Pat Tillman: Honoring The Sun Devil, Cardinal, and American Hero

April 17 2010, marks the sixth annual Pat's Run on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe.

More than 20,000 runners will participate to celebrate the life of an ASU Sun Devil, Arizona Cardinal, and a true American hero.

Everyone on the Arizona State campus, as well as the rest of the country, should know the extraordinary story of Pat Tillman and the legacy he left behind.

Tillman played at the linebacker position for the Sun Devils from 1994-97 on one of the best ASU football squads in school history. The team's run included the notorious "Beginning of the End" shutout of the undefeated Nebraska team, and a trip to the 1997 Rose Bowl. He not only excelled in football, but also in the classroom, graduating in three-and-a-half years with a 3.84 GPA.

In 1998, Pat Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Ironically, Tillman seemed to have never left ASU because the Cardinals also called Sun Devil Stadium home.

Following the 2001 NFL season and the September 11 attacks, Tillman turned down a $3.1 million extension from the Cardinals to join the military. Soon after, he became an Army Ranger and was deployed to Afghanistan. This showed the tremendous character that he had, as not many people would voluntarily forfeit fame and money to join the military.

On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman was killed overseas at the young age of 27.

Reminders of Tillman's legacy are seen throughout the state of Arizona. Sun Devil Stadium is flooded with Pat's ASU No. 42, and the Sun Devil football team enters every game running through commemorative "Tillman Tunnel." The University of Phoenix Stadium, the home of the Cardinals, has a life-sized statue of Tillman just outside the north gates, as well as his Cardinals No. 40 on display inside.

It is a great honor for Arizona State students to say that they went to, or currently attend the same school that Tillman attended, and loved. As all the runners cross the finish on the 42 yard line in Sun Devil Stadium tomorrow, they can proudly say that are standing on the same field that Tillman had once played on.

Pat Tillman will always have a special place in the hearts of Sun Devils and people throughout the country for being a true, American hero.