Air Force player's bond with brother grows through adversity

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) — Air Force senior defensive back Garrett Kauppila wears No. 22 in honor of the 22-month age gap between him and his older brother .
It's a bond forged through basketball games in the family's driveway as kids and fortified last year through hardship.
Kauppila's brother, Kyle , was thrown from his motorcycle during a Sept. 17 accident in Northern California and hit his head on a rock. A day later, Kyle suffered a stroke. A few days after that, Garrett broke his collarbone while blocking a punt.
His brother needed him. He needed to be home. So Garrett de-enrolled from the academy for a semester to heal and help take care of his brother.

No. 22 is back on the field this season.