Well, lemme tell ya,
Posted on 03/10/2006 2:53:24 PM PST by Kaslin
A former college teammate of Pat Tillman – the NFL player who left football to join the Army and was killed in Afghanistan – has followed in his footsteps and joined the Marines.
Jeremy Staat, who also played professional football, left the game at age 29 to endure the rigors of boot camp and life in the military.
Staat was an offensive lineman at Arizona State University while Tillman played there, and the two were roommates.
After college, Staat moved on to the National Football League, playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams, plus one year of arena football with the Los Angeles Avengers.
He had early thoughts of leaving football for military service, but Tillman urged Staat to stay in the league until he could get a retirement plan, the Marine Corps News reports.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Tillman decided to leave the NFL to serve in the U.S. Army. He was killed in action in 2004, a reported "friendly fire" death that is now being probed by the Pentagon.
"That was the turning point for Jeremy,” said Janet Goodheart, Staat’s mother. "After Pat was killed, he began to dwell on things. He visited me at home and we had a real serious talk. He told me he was through with football.”
Staat had reasons for joining that went beyond Tillman’s death, he said.
"The big reason was because I was really disgusted with the amount of money entertainers get and what they pay troops overseas,” he told the News.
"It didn’t seem right that we pay all those entertainers millions to catch a football and we pay our Marines pennies to a dollar to catch a bullet.
"I wanted to be a part of something that is going to live forever instead of getting trophies. What are trophies good for – collecting dust?”
But the combat utility uniforms took some getting used to, according Staat.
"I looked at them as a new uniform. Instead of having a football helmet, I had a Kevlar. Instead of wearing shoulder pads, I wore a flak jacket.”
Tillman’s old buddy said he plans on leaving a lasting impression in the Marine Corps – and maybe watching a few football games on his days off.
I know many 13 year old girls who did that.
ROTF. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.
I just lined daughter up to go fishing with some of the boys...she doesn't want to bait or remove fish. I said, "No problem. You drop the line or you can be their gopher." She replied, "I'm not going to be ANYBODY'S gopher." I said, "Good girl." : )
Anything less is a hollywood creation.
And those guys that say Whhoo aaaHHH,, U ha, he ha, oh ha, rah ha, blah blah......well, that's probably those ARMY guys.
And we all know what ARMY stands for
Aint
Really
Marines
Yet
Semper Fi, Lady X :-)
Well, lemme tell ya,
;-)
Actually, they must be throwbacks to these fellas...
..:)
Or a good hardy farmwoman. Had one tell me that grunting was good for ya.
You betcha!!
Such economy of effort is a valuable thing, helping you to make the long haul ahead...:)
Okay. freema... I've heard of R... O... T... F... L... M... A... O... Which I do... believe... means "Rolling On The Floor Laughing My... (expletive deleted)... Off... But... And let me be perfectly clear... I do not know what P... I... M... P.. means! Could you make that... Perfectly clear to me?
You full bodied Dick! 
It means 'Peeing In My Pants,' you smuck! Gadzooks! When they finally dig you up and cut off your head and put it in a jar of white wine, you will become much smarter!
You're telling me... 
Hey, Normey, if this is white wine, why does it smell and taste like urine?
They told me it would be filled with butta... But I think they lied! Those damned Republicans of the future!
Now... That made it all... worthwhile! 
That... 
I think says it all, Bender!
With out a doubt, #2!
Say good night, Dick... 
Good night, Dick! 
Good night, Dick...
Good night, Spock. Live long and prosper.
Good night, Spock. Live long and splrrrg. 
Thank Saint Peter, General Lee and Stonewall Jackson that crap is over!
Now... that I gotta put on my list! 
Say... Earl? When you do put this on your list... be sure you run the spelling by old Double A! That way you'll know it is all spelled right!
And all this crap is on a thread intended to salute a new boot... 
The Old Corps will never believe it!
Well, Sarge, they ain't supposed to...
Wheee Haaaa! Wheee Haaaa!
I just love...
Marines!
Don't we all... 
Don't forget the Navy boys... They are just animals! Animals!
And all those Air Force fly boys...
They tip so well... And they have such good manners!
And those Army boys... They opened up my eyes to what a man is really like!
I think we may need to hold on to her for awhile, don't you think so, Sir?
And... Don't forget the French! 
Book 'em, Dano... Book every damned one of 'em!
Excellent. My son starts his first tour aboard the USS Louisiana as a nuke next week.
God bless our military and their families.
you are one sick individual...I like that.
nite me!
There IS a MArine Corps Institute course called SPALLING FOR MARINES.
I know because I took it!
Long as it's a male Marine and a Female Marine! :)
Oh No. I forgot all about it. I did too
3 points for promotion right?
ROTFLMAO
W
I've never seen Marines argue about spelling, By the way forwar harch is spelt with an H.
6'5", 300 lbs! Yikes! I'm surprised they can fit him with a uniform.....and the flak vests would cover him about as much as band-aids on a stripper.
I hear what you said,
and you're right,
I hear what you said,
But you left,
Sound off,
bring it,
on down,
Left,
right,
left,
right,
Bring it
on down,
You're right.
I just realized that I can't print any of the cadence I remember and I can't remember any of the cadence I can print! LOL!!!
Semper Fi
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