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Pat Tillman remembered 10 years after death in Afghanistan

Apr 22, 2014
Sun Devil Athletics

Pac-12 Networks honors Pat Tillman on Tuesday night with a special broadcast of one of his finest hours, the 1996 Arizona State upset of No. 1 Nebraska. It is set to air on Pac-12 Arizona at 7:30 PT.

It has been 10 years since Pat Tillman was killed while serving in the United States military, and to this day his memory and legacy continue to live on.

Tillman, the Arizona State alum who played for the Sun Devils from 1994 through 1997, was killed on April 22, 2004 while on duty in Afghanistan, less than two years after turning down millions of dollars to continue his career in the NFL.

At ASU, Tillman overcame his small size – he stood just 5-11 coming out of Leland High School in San Jose, Calif. – to become a dominant force on defense. He helped lead the Sun Devils to a Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl berth in 1996 and also earned the league's 1997 Defensive Player of the Year Award. The award now bears his name.

What most will remember him for, though, is walking away from a lucrative NFL contract to enlist in the United States Army, citing the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as his call to serve.

Beyond the Pac-12 award that honors him, Tillman's lasting legacy can be seen all over ASU, from the tunnel that leads current Sun Devils onto the field to the decals on their helmets and jerseys.