Pat Tillman, a True American Hero
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The word “hero” gets thrown around a lot to describe people. Sometimes, it fits. Most of the time, it doesn’t. With Pat Tillman, it might not be a strong enough distinction.
Tillman walked away from the NFL to become a soldier in the United States Army after September 11. He died in combat in Afghanistan at the age of 27 in 2004.
Every day, his legend grows bigger.
He Was a Man Among Boys Early.
Pat Tillman went to Leland High School in San Jose, California, and was a highlight machine on the football field as a safety, running back and kick returner.
Although he ran a 4.55 in the 40, he was only 5-foot-11, 195 pounds and didn’t draw a lot of interest from college recruiters.
Three Division I schools offered him a scholarship: Brigham Young, San Jose State and Arizona State. He chose Arizona State.
He Had a Nose for the Football.
He played linebacker at Arizona State and excelled.
He led the Sun Devils to the 1997 Rose Bowl in his junior season.
His senior season, he was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.
But Pat Tillman Wasn’t Your Average Football Player.
Tillman was different. He had guts, like all great football players do. But he also had brains. And we’re not just talking about football IQ.
Tim Layden explained Tillman’s uniqueness in a 1997 Sports Illustrated article:
“Most football players fit into a box. They’re big, fast and strong (duh); they submit to authority without resistance; and if asked to define introspection, they would say it’s what happens when the defense picks off a pass. Those who don’t fit into the box rarely succeed at a major program. Then there is Arizona State senior linebacker Pat Tillman, who not only doesn’t fit into the box but also would have to consult a travel agent to find it.”
The SI article was titled “A Cut Above Pat Tillman, Arizona State’s Height-Loving, Tree-Swinging, Book-Cracking Linebacker, Is the Best Player You’ve Never Heard Of.” The height part referred to Tillman’s love of jumping from high places like bridges and cliffs into water starting at a young age. Tree-swinging was a hobby he developed while jumping from tree to tree like Tarzan during walks in the woods. And he liked to sit, read and think, sometimes on a light tower overlooking Sun Devil Stadium (which was captured in a photograph by photographer Paul Gero for the SI article).
The athletic director at Leland High, Barbara Beard, summed up Tillman’s individualism this way: “He’s driving on the same highway as everybody else, but he’s on the other side of the road.”
He Was a Humble Overachiever.
He had a ferocious will to be the best he could be and squeezed out every last drop of his talent. A marketing major at Arizona State, he graduated in 3 1/2 years with a 3.84 GPA and took nothing for granted.
“Dude, I’m proud of the things I’ve done, my schoolwork — because I’m not smart; I just worked hard — and this award [Pac-10 defensive player honor],” Tillman told Sports Illustrated. “But it doesn’t do me any good to be proud. It’s better to just force myself to be naive about things, because otherwise I’ll start being happy with myself, and then I’ll stand still, and then I’m old news.”