A decorated combat veteran follows up on a promise to a fallen comrade to play college football. "One of my fears is that ten years down the road, I'm gonna look back in my life and say I didn't set out and try to achieve everything I wanted to. I see so many of my friends settle for the nine-to-five and talk about what they wanted to do. And I refuse." -Daniel Rodriguez Director - Ryan Russell Smith DP/Editor - Brian Stansfield Music Explosions In The Sky - Postcard from 1952 UPDATE 2: In Daniel's second season at Clemson he caught his first touchdown pass, won the Orange Bowl, and was named to the ACC All-Academic football team. He signed a publishing deal to co-write his memoir RISE (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Fall 2014) which was optioned by TriStar/Sony Pictures in a bidding war with Universal Pictures. variety.com/2014/film/news/sony-wins-rights-to-inspirational-football-story-exclusive-1201080610/ UPDATE 1: This video, originally made as a recruitment spot for Daniel, has received over 150k online views and prompted media attention concerning Daniel's story, including a feature interview with Dan Rather, A Fighting Chance, for Dan Rather Reports on HDnet, and an interview on FoxNews. Daniel has received preferred walk on spot from coach Frank Beemer of Virginia Tech, as well as similar offers from other division 1 programs, including Clemson, where he was accepted, walked on, and is currently starting on special teams. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8613738 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57523204/wounded-vet-lives-football-dream-for-the-fallen/ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/sports/ncaafootball/decorated-veteran-daniel-rodriguez-suits-up-for-clemson.html?_r=0 http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8222969/purple-heart-recipient-daniel-rodriguez-cleared-join-clemson-tigers http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-07-05/soldiers-PTSD-suicide-therapy-fort-carson/56042102/1 http://video.foxnews.com/v/1460104309001/decorated-war-hero-chases-his-dream/ http://www.hd.net/blogs/a-fighting-chance-february-7-2012/ http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/good-sports/201202/still-scarred-two-wars-american-hero-daniel-rodriquez-chases-his-football-dr http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/newsdesk/2012/01/14/combat-survivor-sets-sights-on-football-future/ http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/22038.html http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/22011.html http://www.wtoc.com/story/16500691/wounded-warrior-seeks-football-career http://southernpigskin.com/ACC/view/the-daniel-rodriguez-story http://southernpigskin.com/Recruiting/view/the-true-gem-of-the-2012-class http://www.rightthisminute.com/video/veteran-aspires-be-college-football-walk http://bigtymeskier.tumblr.com/post/15243558200/daniel-rodriguez-interview-on-nrvs-101-7fm