Citadel seniors look forward to military service
On Saturday, The Citadel will battle VMI in the Military Classic of the South, a football game pitting two military schools on Veterans' Day.
But by this time next year, three Citadel seniors could find themselves in a fight for much more than the coveted Silver Shako. Bulldogs Chris Murray, Cale Conant and Nick Fender all will join the U.S. Army after graduation next May, and are among six players who will receive their commissions during a halftime ceremony Saturday. Murray and Fender plan to go to Ranger school, while Conant wants to join the military police.
The three seniors talked about their decisions to join the Army, and their hopes and fears for their careers.
Linebacker Chris Murray: My father was a Ranger in Vietnam, and I've always had an interest in the military. After 9/11, that just solidified my interest. I wanted to get into the Army and do what I can for my country, and to take a little chunk of revenge for 9/11 and all the attacks on our country since then.
My dad never really glorified the military to me. He told me the truth, about how scared he was when he was younger, and how he developed into a good soldier. I always thought the military would be something I would be good at, and I always wanted to be real special at something, and I think this is it.
Of course, I'm scared. You'd be stupid not to be. But there have been a couple of situations when I've been scared in my life, and I've done all right. I seem to have a knack for getting through those situations, and I think this will be no different.
Football has been an invaluable experience, especially since I will be going in as a second lieutenant. Being under the tutelage of the coaches here, they told me what leaders should be like. I had my own notions, but being a captain this season, it has been a huge teaching experience for me that has been invaluable.
Offensive tackle Cale Conant: I started to really think about the military at the beginning of my junior year, and I finally decided this year to go in. I have a cousin in the Army, and he loves it and it has been good to him. My grandpa was in the Army, as well, so it's something I've always wanted to do.
To tell you the truth, I won't mind if I have to go to Iraq at all. I think we should be over there, and if I have to go over there, then I have to go. It will be my job. People think I'm crazy for joining the Army at this time, but I tell them I don't mind going over there for my country.
I know Citadel graduates have died over there, and I hate for that to happen to anybody. But they made their choice to serve their country, and they knew what might happen. It just comes with being in the military.
Defensive end Nick Fender: The military was the reason I picked The Citadel. I guess I figured if I didn't make it in college football, I was going into the Army. When I came here, I fit in pretty well with the military, so I decided I would go in when I graduated.
Both my grandfathers were in the military. I want to go into the infantry and to be a Ranger. It's prestigious, and it's something not everybody can do. It's something to shoot for.
I really don't see myself doing anything else. I can't sit behind a desk. I have to do something physically active, that has an adrenaline rush. Physically and mentally, it pushes you to the limit, and I figure that's right up my alley. If you can make it through two-a-days at The Citadel, I believe you can make it through Ranger school without a problem.
Pat Tillman is my hero. I can't think of somebody who sacrificed more than he did. He gives up pro football, gets deployed and ends up dying. I can't think of anyone who gave up more than he did.