Deployed dad to watch CLC football online

Sgt. 1st Class Ted Erickson of Brainerd is stationed in Basra, Iraq, deployed with the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Infantry Division.

But that won't stop him from watching his son, Tyler Erickson, play football for Central Lakes College in the 3 p.m. Sunday Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Erickson is a CLC freshman and wide receiver on the football team.

Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, the public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Division who is also stationed in Iraq, said the National Guard has made arrangements for Ted Erickson to watch his son play football via the Internet Sunday.

Ted Erickson used to play football for CLC himself. Tyler Erickson also recently returned from Iraq. He is a private first class with the National Guard 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, said Olson.

Father and son were able to connect and see each other in Kuwait when Tyler was leaving Iraq after his 12-month tour of duty and Ted was deploying to Iraq, said Olson.

If they hadn't been able to see each other during that visit, father and son wouldn't have seen each other in two years because of their deployments.