Raising the Bahr
8/19/2019 12:05:00 PM | Football
Flashes veteran Matt Bahr ready for one last tour of duty with KSU
RAISING THE BAHR
Flashes veteran Matt Bahr ready for one last tour of duty with KSU
By Ty Linder
He thought it was over.
Mere minutes after Kent State's comeback efforts fell short in a season-ending 28-20 loss to Eastern Michigan on Nov. 23, senior Matt Bahr emerged from the tunnel at Robert C. Dix stadium in full uniform and pads. He had given all he had to prevent the Eagles from strengthening their bowl resume, leading the KSU defense with 11 tackles, a sack and an interception.
Most of the Black Friday crowd was long gone by the time the veteran Golden Flash began a slow stroll around the field. With his fists tugging at the collar of his pads and his head slightly bowed, Bahr methodically explored the far corners of the stadium alone. It was a powerful image to anyone – let alone those who knew what the young man from Kenton, Ohio had been through.
"It thought it was over," Bahr said of his football career. "I just remember I didn't want to take my jersey off. Ever. We went in and had the post-game talk and I had to go back out there."
It likely wasn't the first time Bahr had that thought. In Kent State's 2017 season opener at Clemson, he racked up nine tackles against the defending national champions. But it was a pyrrhic individual victory for Bahr – in the first half he felt that dreaded 'pop' in his knee. He played through it for the rest of the game but couldn't continue the next week against Howard. Season-ending knee surgery. Eight percent of the season had been played.
"You're always concerned about that," he says of the injury risk in such a violent game. "You could be one play away. It's why you have to enjoy every play, every game."
But following that season finale, it didn't look like there would be any plays or games for Bahr to enjoy. The clock had expired on both the Flashes' season and his career. His NCAA eligibility time had run out.
The Flashes football program had but one recourse: throw itself on the mercy of those making eligibility decisions in Indianapolis. Of course, it was up to Bahr himself to decide if he even wanted to make the appeal.
GOING HOME
It takes two hours and twenty three minutes to navigate from Kent, Ohio to Bahr's hometown of Kenton. It's the quintessential small town – located in the northern part of Hardin County. If one were to draw a triangle from Toledo to Dayton to Columbus, Kenton would be right in the middle. Here, people with both blue and white collars work hard, go to church and routinely sell out Robinson Field – not necessarily in that order.
When Bahr was six years old, he and the rest of Kenton's 8,000 citizens were enveloped in the throes of high school football hysteria. The Wildcats of 2001 and 2002 went a combined 28-2 and won two state championships. Lines of rabid red-and-white-clad fans waiting to get into the stadium six and seven hours before games were commonplace.
On a chilly November day, Bahr and his father were making the drive from KSU back home. He certainly had more questions than answers about his future – on and off the field. And that's precisely when he felt a metaphoric tap on the shoulder.
"I was trying to figure out where God wanted me to go," he remembered. "I said I'd go wherever He wanted me to go. I thought it was possibly the Army and being done with football. But I kind of felt someone tapping me on the shoulder saying you need to go back."
THE VERDICT
Bahr's next move was to sit down with head coach Sean Lewis and his staff. Both sides needed to be on the same page before appealing to the NCAA. Bahr liked the direction of the program and saw opportunities for leadership. His decision was this: either play one more year of football (if granted) or enlist in Officer Candidate School – the U.S. Army's main training academy for prospective Army officers.
Bahr's fire to serve his country has been burning inside him for a long time. But it raged even higher when he met former Flash Matt Dellinger. Dellinger became a Navy SEAL following his KSU football career and still is to this day. After conversations with many, Bahr made the decision to put the military career on hold and return to the gridiron.
The NCAA office said yes.
"I thought we had a good chance at it," Lewis said. He let us know that was something he wanted to pursue and we're pleased with the outcome."
Another off-season of conditioning (not that Bahr needs it; he is built like a Brinks truck), more 6 a.m. winter practices, another grueling spring and summer training camp and the grind of a three-month season now awaited the 24-year old.
"We are excited to have him back in the heart of our defense," Lewis said. "He exemplifies what we are looking for in a FlashFast family member. He is a tremendous young person and we are really proud of him."
THREE LETTERS
Bahr – a member of Kent State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – has spent time abroad in Belize and Costa Rica. He and other KSU representatives assisted the non-profit organization Courts for Kids in building community basketball courts. He has two degrees and a sparkling academic record. He is religious, loves his country and plays football.
In other words, he is a father-in-law's dream.
Not since Eugene Jarvis (2005-2010) has one single player wore the blue and gold as long as Bahr will when his Flashes' career finally ends. He's seen a lot of ups and downs in that time, yet always seems to have that permanent Hollywood smile on his face.
He wants this final year to count. He wants to serve in the same leadership role guys like Dellinger and Jordan Italiano did for him half a decade ago. But beyond that, Bahr wants to eventually work for a three letter agency. His head coach knows he's qualified.
"There's a select number of spots those elite agencies have open so he understands the preparation and the stressors along with the competitive nature of that arena, Lewis explained. "He is a lifelong learner who is always looking to improve which is a great characteristic trait – especially for those fields."
"We have freedoms which need to be protected," Bahr said. "I've just always felt it is something I've needed to do."
But for now, Bahr is trying to get his current three-letter agency – KSU – back to Detroit.
