Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/94528
tionals work at the bases, and they were the first in line to see the cheer- leaders," he said, laughing. "They could- n't wait to see women dressed like that." But mostly, the men said, the soldiers just wanted to chat. They wanted to talk football, college and pro, and other sports. They wanted to laugh and joke about inconsequential things. They wanted to feel as normal as possible. One of their stops was at the Pat Tillman USO Center at Bagram Air Force Base. "That took me back through the battles we had on the football field," Drayton said. "It was just kind of taken aback by those things. He was a dedicated and tenacious football player, and he had the same mentality when he was serving on the battle- field." After spending some time with the military, Drayton said, he sees why battle metaphors are so common in football. "Because really and truly, when you're going out on that field, you're fighting for each other. In both football and the military, there's a brotherhood there and a bond that's unbreakable." But he said he also realizes that the metaphors only go so far. "If we make a mistake, we get yelled at in the meet- ing room," he said. "If they make a mistake, it costs peoples' lives." Weeks after returning home, Drayton was still marveling at the U.S. service- men and women. "The pressure that's on them to be perfect – to be mission-oriented and task-oriented – I can't imagine it," he said. "I can't imagine a pressure that's on a guy knowing that the person to the right or to the left of them depends on him like that. Their game is life or death. "Our game, we get injured, we get a chance to go home and kiss our families and the end. They don't. They make a mistake, they may come home in a body bag." McDuffie said he hopes he gets asked to participate on another such tour. "It was absolutely amazing," he said. "I'd go back in a heartbeat." Drayton would, too. "I've gotta tell you," he said, "it was life-changing." ON THE LINE Noble is in his first season working with Coastal Caroli- na's defensive front. Former Penn State lineman finds a Noble calling | Brandon Noble's four seasons at Penn State were definitely productive, and the former defensive tackle also had a nice run in pro football be- tween 1997 and 2005 until knee injuries forced him to retire prior to the 2006 season. But this Virginia native wasn't away from the game for very long. In 2006, he made his first foray into coaching, when at his wife's urging, he contacted former Nittany Lion teammate Aaron Harris, then a coach at West Chester University. "Mary Kate, my wife, also a Penn State grad, pretty much decided she didn't want me home full time, and she said find something to do," Noble admitted. "They [West Chester] were looking for a part-time defen- sive coach. My wife said, 'Why don't you call Aaron?' I gave it a shot and I SEE NOBLE NEXT PAGE Photo courtesy of Coastal Carolina