college football game, Dowdy and Jelks will be on the front lines playing their part to help the team be successful, because it's embedded into their DNA.
The Blazers host Rice at 2 p.m. for the Penn Mutual Salute to Service game and look to become bowl eligible with a win.
Fans can help by purchasing a discounted $10 ticket which will be donated to military members, past and present, who serve to protect our country. Military members can redeem up to four tickets on gameday at Gate 6A or by contacting Michael Emert at memert@uab.edu or 205-934-3161.
There have already been over 1,000 tickets purchase to be donated to the military. Fans who would like to help in the initiative can click here to donate.
From fixing broken helmets to carrying tackling dummies or holding the down and distance, these two men are on the front lines of making the operation run smoothly, which is nothing new to them.
Meet Wayne Dowdy, 48, a senior majoring in kinesiology/fitness leadership and Dequindre Jelks, 23, a sophomore also majoring in kinesiology, who both enrolled at UAB and gravitated to UAB football after active service in the military.
Dowdy enlisted in the Army in 2004 where he specialized as a combat medic with 26 recorded jumps in airborne operations as a paratrooper. He did two tours in Iraq, the first being a 15-month tour from Germany and the second a 12-month operation in the Anbar Province.
After his second tour, Dowdy returned to Fort Bragg in North Carolina where he attended the special operations medical course under the Green Berets and was assigned to the Dwight Eisenhower Hospital in Fort Gordon, Ga. He then left active duty to join the Army National Guard in Birmingham as part of the 20th Special Forces Airborne Unit. After four years with the National Guard, he enrolled at UAB.
Jelks graduated from Birmingham's Woodlawn High School in 2011 and took a year off before enlisting in the Marines in 2012. After three months in Paris Island, S.C. at boot camp, Jelks was stationed in Okinawa, Japan for a year and a half, which included an eight-month deployment in Afghanistan. He returned to North Carolina where he finished his time in the Marines as a combat engineer.
Along with sharing the commonality of serving to protect our country, Dowdy and Jelks share the bond of wanting to be a part of something more at UAB, which led them to UAB football.
Dowdy found the opportunity on a flyer in the Student Hill Center, while Jelks saw a graphic on Twitter. Both were quick to jump on the chance to work with "The Return."
"I have always been a Blazer fan so to be able to help with The Return has been great," Dowdy said. "I haven't felt a part of a team like this since I left the Army so I think I enjoy that part the most."
Like Dowdy, Jelks also feels the brotherhood of UAB football.
"Building relationships with the players has been great," said Jelks. "They are like my needy little brothers and I enjoy that. It is really cool to be a part of history. I wanted to be more involved in school and I think I've gotten my money's worth."
But admittedly so and like anything in life, transition can be hard.
"Not only transitioning from a military mindset back to a civilian mindset after so long, but things like algebra, I hadn't done algebra in 15 years," Dowdy said. "It was a heck of a learning curve but the people at UAB have been great and have helped me along the way."
And this Saturday, amidst of all the chaos that goes into a college football game, Dowdy and Jelks will be on the front lines playing their part to help the team be successful, because it's embedded into their DNA.
The Blazers host Rice at 2 p.m. for the Penn Mutual Salute to Service game and look to become bowl eligible with a win.
Fans can help by purchasing a discounted $10 ticket which will be donated to military members, past and present, who serve to protect our country. Military members can redeem up to four tickets on gameday at Gate 6A or by contacting Michael Emert at memert@uab.edu or 205-934-3161.
There have already been over 1,000 tickets purchase to be donated to the military. Fans who would like to help in the initiative can click here to donate.
UAB Baseball | The Quick Cut: at Alabama
Thursday, April 23
UAB Beach Volleyball | The Quick Cut: Blazer Beach Bash
Saturday, April 18
UAB Softball | The Quick Cut: Memphis Series
Thursday, April 09
UAB vs ECU Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 08
