April 23, 2004
Quotes From The Press Conference Held April 23
TEMPE, Ariz. - In a collaborative effort, Gene Smith, the Director of Athletics for Arizona State, and Michael J. Bidwill, the Vice President and General Counsel of the Arizona Cardinals, announced Friday the creation of the Pat Tillman Memorial Scholarship Award. Tillman, a member of the Army Rangers who was killed in Afghanistan, was a four-year standout for the Sun Devil football team before making an impact in the National Football League with the Cardinals.
"Pat not only exemplified what it meant to be a scholar-athlete as a member of the Sun Devil family, but also what it meant to be an American," Smith said. "Although we lost an outstanding individual in Pat Tillman, we know that this scholarship will assist future Sun Devils that strive for success and build upon the excellence he set forth."
Following his four years with the Sun Devils, Tillman was drafted in 1999 by the Cardinals where he played for five seasons prior to his departure for the armed services.
"As student, teammate, or friend, Pat Tillman exemplified the necessary attributes for success-focus, vision, and commitment," Bidwill said. "We are honored to further his legacy by partnering with Arizona State to sponsor a scholarship in his name. His life is a lesson in virtue to us all."
The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student in the W.P. Carey School of Business that is studying marketing, the same major Tillman attained his degree in just three and one-half years. In his short time in the classroom, Tillman worked his way to a 3.84 grade point average and earned numerous academic honors, including GTE District VIII Academic All-America honors in 1996 and 1997 as well as the Sporting News' Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 1997.
For more information on the scholarship, please contact Lynda Lumpkin at (480) 965-2475. Donations can be sent via mail to the following address:
ASU Foundation
Attn: Lynda Lumpkin
PO Box 873208
Tempe, AZ 85287-3208