Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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FORMER BYU LINEBACKER, COLBY BOCKWOLDT IS COMING OFF HIS BEST SEASON EVER. BUT JUST OVER 8 MONTHS AGO, HE FACED ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF HIS LIFE. THE SAINTS 7TH ROUND DRAFT PICK 2 YEARS AGO WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE STATE WHEN HURRICANE KATRINA HIT NEW ORLEANS...LEAVING THE TEAM AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOMELESS. KATHY AIKEN CAUGHT UP WITIH COLBY AND HAS HIS STORY.
"COME HERE...SAY HI."
25 year old Colby Bockwoldt is right where he wants to be...
"SAY HI KATHY."
Back home in Ogden with his wife Ashley and 9 month old daughter, Rees.
" IT'S FUN TO HAVE BATH TIME, IT'S FUN TO FEED HER CAUSE IT'S A CHANGE OF PACE...A MAN GOING OUT BIG VIOLENT...AND COME HOME AND HOLD MY BABY GIRL IT'S JUST NOTHING BETTER."
There was nothing WORSE than last August. Hurricane Katrina was headed to Louisiana...forcing Ashley to flee with their newborn...and Colby to leave with the team.
"IT WAS A BAD SITUATION FOR US TO LEAVE BUT EVEN WORSE FOR THE PEOPLE STRANDED NO CELL PHONES NO GAS, IT'S DIFFICULT, DEFINATELY."
"I WAS IN SHOCK, I WAS JUST SO GLAD ME AND THE BABY AND COLBY WE ALL MADE IT OUT."
Their home in Loolink, Louisiana suffered minor damage...but the Superdome was a mess.
"THE 65 GUYS THAT PLAY FOR THE SAINTS WE WERE THE HOMELESS SAINTS WE HAD NO STATE TO CALL HOME, NO FAN BASE."
"BUT THE THINK ABOUT FOOTBALL IS THE SHOW MUST GO ON."
And so it did...in San Antonio. The Saints finished the season at just 3-13. They have a new head coach...and last week...they drafted their future.
"I'M KIND OF LIKE CAN YOU PASS ON REGGIE BUSH."
"AND THEY TOOK HIM AND FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T A SINGLE LINEBACKER DRAFTED BY THE SAINTS."
That may be because Colby had a record season. He was just 1 of 3 Saints to start every game...and finished 2nd in tackles with 93. He says he's building off the momentum he had as a linebacker at BYU.
"HALF OF IT'S WORK AND HALF OF IT'S LUCK."
"AND JUST LIKE I DID IN COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL I MADE THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITIES." . Whatever his future opportunites..Colby and Ashley are just glad they're on solid ground...and look forward to seeing football return to New Orleans. Until then...
Colby says THIS is where he should be.
In Ogden...KAI for SBT SUN
COLBY SAYS HE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE FOOTBALL RETURN TO THE BIG EASY...THE TEAM IS SCHEDULED TO PLAY ITS FIRST GAME IN THE SUPERDOME ON SEPTEMBER 25TH WHEN THEY HOST ATLANTA. BY THE WAY, COLBY, IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF A 3-YEAR CONTRACT.
