The U.S. Army and a pair of Colorado Crush players ran a group of Aurora high school students through fitness and football drills today.
In a visit that was a mix of fun, inspiration and recruiting effort the players tossed footballs and a trio of Army recruiters led a PT class at Aurora Central High School’s two gymnasiums.
In the west gym, Crush linebacker Saul Patu, and Anthony Dunn, threw passes as students, some who are members of the school football team, scrambled to catch them.
The work out with Crush members was a lot different from training with the Aurora Central Trojans, said 17 year-old senior Alex Hickman, a member of the team. And watching Patu and Dunn throw effortless, on-target passes, showed him something, he added. “I really can’t throw.”
In the east gym, Sgt. Greg Boudreaux, a 16 year veteran with a Louisiana drawl, and two other soldiers, led the group in fitness exercises, and demonstrated the finer points of standing at attention.
The Army’s “Be Strong for Life Tour,” gives kids an opportunity to meet positive role models like Patu, who grew up in a rough-and-tumble Seattle neighborhood where drug dealing was rampant, said Boudreaux.
The tour is a partnership between the Army and Arena Football League and brings its message to students in areas where the league has teams, said Jeff Graham, Colorado Crush spokesman.
The tour has visited schools in Atlanta, Philadelphia and elsewhere.
The tour, which stopped at Columbine High School in Jefferson County on Tuesday, also gives Army personnel a chance to let kids know that if they are interested, the Army can help them achieve their goals, Boudreaux said.
The kids, who received personalized dog tags and an opportunity to win prizes, provided contact information to the recruiters.
“If they are 17 or over we give them a call and ask if they’re interested, if they’re not, we say OK and good luck,” Boudreaux said.
Junior Keith Williams cq enjoyed meeting celebrity football players and working out with the Army personnel, but it wasn’t enough to convince him to don a uniform, he said.
“I’m not going to go, but it was pretty cool.”
Patu followed the work out with a talk about choice and the role it played in his success overcoming poverty and a rough environment.
“I encourage you guys here today to understand …. Choose your friends, don’t let your friends choose you, don’t let them lead you down the wrong path. Choose your own destiny, write down your goals and follow your goals.”
Patu’s words caused brothers Brett, 16, and Joseph Abrams, to think about their own lives, they said.
There are days when the only people who call them are kids who can get them in trouble. Patu “really made me think about who I want to hang around with,” said Brett.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
