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Arizona State unveils Pat Tillman statue at Sun Devil Stadium

Posted at 5:36 PM, Aug 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-30 23:11:36-04

A statue of former Sun Devil Pat Tillman was unveiled inside Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe Wednesday.

During a private ceremony, Tillman’s brother, Kevin, his former teammate, Barry Alford, and Arizona State football coach Todd Graham all gave emotional speeches.

Graham says he hopes the statue will help the team embrace the legacy of Tillman and give players a visual reminder of his spirit and character before taking to the field.

The statue is located at the end of the Tillman tunnel where players enter the field from in the north end zone. 

Tillman became a hero to many when he walked away from a lucrative NFL contract and a newlywed bride to join the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. His death in the mountains of Afghanistan in 2004 -- later revealed to be by friendly fire -- struck even more of a chord.

Arizona State’s first game is Thursday night against New Mexico State.