billybobby777
The REAL BillyBobby
Posts: 11,898
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I Root For: ECU, Army
Location: Houston dont sleepon
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Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
From West Point where he played for Army to being undrafted, to Afghanistan 3 times to playing in the NFL today. This man is why it's so important to give Army, Navy and Air Force players credit for what they have to go through to play the he sport we all love. What an American story. I'm so proud to say he played at Army.
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09-24-2017 08:53 PM |
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sfink16
All American
Posts: 3,571
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation: 73
I Root For: Temple
Location: Dubois, Pa
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 08:53 PM)billybobby777 Wrote: From West Point where he played for Army to being undrafted, to Afghanistan 3 times to playing in the NFL today. This man is why it's so important to give Army, Navy and Air Force players credit for what they have to go through to play the he sport we all love. What an American story. I'm so proud to say he played at Army.
And I bet he stood for the National Anthem.
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09-24-2017 09:07 PM |
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KNIGHTTIME
Hall of Famer
Posts: 13,511
Joined: May 2002
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I Root For: '17 Natty Champ
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
I'm officially done with the nfl
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09-24-2017 09:10 PM |
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sfink16
All American
Posts: 3,571
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation: 73
I Root For: Temple
Location: Dubois, Pa
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: I'm officially done with the nfl
I was done last year. This year is even worse.
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09-24-2017 09:22 PM |
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billybobby777
The REAL BillyBobby
Posts: 11,898
Joined: May 2013
Reputation: 502
I Root For: ECU, Army
Location: Houston dont sleepon
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 09:07 PM)sfink16 Wrote: (09-24-2017 08:53 PM)billybobby777 Wrote: From West Point where he played for Army to being undrafted, to Afghanistan 3 times to playing in the NFL today. This man is why it's so important to give Army, Navy and Air Force players credit for what they have to go through to play the he sport we all love. What an American story. I'm so proud to say he played at Army.
And I bet he stood for the National Anthem.
Didn't say one word about that nor will I. Today's game his team didn't enter the field until after. He walked out to the edge of the tunnel.
I'm glad that because of this, his story will be told. His story isn't well known. Now it will be. He's 1 of 3 NFL players who served in the military. He played football at Army. He's a great man. It's sad that his story and service will now only be told because of this, but his story is very interesting to some of us. I thought the Navy poster on here would like this tribute.
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09-24-2017 09:28 PM |
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Kronke
Banned
Posts: 29,379
Joined: Apr 2010
I Root For: Arsenal / StL
Location: Missouri
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
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09-24-2017 09:35 PM |
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slhNavy91
Heisman
Posts: 7,902
Joined: Jul 2015
Reputation: 1633
I Root For: Navy
Location:
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
I like the Villanueva story.
He was actually still a rough, unfinished product as a football player while at Army West Point - came to the game late, moved from TE to D-Line to O-Line back to TE/WR - or he might have been more of a factor in college. He still got attention for being a 6'10" athlete with diverse skills as a former rugby/soccer standout.
Anyway, his story of serving and THEN returning to his athletic dreams is the right story the service academies should want. I group him with Billy Hurley III Mitch Harris in recent memory in doing the full obligation, with the addition, that, yeah, he kind of kicked ass as an Army Ranger.
I'm a little surprised you say his story is not well known, because it seems like it's been force fed, but maybe I have different filters set.
Again, I'm a fan and I prefer this type of storyline slightly to a David Robinson esque 2 years, but both are preferable to 0 active all reserve.
Edited to add: He really seems like a genuinely good dude, too. I mean Hurley, Reynolds, Cardona, Greenspan, etc all seem to be too, but I didn't want to lose that, either. Seems like a guy with whom I'd love to have a beer.
(This post was last modified: 09-24-2017 09:47 PM by slhNavy91.)
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09-24-2017 09:45 PM |
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KNIGHTTIME
Hall of Famer
Posts: 13,511
Joined: May 2002
Reputation: 308
I Root For: '17 Natty Champ
Location:
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 09:22 PM)sfink16 Wrote: (09-24-2017 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: I'm officially done with the nfl
I was done last year. This year is even worse.
The only way to stop the entitled football players is to completely ignore the nfl and not buy from their sponsors.
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09-24-2017 09:48 PM |
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nomad2u2001
Hall of Famer
Posts: 18,356
Joined: Nov 2006
Reputation: 450
I Root For: ECU
Location: NC
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
These protests were all but over. Had to stoke the friggin flame again.
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09-24-2017 10:06 PM |
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Sellular1
1st String
Posts: 2,244
Joined: May 2016
Reputation: 186
I Root For: USF
Location: The ATL
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
NFL sucks. Just like the NBA. Whiney entitled crybabies
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09-24-2017 10:13 PM |
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vandiver49
Heisman
Posts: 8,590
Joined: Aug 2011
Reputation: 315
I Root For: USNA/UTK
Location: West GA
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Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
He is in a USAA commercial that airs pretty frequently
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09-25-2017 04:45 AM |
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wylioats
Heisman
Posts: 8,508
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation: 530
I Root For: Memphis Tigers
Location:
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: I'm officially done with the nfl
Yep, me too.
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09-25-2017 05:43 AM |
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TripleA
Legend
Posts: 58,632
Joined: Jun 2008
Reputation: 3182
I Root For: Memphis Tigers
Location: The woods of Bammer
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 09:45 PM)slhNavy91 Wrote: I like the Villanueva story.
He was actually still a rough, unfinished product as a football player while at Army West Point - came to the game late, moved from TE to D-Line to O-Line back to TE/WR - or he might have been more of a factor in college. He still got attention for being a 6'10" athlete with diverse skills as a former rugby/soccer standout.
Anyway, his story of serving and THEN returning to his athletic dreams is the right story the service academies should want. I group him with Billy Hurley III Mitch Harris in recent memory in doing the full obligation, with the addition, that, yeah, he kind of kicked ass as an Army Ranger.
I'm a little surprised you say his story is not well known, because it seems like it's been force fed, but maybe I have different filters set.
Again, I'm a fan and I prefer this type of storyline slightly to a David Robinson esque 2 years, but both are preferable to 0 active all reserve.
Edited to add: He really seems like a genuinely good dude, too. I mean Hurley, Reynolds, Cardona, Greenspan, etc all seem to be too, but I didn't want to lose that, either. Seems like a guy with whom I'd love to have a beer.
Nice post. As a Navy vet, I appreciate stories like this. Much more fun to discuss such, as opposed to the juvenile garbage that takes center stage so often here.
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09-25-2017 06:15 AM |
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KNIGHTTIME
Hall of Famer
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-24-2017 09:35 PM)Kronke Wrote:
Looks like he is now in trouble with the Steelers coach. Amazing world we live in now to get in trouble for standing for the pledge.
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09-25-2017 07:25 AM |
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HuskyU
Big East Overlord
Posts: 22,802
Joined: Jan 2014
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I Root For: UCONN
Location: The Big East
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-25-2017 07:25 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: (09-24-2017 09:35 PM)Kronke Wrote:
Looks like he is now in trouble with the Steelers coach. Amazing world we live in now to get in trouble for standing for the pledge.
That's ridiculous.
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09-25-2017 07:28 AM |
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Kronke
Banned
Posts: 29,379
Joined: Apr 2010
I Root For: Arsenal / StL
Location: Missouri
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Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-25-2017 07:28 AM)HuskyU Wrote: (09-25-2017 07:25 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: (09-24-2017 09:35 PM)Kronke Wrote:
Looks like he is now in trouble with the Steelers coach. Amazing world we live in now to get in trouble for standing for the pledge.
That's ridiculous.
Pittsburgh Kneeler coach believes you have the right to kneel like an idiot, but not stand and honor the flag?
I’d call that proving President Trump right. Wow.
(This post was last modified: 09-25-2017 07:38 AM by Kronke.)
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09-25-2017 07:37 AM |
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fanhood
All American
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
My .02 cents: I remember sitting at my Joint Security Station in the middle of a small town in Iraq in the Fall of 2008. We had just gotten back from a Raid, and I was "winding down" watching Armed Forces Network with my Iraqi interpreter. We were watching the news cover the Presidential Election. My interpreter looked at me and said "Why don't people in America realize how lucky they are? They live in the greatest country in the history of the world, yet they are always complaining." I had no answer for him. I just smiled and said "I don't know," then I went to bed.
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09-25-2017 07:50 AM |
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Kronke
Banned
Posts: 29,379
Joined: Apr 2010
I Root For: Arsenal / StL
Location: Missouri
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Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-25-2017 07:50 AM)fanhood Wrote: My .02 cents: I remember sitting at my Joint Security Station in the middle of a small town in Iraq in the Fall of 2008. We had just gotten back from a Raid, and I was "winding down" watching Armed Forces Network with my Iraqi interpreter. We were watching the news cover the Presidential Election. My interpreter looked at me and said "Why don't people in America realize how lucky they are? They live in the greatest country in the history of the world, yet they are always complaining." I had no answer for him. I just smiled and said "I don't know," then I went to bed.
Adversity makes men, prosperity makes monsters.
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09-25-2017 08:02 AM |
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NTTHOR
1st String
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I Root For: NORTH TEXAS
Location: DENTON
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
and of course, espn has an article about him kinda in a negative light. some of his teammates thought he was gonna be with them inside, james harrison specifically mentioned this. sad sad times....people want the right to do things, but they don't like when others go against what they want to do.
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09-25-2017 08:07 AM |
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KNIGHTTIME
Hall of Famer
Posts: 13,511
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I Root For: '17 Natty Champ
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RE: Army Black Knight Alejandro Villanueva
(09-25-2017 08:07 AM)NTTHOR Wrote: and of course, espn has an article about him kinda in a negative light. some of his teammates thought he was gonna be with them inside, james harrison specifically mentioned this. sad sad times....people want the right to do things, but they don't like when others go against what they want to do.
Of course the media tries to spin it as something negative. I hope he does it again next week.
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09-25-2017 08:11 AM |
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