ejs 2004

ejs

Volume 4

An Enigmatic Hero

Matthew Petrocelli

Pat Tillman stood out the first time I saw him. As I watched the ASU Sun Devil football team practice in the summer of 1995, I couldn’t help but notice the long hair extending out from underneath his helmet, in sharp contrast to the shaved heads and trendy crewcuts sported by most of his teammates. He was also smaller than most of the other players, in fact tiny for a PAC 10 linebacker. But you couldn’t help but notice his devastating hits. He clearly played football with a ferocity and skill most players only dream about. Myself and my friend (a fellow PhD candidate) watched him closely at every home game, crashing into opponents 50, 60, 70 pounds heavier than he and knocking them backward. We were both former undersized football players and we marveled at his tenacity, explosive power and guts. His intelligence also impressed and set him apart from his teammates. I heard through the grapevine that this guy was smart and upon his graduation, that truth was verified. He completed his Marketing degree in 3 ½ years, finishing with a 3.82 GPA and Summa Cum Laude honors, all while earning the distinction of Defensive Player of the Year. Who the hell was this guy?

I heard he entered the NFL draft but didn’t think he had much of a chance given his physical stature. I was happy to see him get drafted and astounded when he not only made the AZ Cardinals, but was named a starter and went on to set a team record for tackles. Awesome, I thought. Here’s a guy who beat the odds, trusted his ability and will now be richly rewarded for his athleticism and drive. Like many, I was shocked when I heard he was not returning to the Cardinals, instead opting to join the military to do his part to fight the war on terrorism. Not only had he walked away from a multi-million dollar contract, he volunteered for Special Operations Airborne and Ranger training. I had gone through that same training in the late 1980s. It is grueling and uncompromising. I had no doubts that a guy like Tillman could make it through the training, but why would he choose that route? Why trade a life of celebrity and success for a 100 pound rucksack and a path that would undoubtedly lead him to a battlefield? Who the hell was this guy?

A few days ago, I heard about his death during a firefight in Afghanistan. As I reflected on the death of a fellow Ranger and read through the numerous memorial articles written about him, I realized the answer to my question. Who was this guy? He’s the person we all want to be. Here was a man who lived life on his own terms. He walked away from the comfort and material success we’re all told we should attain and deliberately sought out danger for what he deemed the cause of greater good. He was true to his heart. You may disagree with the wars we are fighting, but you cannot deny the character of this man. I write this because I often hear students bemoan the fact that there are few role models in our modern world and I tend to agree with that sentiment. But here is a person that embodies that ideal. Searching for someone to look up to, an example to follow? Look no further than Pat Tillman. He is a hero in every sense of the word and we can all learn something from the way he lived his life.

Matthew Petrocelli is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Studies at SIUE. His email address is mpetroc@siue.edu