Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 27, 2021 17 Blehm here and there, and that relation- ship led Capen to originally get involved with For Families of Active Military. When Capen went to college, he fig- ured he could run point from South Bend by writing a letter orchestrating the organization's cause, collecting the proceeds he received virtually and sending them to his mother so she could gather the boxes and deliver them to the warehouse. Blehm said it was the most beautifully written letter she's ever read. "He wrote that he was just as commit- ted to the cause as he was when he was in California and able to assist by hand," Blehm said. "He's somebody I reference quite often as an example for passion in wanting to help military families." Capen's vision has worked tremen- dously. He rounded up a record 100-plus boxes in 2020 despite roaming the Notre Dame sideline that entire fall during the Fighting Irish's second College Football Playoff appearance in three years. Capen put together another 71 boxes during this holiday season all while hav- ing a heightened role for the Irish. He's the team's head offensive signaler. Every time graduate student quarterback Jack Coan looks to the sideline for a play call, Capen is staring back at him with a head- set while making hand motions and body movements that tell Coan what to do. "He's an amazing guy and an amaz- ing teammate," Coan said. "He's one of those glue guys on the team that talks to everyone and is friends with everyone. "He's kind of the vet of the quar- terback room. He's seen the highs and lows. He knows this offense extremely well, and whenever I come off the field, I go to him first. He tells me what he's seeing. He's been huge for me to have a guy I can talk to." It's the accountability that sets Capen apart. He grew up a huge Notre Dame fan, and that's why he chose to walk on as a member of the Irish. Had he not done that, though, he'd be following in his grandfather's footsteps at West Point studying at the United States Mil- itary Academy. Capen's grandpa earned two Purple Hearts for his service during World War II. And even though he'd be in the process of becoming an active military member himself, Capen would probably still be Blehm's right-hand man with For Fami- lies of Active military. His appreciation for that cause is one thing that'll never change no matter where he is. "Our troops and their families obvi- ously give the ultimate sacrifice, but they risk and give up so much during the holi- days," Capen said. "Everyone else gets to spend time with family because of them, so the least we could do is provide them with a meal on Thanksgiving. It just takes away one thing they have to worry about. That's why I keep doing it." ✦ "The young man is absolutely astounding to me. Our prerequisite is having passion for military families. … Cole embodies every bit of that." BRIDGET BLEHM, CIVILIAN AIDE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY AND CO-FOUNDER OF 'FOR FAMILIES OF ACTIVE MILITARY' Capen is a member of the board of advisors of For Families of Active Military, a nonprofit that gives back to families whose loved ones are actively serving the United States. PHOTOS COURTESY COLE CAPEN