Saturday, November 21, 2009
Sports - Naval Academy
Comment
Get Email Alerts!

Former Navy receiver takes a pass on military obligation

Published 08/17/07


Jason Tomlinson should be a commissioned officer preparing to begin a Naval career in surface warfare. Instead, the standout football player is still a midshipman and is working at the Naval Station facility on the Severn River.

File photo by Paul W. Gillespie — The Capital Jason Tomlinson was just the second receiver in Navy history to lead the team in receptions for three straight seasons, catching 57 passes in that span despite a run-oriented attack.
Advertisement

Tomlinson elected not to graduate from the Naval Academy last May, a personal decision that stunned his coaches and fellow players with the football program. By all accounts, Tomlinson was on course - both academically and militarily - to graduate and simply chose not to do so.

"I came to realize during my senior year that the military just was not for me. I had been thinking about it for a...

This story has expired!
You can purchase the full text in our news archives.
YOUR COMMENTS

If you encounter other problems, please email ewiffin@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.

In order to post or vote on a comment, you must be signed in with a hometownannapolis account.

Take a look at a summary of Commenting Guidelines.


Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

Jason Tomlinson - 2007-08-20 12:20:08

I agree with Ted G. It looks like the NFL got their grips on J.T. and that they are more than willing to handle his $140K repayment (plus sign him on for a cool few million). Its a shame that the USNA couldnt instill the Core Values of being an officer into him over a 4 year period. One of those being Service before Self. Hopefully he is not being considered as a role model for anyone

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

John M. - Prattville, AL - Karma: Neutral


Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

NFL - 2007-08-20 08:53:43

I suspect the first few months of a lucrative pro contract will take care of that 140,000 bucks...

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Ted G. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Neutral


Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +4

Jason Tomlinson - 2007-08-18 09:39:56

I am a Navy veteran who was fortunate enough to get my college degree through the Navy, so I feel entitled to comment on this story.
A contract with the Navy is not something you can walk away from whenever you feel like it. This man signed a contract and made a promise to serve. He should be held to that promise. If he quits the Academy he should be required to repay the Navy for the education he got AND he should serve the rest of his obligation as a whitehat. If I were his CO he would serve his time as a messcook, where he just might learn a bit about honoring a commitment and not quitting merely because he has a change of heart.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Oren Wolfe - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

LOGIN TO POST A COMMENT

If you encounter other problems, please email ewiffin@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.

Username: Password:
Forgot your username? Forgot your password? Create an account
Nov 08 - Nov 22 - Kiwanis Turkey Shoots
Nov 21 - Nov 22 - Holiday Dinner Dance
Nov 22 - Santastic
LOGIN
Facebook click
Twitter click
HometownGlenBurnie click
HometownBowie click
video
video
Home of the Week: Rob James and CJ Corneliussen-James
video
video
Navy Sports Chat, Football: Nov 16
video
video
Home of the Week: Dianne and Steven Flury
video
video
Navy Sports Chat, Football: Nov 13
video
video
Home of the Week: Judi Fike
video
video
Cordle Campaign Party

• BUY PHOTOS & VIDEO>>

SPECIAL: Two-for-one 8x10 photo reprints

slideshow
slideshow
Home of the Week: CJ and Rob James
slideshow
slideshow
Southern High food plunge
slideshow
slideshow
High school football
slideshow
slideshow
Navy Men's basketball
slideshow
slideshow
Cougars take fourth cheer title
slideshow
slideshow
Best Navy specialists
#1 - Body found on beach in Mayo
#2 - Our Bay: Green concrete can help slow increase in bay's nitrogen load
#3 - Police Beat for November 20
#4 - Furman, Cummings end Arundel’s perfect season
#5 - Opening their doors for hope
#6 - Lightning strikes city home
#7 - Slain man went to South River High
#8 - Slain man went to South River High
#9 - Alleged drunken driver crashes into 5 cars
#10 - Southern teachers get chilly lesson
#1 - Security tightened for NAACP banquet (25 comments)
#2 - Alleged drunken driver crashes into 5 cars (23 comments)
#3 - Property tax hike may be lone option, panel says (9 comments)
#4 - Arundel Mills officials dive into slots fray (8 comments)
#5 - Lobbyist with 7 DUIs sentenced to probation (6 comments)
HomesInAnnapolis.com

Annapolis

Curtis Bay
Advertise
Archive
Blogs
Calendar
Comments
Contact us
Cookbook
Slideshows
Video
AP Video
SUBMIT INFO:
Anniversary
Band info
Birth
Calendar event
Engagement
Letter
Obituary
Wedding