Peter Boulware goes door-to-door in race for seat in the Florida House

Peter Boulware set the Ravens record with 70 career sacks before knee and toe injuries forced him to retire in 2005. AP

By Scott Carter, Special to SI.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Somewhere along the path from the end of his football career to here -- standing under a blazing August sun waving at motorists as they drive by the Leon County Courthouse -- Peter Boulware decided to take a detour that those close to the NFL star never saw. "I couldn't believe it,'' said Melva Boulware, Peter's mom. "This is not part of the Peter I expected once he finished playing football.''

In a few days, the Baltimore Ravens' career sacks leader (70 from 1997 to 2005) will know if he'll have similar success in his first foray into politics. Next week Florida voters head to the booth to vote in a Leon County primary election pitting Boulware against fellow Republican Jerry W. Sutphin. If Boulware wins the primary, he'll be one victory away from earning a seat in Florida's House of Representatives.

Somewhere in his transition from chasing quarterbacks to chasing votes, Boulware relied on a piece of advice Florida State's Bobby Bowden delivered to the Seminoles during Boulware's All-America stint at FSU more than a decade ago. Don't go to the grave with life unused. Boulware recalled those words as he contemplated the beginning of his latest journey, inspired by Bowden's guidance enough to use the phrase in his official introduction letter on his campaign Web site.

Two hours after arriving at the courthouse along with a few volunteers holding signs and wearing T-shirts that read "Peter Boulware For Florida House,'' Boulware is dripping in sweat. With the election nearing, Boulware spends the majority of his time making public appearances similar to this one. "This is like training camp for me,'' Boulware said. "This is politics at the grass-roots level. It's been a good experience for me. I'm not a politician. I'm learning as I go.''

Running in a district that voted 52 percent Democrat and only 34 percent Republican in the 2006 election, Boulware is aware of the obstacles ahead. Still, he also knows he has name recognition, plenty of business connections as vice president of a successful Tallahassee car dealership, a strong network of campaign fundraisers and millions left over from the hefty paychecks he received during a nine-year NFL career.

Since retiring from the NFL after the 2005 season, Boulware has spent most of his time focused on his wife, Kensy, and their three young children. The couple is expecting another child in December. Boulware's reputation around this garnet-and-gold town is nearly as formidable as Bowden's. He first moved to Florida's state capital from Columbia, S.C., in 1993 to attend FSU, where he met Kensy, a former FSU volleyball player. They decided to make the city their home after marrying.

"The name Boulware is just one of those great names in Florida State history,'' said FSU junior safety Myron Rolle, expected to be nominated as a Rhodes Scholar candidate this fall. "I hope he wins. Every time we hear his name and see his highlights on video, there is a little awe that goes through us and a little chill that goes through our bones because we know he was such a great player while he was here.''

With everything Boulware has going for him, the obvious question is this: Why is the four-time Pro Bowl defender running for political office? "When the seat was first presented to me, I said, 'No way possible. I'm not a politician,''' said the 33-year-old Boulware. "But people told me that's what we need, someone who is not a politician to come in and provide a fresh outlook.''

Boulware announced his candidacy last September, only two years after knee and toe injuries forced him to cut his NFL career short. The announcement made national news and his decision caught his family and former teammates by surprise. "We just never thought he would go this way,'' said Boulware's father, Raleigh. "This is totally new, totally unexpected. Early in his [football] career, he was kind of shy about making speeches, and now he is doing something that requires him to make speeches all the time.''

Boulware's younger brother, Michael, also a former FSU standout who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings, asked his brother what many others were thinking: "Are you crazy, man?''

Peter explained that he was ready for a new challenge, even one as unexpected as running for office. "I love this area," Boulware said. "I want to help the people who live here. This is where I met my wife and where we are raising our kids. I'll do it as long as I can make a difference. The key is that I have to get in and win first.''

A couple of miles from where Boulware stood waving at passing motorists, Bowden had spoken in the shadows of Doak Campbell Stadium the day before about his former player's latest endeavor. "I've seen the [campaign] signs,'' Bowden said. "Peter was one of those guys who came in with good credentials and left with good credentials. He was never a problem in class or off the field. Peter would be good at whatever he does. He is a very, very educated and class individual who has a very good record. I think he'll be excellent.''