Ref: Caleb Campbell

So let me get this straight.

Our hero Caleb plays high school football in Texas but at a small school and, while impressive, he is ignored by the major colleges. He contacts a few schools about a scholarship but it becomes readily apparent that nobody’s gonna give the lanky kid from Perryton, TX the free college ride he’s looking for.

Caleb looks into paying his own way through college but, hell, have you seen the price tag for a degree nowadays? He’d be in debt up to his third point of contact! Caleb’s family is hard working and all but that kind of money is beyond reach. Caleb’s older brother is a professional bull rider and the money isn’t exactly stampeding in, if you know what I mean. Plus, have you seen the insurance rates for bull riders? Adding to the financial burden, Caleb’s got a younger brother with a prosthetic leg and the treatment is costly on the family. There’s got to be another way…

Caleb is watching TV one evening and one of those Army recruiting commercials comes on. Tanks rumbling, helicopters overhead, parachutes flapping…Caleb decides that a career in the military doesn’t look half bad. Free room and board and if he plays his cards right, an education. Why not go for broke and apply for commissioning through the USMA at West Point? After all, West Point is the creme de la creme of military academies. An education there and you’re set for life. The Army gives you a world class education and you give six years of service and it’s all even. Not a bad deal.

Caleb gets accepted only his grades aren’t the greatest so the Academy sends him to Ft Monmouth, NJ to the USMA Prep School for a year to get him ready for the rigors of West Point. Nobody wants a new appointee to fail so they put the extra work in to prepare him. They feed him, educate him, room him…the works. Now four years of West Point to prepare him to become a leader and fighter. West Point is worldwide respected for a good reason; it is quite challenging.

While undergoing that intense training and education, Caleb continues to pursue his football interests. He makes an impact as a freshman and assumes the starting safety position mid-season. He continues to excel and by his senior year he’s getting recognized as a potential pro football candidate. That’s outstanding!

Caleb gets drafted, albeit in the seventh round, by the Detroit Lions. Things are looking up for the kid from Perryton! Oh, but wait…there’s that six year obligation to the US Army for everything that Caleb accepted up front. The room, board, education, leadership training, coaching…the list goes on.

Here’s where it gets tricky.

While it is true that all the military services have been under the same DoD Directive since 1994 regarding special duty for athletes, it has been loosely interpreted and enforced throughout the years by each individual service until just recently.

The Navy, in its never ending quest for equality amongst the services, cried foul when it found out that Caleb was going to be allowed to play professional football while maintaining a special duty position for the Army. The Navy had just denied pitching prospect Mitch Harris his request to join the St. Louis Cardinal’s farm system when he was drafted in the 13th round this past year. The Navy saw Caleb’s subsequent approval to play football as a recruiting disadvantage and whined up the DoD chain of command until the Army was directed by higher command to rescind its prior approval for Caleb to pursue his football career. I’ve heard that the Army fought the DoD interpretation of its own directive until right up until the last minute before finally giving way to orders. That’s when Caleb received the unfortunate news. Caleb, while disappointed, accepted this turn of events and is awaiting orders that could realistically see him along side me in the very near future, where the real lessons will begin.

Reilly’s portrayal of the Army in his column does not mention any of this and, to be honest, disgusts me. The Army tried giving Caleb his shot at the NFL but was denied by those that would put their own agenda first. Here’s a thought…how about doing a little research before you go running on at the mouth over things you obviously know very little about.

He’s a seventh round draft choice who has a marginal shot at making a historically bad team. The only “screwing” I see is Reilly screwing the public perception of the Army by producing crap commentaries over things he knows jack **** about…again. The Army does its share of screwing, but this ain’t one of ‘em. Find a new bad guy.

Rob
Iraq

By Rob on 08.07.08 7:26 am

I agree with your assessment Rob. It is obvious that Reilley does not see the big picture here. The fact of the matter is that Caleb signed a contract and needs to honor it. What I hate about this situation, and I see everyday, is the hate and discontent of those responsible for blowing the whistle on this situation. We in the bizz call this a buddy F!@#$R, and I am surrounded by them on a dailey basis. So, great points Rob. It is unfortanate Caleb was denied by a higher power, but with his education and obvious talents, I’m sure he will be just fine.

By Bob on 08.07.08 10:03 am

I agree that Caleb made a commitment and should probably honor that. However, that fact does not overshadow the suckiness factor here. Can you imagine how bad it would suck to have a sniff of your dream and then have it all taken from you? It’s like Pamela Anderson telling you that you can do whatever you want to her. This is a clear cut case of dream blue balls.

By estew on 08.07.08 11:06 am

It isn’t the commitment that bothers me, yes he should follow through with his obligations…what bothers me is that they are going to make him hold a clipboard as an assistant coach to the Army Football team while he waits for assignment. If he can hold a clipboard, he could be doing something else…thats fufilling NO obligation to his country, thats wasting a young mans talent for no reason.

By Justin on 08.07.08 1:14 pm

Ted Williams, the HOF great, TWICE was called to duty by the USMC (WWII and Korea). Did he ask for a special exemption? No. Did the Marine Corps offer one? No. He did his duty. Football HOF’er Roger Staubach fulfilled his Navy obligation prior to starting his career in football. Again, no exemption offered or requested. History is full of professional athletes living up to their military contract before starting their sports careers. This should never have been a question. If you willingly sign up for military service, ESPECIALLY for the various Academy’s, you give up all other career options, unless there’s a special circumstance. Playing professional sports isn’t one of them.

By John on 08.10.08 10:18 am

Did Caleb ask for a special exemption? No. Did the Army offer one? Yes. I think that is the problem here and the point that a few of our readers are looking past. Not only was the Army going to use this as a positive spin on recruiting new members, but there was a whole song and dance around this story. It was the biggest thing at the NFL Draft back in April, even larger than the number of illegitimate children Darren McFadden has fathered - ZINGER! Why was the decision to make him stick to what he signed up for made at the very last second? Who knows, but that’s what makes this story a sour one. The military didn’t need to parade around with Caleb on its shoulders for a couple months only to drop him flat on his face.

By M.E. on 08.11.08 9:53 am