STEPHENVILLE — When Tarleton State University football takes the field Friday night at Army, it will be a special and significant moment for Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley, First Lady Kindall Hurley and their son, Drew, a senior cadet at West Point.
For the whole family, the occasion has been a long time coming.
Since he was just 5 years old, Drew made it clear that he planned to serve his country, effectively beginning a journey leading to the academy.
“Drew has always wanted to be a soldier,” said Dr. Hurley. “He’s always been patriotic. It’s been God, country and everyone else other than himself first. Those are the three core principles that Drew has embodied over his young life.”
After the family’s first visit to the academy in eighth grade, there was no doubt what his future had in store.
“To watch Drew walk across the campus and get to spend a day with one of the cadets — we knew that there were no other options for him,” said Dr. Hurley. “It was West Point or bust.”
And with a university president in his ear, Drew was well aware of the benefits of pursuing a degree. “I knew the importance of going to college naturally given dad’s line of work, so I decided to marry the two and go to a military academy and haven’t looked back since,” he added.
In preparation for the rigorous process of earning a spot at the prestigious institution, he participated in a broad range of activities during his time at Pikeville High School in Kentucky, all while maintaining a stellar GPA. To become physically ready, he took part in cross country and boxing. He also served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes group.
The hard work paid off.
As a first-generation military cadet, Drew is entering his fourth year on the marathon team at West Point. He was one of 18 members of the squad who made the 300-mile journey to deliver the game ball prior to the 125th Army-Navy game this past December.
“Getting those miles in with the team while we are supporting the football team in their biggest game of the year — one of the biggest games in college football throughout the year — is an awesome experience,” said Drew. “The little snippet with the runout onto the field that you see is just a fraction of the effort, time and heart that gets put into it. It’s definitely one of the coolest experiences that I’ve been fortunate to have at the academy.”
Reflecting on his journey, he’s quick to give credit to the influence of his father.
“The biggest thing that I have learned from dad has been to really take the time to care about the people under you and get to know them and know what makes them tick,” said Drew. “A lot of people are motivated by different things, and if you can find what helps them get up in the morning to get after it and do what they need to do, then you can really tap into that and work better with them in accomplishing goals.”
For Dr. Hurley, seeing his son on the other side of the field at kickoff Friday will be an emotional experience.
“I’ll be a very proud dad to know that I look across the way and there will be over 4,000 cadets — including Drew — sitting together in uniform.”
But his rooting interests will lie with the purple and the white.
“Quickly after I think about how much I love him, my mind is going to shift to how badly I want our Texans to beat the Black Knights on the football field. Yeah, I love Drew and am very proud of him and I have great respect for him as a cadet there, but make no mistake about it, I will 100% be cheering for the Tarleton State Texans to win that game.”
It won’t be the first time the family has ventured to New York for an Army football game, as Dr. Hurley and First Lady Kindall Hurley have made the visit an annual tradition. The two have made the trip each year during Tarleton State’s bye week, with the exception of Drew’s sophomore year when the Texans’ bye fell when Army was on the road.
“Four years ago when we went to that first football game, Kindall and I just bawled,” said Dr. Hurley. “We were moved by emotion to see the patriotic spirit of the cadets and what it means to serve their institution, but more importantly our country. That was really bittersweet to watch. It’s emotional to see that.”
Less than 10% of applicants from Drew’s class were accepted into the academy, which is known as being extremely selective as it seeks well-rounded individuals who can excel academically, physically and in leadership.
“It has to start early, and you have to really know that it’s what you want to do in life,” he said. “It’s not just about the perks or reputation. You have to know what you are looking for, not just for your college experience, but also for a few years beyond for your service.”
In a few months, Drew will be assigned his branch following an application process that he is wrapping up this week. Following graduation, he plans to get married and will be a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army.
As part of the game festivities this week, Tarleton State will travel 180 members from its Texan Corps of Cadets to West Point. The corps is one of the institution’s largest student organizations and has history dating back to 1917 when the university first became a part of The Texas A&M System.
“Clearly, West Point is a model of excellence,” said Dr. Hurley. “Not only in the Senior Military College realm, but it’s an institution of excellence across all spectrums, including student success. I want our cadets and our leadership to see what it means to be a Senior Military College and how to do it at the very highest level while allowing our cadets to interact with their cadets over a 24-hour period. That will be really unique and special.”
On Sept. 1, Tarleton State will also officially launch a College of Leadership and Military Studies, a key element of a larger vision mapped out to achieve Senior Military College designation. Earlier this year, the university attained the gold-level Military Friendly® School designation, signifying its investment in initiatives that improve the lives of veterans.
Friday’s game is slated for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff from Michie Stadium in West Point and will air in front of a national audience on CBS Sports Network.
Dr. Hurley credited U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland, former Army athletic director Mike Buddie and current Army athletic director Tom Theodorakis for their efforts in scheduling the matchup.
“I think it’s going to be a really cool experience getting to interact with all the folks coming up from Stephenville and to have all the cadets around too,” said Drew. “Game time is really exciting here at West Point and all the cadets go to all the home games. We are all about supporting our football team.”
Following a 42-0 shutout win at Portland State to open the season, Tarleton State enters the week ranked No. 8 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. Army is coming off a 12-2 campaign a year ago that culminated with a 27-6 handling of Louisiana Tech in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
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