Being all they can be: 3 Toms make switch from military to the field

October 8, 1999
By Jason Quehl
Aquin staff writer

The road to college football is well worn. It starts in high school under the lights on Friday nights and ends in the sunshine on Saturday afternoons. Most players don't give much thought to any other way.

Blane Tetreault, Mark Farringtion and Marshall Metli did start under the lights and ended up in the sunshine, but the road they took in between was certainly less traveled.

The football trio all chose to serve in the military before donning UST's purple and silver-- Tetreault and Farrington served in the Marine Corps, and Metli in the Navy. The confidence, desire and work ethic they gained in the military isn't only helping their lives; it's helping St. Thomas on the field.

"I think they bring quite a bit to the team," said senior strong safety and Captain Steve Nolander. "They know what it takes to be a champion. They know what it takes to be a winner."

Tetreault, Farringtion and Metli could forgivably be tired of rules and discipline. They could forget about playing football and live out their college years. But they chose to come back to the game.

"Because they are older, they've kind of made the decision to play," said Don Roney, head UST football coach.

They appreciate the qualities the military has reinforced in them, and those qualities have assisted their return to the football field.

"The leadership aspect is there," said Tetreault, a senior outside linebacker and co-captain. "The confidence you can hold your own against about anyone. That's what the Marine Corps is all about."

Farrington--a former high school teammate of Tommie football and track standout Mark Warder-decided he wanted to be a leatherneck early on in high school. He said he went in with certain goals, and he achieved them. Now he has a new set of goals, and the desire to accomplish them.

"I don't need to go out and get wasted every night. I know what I want to do," said Farrington, a freshman defensive end who served in the Marine Corp from 1995-99.

The Navy helped Metli earn some money to go to school, but more than that it made him appreciate hard work.

"Work ethic is the number one thing that was instilled in me, " said Metli, an outside linebacker.

Besides bringing the intangibles on the field, they also bring their aggressive, hard-hitting style. According to Nolander, the three players are some of the hardest hitters on defense. Tetreault attributes that, in part, to military experience.

"I think you can see it in the three of us, " said Tetrault, who is still a member of the marine reserves. "You get the mentality of not being afraid mentally or physically."

Tetreault is obviously not afraid when he puts on the pads, but his opponents should be. The senior linebacker-who did attend Division I Northern Illinois State in 1991-92 under a football scholarship-was named first team All-MIAC last year and third team All-West Region by Football Gazette. He recorded 92 tackles, three interceptions and two sacks in only his second year back on the gridiron. Also, he was elected by his teammates to be a co-captain for the 1999 season, and he compares his experience in the Marines to his experience on the footaball team. "Every person has their job. From someone on the scout team to the kicker," he said.

Roney believes Tetreault's composure shows.

"Blane is a very mature person. He's almost a coach on the field," Roney said.

According to Roney, these players are not only tough mentally. They are also tough physically. The time they spent away from football has given them time to mature physically. That has allowed them to make bigger contributions as freshman.

"They're older and they're stronger and they're heavier," said Roney.

However, these three players are not the crazy kids in high school who joined the military to prove how tough they were. They are like calm businessmen.

"They're real disciplined. All three of them are laid back," said Nolander. "They get done what needs to get done."

Nolander added, "The only time that craziness comes out is on the field."

But according to Metli-- who remains in the Navy through ROTC-the field is right where he wants to be.

"I love football," he said. "My job was loading one thousand pound bombs on F/A-18's. I'm not missin' that right now - this is the good life."