Army Cadet opts to play football instead

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http://www.heraldnet.com/article/200804 ... 004/sports

NEW YORK -- In full cadet uniform, Army's Caleb Campbell sat upright in the Radio City Music Hall. On his head was a Detroit Lions ballcap.

Cupped in the linebacker's left hand was his ticket out of Iraq.

It was the card the Lions turned in to take Campbell 218th overall on Sunday at the NFL draft, changing his post-graduation plans to lead a platoon, one that may well have seen combat.

Campbell is the first Army football player to benefit from a new policy allowing athletes with a chance to play professionally to complete their service by serving as recruiters and in the reserves.

Campbell will still be on active duty. He'll serve as a recruiter, spending off days from the Lions visiting high schools and working.

If his career lasts more than two seasons, he will have the option of buying out the last three years of his active-duty commitment in exchange for six years in the reserves.

Meanwhile, his former teammates and classmates all face the prospect of going to war in Iraq, where more than 4,000 servicemen and women have been killed in the war that's been going on for more than five years with no end in sight.

Campbell wouldn't hesitate to join them.

"I didn't come to the academy to play football," he said. "I came to the academy to become an officer."

He initially had misgivings about passing up on the chance to lead a platoon. But he came around.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who served a tour in Vietnam, said on TV that picking the 6-foot-2, 229-pound Campbell was no flyer, and that the former Black Knights defensive back would be used as a linebacker, at least initially. The son of GM Matt Millen is a cadet at West Point.

Campbell "embodies what the academy is all about, and that's what everyone in this country should be trying to be," Millen said. "He's got skills, he's got desire and he's going to get a great opportunity."

On a star-starved second day at the draft, Campbell was the most popular guy in the room. Whenever he appeared on camera, fans chanted "Ca-leb Camp-bell!" and "U-S-A!" with only minimal egging on from ESPN staff.

"This is incredible," Campbell said. "It gives me goosebumps. It's awesome."

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on this. I have misgivings, and I'm not praising it like everyone else seems to be. I don't fault the Cadet so much as the Army for allowing this. I just think it sets a bad precedent and could open up a can of worms the Army does not want to deal with.

[Jonathan]

The army probably needs him in an NFL uniform more than it needs him in camo. I hear conflicting stories as to whether army recruitment is up or down...so that is probably a factor in the army's decision.

What better star to which to hitch a wagon than the NFL?

[crossways]

I am a lifelong military brat. I am very happy for the cadet!

Remember:

- the Army instituted this policy at least at the beginning of the season, maybe sooner. The cadet is taking advangtage of a policy already set in place. He isn't asking for a special permission to do this.

- the armed forces are way down in recruitment. They need a "face" to help with recruitment and for some major PR damage control.

- **this is purely my opinion and speculation** if we had a different commander in chief and/or the war we were in was more defined in purpose, the guy would probably ask to serve his time first.