Difference between revisions of "Pat Tillman"
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[[Image:Pat Tillman.jpg|right|thumb| Pat Tillman]] | [[Image:Pat Tillman.jpg|right|thumb| Pat Tillman]] | ||
| + | Pat Tillman (b. November 6th, 1976; d. April 22nd, 2004) was scholar, athlete, leader, hero, friend and an American patriot. Known for giving up a lucrative NFL career with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] to fight for his country as an Army Ranger in [[Afghanistan]] after the terrorists attacks of [[9/11]]. | ||
| − | + | ==Early Years== | |
| + | Born in San Jose, California to Mary and Patrick Tillman. He was the oldest of three brothers. Pat attended Leland High School from 1991 to 1994. He led his team to the Central Coast Section Division I Football Championship his senior year and earned co-Player of the Year honors. Pat earned a scholarship to [[Arizona State University]]. | ||
| − | + | ==Arizona State== | |
| + | In 1996, he helped lead the Sun Devils to the 1997 Rose Bowl after an undefeated regular season. <ref>[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pat_asu.php Arizona State University] Pat Tillman Foundation</ref> Pat would come to dominate the position of linebacker dominating earning him three selections to the All-Pac-10 Team and in 1997, he won the Pac-10 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year Award. | ||
| − | + | ==Arizona Cardinals== | |
| + | In the 2000 [[NFL]] draft, Pat was selected in the seventh round by Arizona as a starting safety. He earned a franchise record for 154 tackles. He pursued a master's degree in history from his alma mater. He volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of [[Arizona]], Boys Hope Girls Hope and [[March of Dimes]]. In 2002, he married his high school sweetheart Marie. Upon returning from their honeymoon, he told the Cardinals he was leaving football for the [[Army]]. | ||
| − | + | *His words from an interview the day after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, speak for themselves: "At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven't done a damn thing". <ref>[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pat_az_cardinals.php Arizona Cardinals] Pat Tillman Fundation</ref> | |
| − | + | ==US Army Ranger== | |
| + | Pat and his brother Kevin both joined the military at the same time, committing to a three-year term. They were assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington. Both brothers served tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004. Pat's unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of Eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for his fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his tragic death. | ||
| + | ==Death== | ||
| + | His death as a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan is controversial. First being decribed as dying by the enemy. Then the facts emerged he was killed by accident. It is standard military policy to investigate friendly fire incidents thoroughly before revealing any details. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37679-2004Dec5_2.html Army Spun Tale Around Ill-Fated Mission] Washington Post, December 6, 2004</ref> Charges of cover-up by his unit and his superiors surfaced. The incident attracted extra attention because the soldier had been a well-known professional athlete, also because his death was a source of controversy and the hostile liberal media wanted to attack any bad news of the [[Bush administration]]. After three-years of investigations his death was ruled a "friendly fire" incident, also known as fratricide. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Awards and Honors== |
| + | ===Arizona State Sun Devils=== | ||
| + | *1995, Second Team All Pac-10 All-Purpose Specialist | ||
| + | *1995, Academic All Pac-10 Honorable Mention | ||
| + | *1996, Second Team All Pac-10 Outside Linebacker | ||
| + | *1996, 1997 Clyde B. Smith Academic Award | ||
| + | *1996, 1997 GTE District VIII Academic All-American | ||
| + | *1996, 1997 Academic All Pac-10 | ||
| + | *1997 East-West Shrine, Outside Linebacker, Game MVP | ||
| + | *1997 Burger King Scholarship Award Winner | ||
| + | *1997 Sporting News Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Year | ||
| + | *1997 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year | ||
| + | *1997 ASU Most Valuable Player | ||
| + | *1997 All-American (2nd team) | ||
| + | *1997-98 Pac-10 Medalist (ASU male representative) | ||
| + | *1998 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winner | ||
| + | *1998 Sun Angel Student Athlete of the Year | ||
| − | + | ===Posthumously=== | |
| + | *Linking Sports and Communities; Tucson, Arizona | ||
| + | *Audie Murphy Patriotism Award; Decatur, Alabama | ||
| + | *Victor Awards; Las Vegas, Nevada | ||
| + | *NFL Hall of Fame Game; Canton, Ohio | ||
| + | *No.40 Retired with Cardinals | ||
| + | *San Pedro Sports Walk of Fame | ||
| + | *San Jose Sports Hall of Fame | ||
| + | *No.42 Retired at Arizona State | ||
| + | *Inaugural Lott Trophy Award | ||
| + | *Inducted as Honorary FDNY Member | ||
| + | *2005 Schow Donnelly Award | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | *[http://www. | + | *[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org The Pat Tillman Foundation] |
| − | + | ==References== | |
| − | + | <references/> | |
Revision as of 05:01, December 18, 2008
Pat Tillman (b. November 6th, 1976; d. April 22nd, 2004) was scholar, athlete, leader, hero, friend and an American patriot. Known for giving up a lucrative NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals to fight for his country as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan after the terrorists attacks of 9/11.
Early Years
Born in San Jose, California to Mary and Patrick Tillman. He was the oldest of three brothers. Pat attended Leland High School from 1991 to 1994. He led his team to the Central Coast Section Division I Football Championship his senior year and earned co-Player of the Year honors. Pat earned a scholarship to Arizona State University.
Arizona State
In 1996, he helped lead the Sun Devils to the 1997 Rose Bowl after an undefeated regular season. [1] Pat would come to dominate the position of linebacker dominating earning him three selections to the All-Pac-10 Team and in 1997, he won the Pac-10 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Arizona Cardinals
In the 2000 NFL draft, Pat was selected in the seventh round by Arizona as a starting safety. He earned a franchise record for 154 tackles. He pursued a master's degree in history from his alma mater. He volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Arizona, Boys Hope Girls Hope and March of Dimes. In 2002, he married his high school sweetheart Marie. Upon returning from their honeymoon, he told the Cardinals he was leaving football for the Army.
- His words from an interview the day after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, speak for themselves: "At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven't done a damn thing". [2]
US Army Ranger
Pat and his brother Kevin both joined the military at the same time, committing to a three-year term. They were assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington. Both brothers served tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004. Pat's unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of Eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for his fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his tragic death.
Death
His death as a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan is controversial. First being decribed as dying by the enemy. Then the facts emerged he was killed by accident. It is standard military policy to investigate friendly fire incidents thoroughly before revealing any details. [3] Charges of cover-up by his unit and his superiors surfaced. The incident attracted extra attention because the soldier had been a well-known professional athlete, also because his death was a source of controversy and the hostile liberal media wanted to attack any bad news of the Bush administration. After three-years of investigations his death was ruled a "friendly fire" incident, also known as fratricide.
Awards and Honors
Arizona State Sun Devils
- 1995, Second Team All Pac-10 All-Purpose Specialist
- 1995, Academic All Pac-10 Honorable Mention
- 1996, Second Team All Pac-10 Outside Linebacker
- 1996, 1997 Clyde B. Smith Academic Award
- 1996, 1997 GTE District VIII Academic All-American
- 1996, 1997 Academic All Pac-10
- 1997 East-West Shrine, Outside Linebacker, Game MVP
- 1997 Burger King Scholarship Award Winner
- 1997 Sporting News Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- 1997 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year
- 1997 ASU Most Valuable Player
- 1997 All-American (2nd team)
- 1997-98 Pac-10 Medalist (ASU male representative)
- 1998 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winner
- 1998 Sun Angel Student Athlete of the Year
Posthumously
- Linking Sports and Communities; Tucson, Arizona
- Audie Murphy Patriotism Award; Decatur, Alabama
- Victor Awards; Las Vegas, Nevada
- NFL Hall of Fame Game; Canton, Ohio
- No.40 Retired with Cardinals
- San Pedro Sports Walk of Fame
- San Jose Sports Hall of Fame
- No.42 Retired at Arizona State
- Inaugural Lott Trophy Award
- Inducted as Honorary FDNY Member
- 2005 Schow Donnelly Award
External Links
References
- ↑ Arizona State University Pat Tillman Foundation
- ↑ Arizona Cardinals Pat Tillman Fundation
- ↑ Army Spun Tale Around Ill-Fated Mission Washington Post, December 6, 2004