Judson Rambaud has been playing football since he was
six years old. That love of the game continued when,
in his senior year of college, he was the only walk-on
to be chosen to play last season for the Eagles, Eastern
Michigan University's football team.
The Massillon, Ohio native recently took his skills as
a safety and a member of the Eagles' special teams to the
U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the San Antonio Alamo Dome,
in early January. Rambaud, 23, was one of only 18 ROTC
cadets nationwide chosen to work with more than 500 outstanding
high school seniors representing 271 colleges.
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MAN OF TWO UNIFORMS: Judson Ramboud, an
Eastern Michigan University senior who is a member
of the Eagle football team and ROTC, recently was
chosen to work with high school senior football
players at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. |
A senior at Eastern Michigan, Rambaud is majoring in applied
sociology with a double minor in criminology and military
science.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the nation's premiere
high school football game — the All-Star game for seniors,
which has served as the launching pad for America's future
college and NFL stars. Sponsored by the U.S. Army, the
three-day event highlights the students' football activities,
skills and talent, and attracts coaches, current and former
pro football players, and the media. The event culminates
in the East versus West Bowl game.
"The All-American Bowl represents what the Army is all
about," said Capt. John Samples, from Eastern's ROTC program. " It
represents excellence, dedication, hard work and sacrifice.
Judson is an outstanding cadet and a good student."
Rambaud worked with the players as they competed in skills
challenges such as agility drills; provided some coaching
tips; was interviewed by several reporters shown live on
the Web, and met "all-soldier heroes" who served in Iraq
and Afghanistan, including several seriously wounded in
combat.
"It was inspiring because the students were exposed to
the strength and character of these soldiers, who had the
mental strength to cope with the cards they had been dealt," Rambaud
said. "I saw guys with a prosthetic leg kicking the football
30 yards."
He also spoke to two groups of approximately 400 students.
"My first speech was about my background," he said. "The
second was about physical and emotional strength. Everyone
has some physical strength. It's how you use it. Emotional
strength will help you get back up."
Rambaud is a long way from his family's farm, called Obie
Lane, in Massillon, where he grew up bailing hay for
their Black Angus cattle.
Massillon is a hotbed of high school football, he said.
His family's farm is named after Obie the Tiger, the Massillon
High School mascot. Even baby boys born at the local
hospital are given small Massillon Tiger footballs.
While at Eastern, Rambaud and his fellow cadets competed
in the Frozen Chosen competition, an ROTC event, at Northern
Michigan University. Eastern fielded two teams that tested
their skills in such cold weather events as an 18-mile
run, carrying a 35-pound ruck sack, rappelling, paddling
a canoe across a lake and pulling a sled.
He also competed in the ROTC Ranger Challenge, where he
and other EMU cadets tackled five skill-challenging timed
events against "the best of the best of ROTC" from across
the country.
But life isn't all competition and ROTC training. He interns
at the Ozone House's Youth Drop-In Center in Ypsilanti,
where he works with teens. Ozone House provides a safe
place for young people and helps keep them off the streets.
"I'm working on coordinating with other organizations,
so kids can watch plays and participate in other activities.
I teach fitness exercises," Rambaud said. "I have experience
with teens, ages 13-20, and help them with skills to use
in the work force."
In addition to the honor of being chosen for the Bowl
game, Rambaud is the recipient of the American Veterans
Award and the Battalion Commander's Athlete Award. He
also won the Platinum Physical Training Award, the highest
award given by the Army for physical fitness.
Rambaud already is planning for his future when he
graduates from Eastern this April. He recently signed with
the Michigan National Guard and will be commissioned as
a second lieutenant after graduation. His goal is to serve
in the Special Forces.
