slostang
July 18th, 2006, 12:46 AM
Sorry GreatAppSt, this is the only day I will jump ahead of you. 45 is a special number at Cal Poly and I wanted to share it with the rest of the I-AA world. It is the only football number that has been retired in Cal Poly's 91 year history of playing football. The number belonged to Osbaldo Orozco, an All-American linebacker who died April 26, 2003 in Tikrit, Iraq.
Below is an article that tells about Osbaldo:
In Memory of Osbaldo Orozco
Destined for the Battlefield
Osbaldo Orozco wanted to be a soilder long before he came to Cal Poly. After watching "Rambo" as kids, he and his brothers would use broomsticks and knives to attack a make-believe enemy soldier -- a cactus in their back yard.
Indeed, some would say Orozco was destined for the battlefield, where he died April 26, 2003, on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cal Poly officials held a public memorial May 22, 2003, at the campus' War Memorial Plazza to honor the 26-year old alumnus and U.S. Army First Lieutenant.
"Baldo", as his friends called him, died when the Bradley fighting vehicle he commanded rolled over while rushing to help other American soldiers under attack near Tikrit in northern Iraq.
At the memorial service, a few hundred people -- including family, veterans, students, and past teammates -- remembered the former school football star who was commissioned as an Army officer on June 16, 2001, the same day he earned his bachelor's degree in social science.
As the late afternoon sun reflected off the bronze Mustang Statue, school officials added the 64th name to the plaque below that honors Cal Poly students who died on the battlefield. Orozco's mother and wife gripped each other's hands throughout the service and wiped their tears with white tissues through the playing of "Taps".
Speaker after speaker talked about a big, muscular man full of enthusiasm and passion for his family, school, football team and the Army.
Former football teammate Steve Prejean recalled that Orozco was so proud of his Mexican heritage that he would blare mariachi music from his pickup and sing along.
Prejean also recollected how fired up his old teammate was on the gridiron. "Here we were on a hot day in August during double days (practices)." Prejean said, "and Baldo is talking as if he wasn't hot and didn't have an extra 10 pounds of pads on his body. The guy was full of energy.
Orozco was known for his pregame ritual of applying black war paint to his face. He earned All-American horors as a linebacker for the Mustangs and finished his career in 1999 with 300 tackles -- then third on the team's all-time list.
He brought that same passion to academics, said business professor Colette Frayne.
She remembered the first day she met Orozco, when she tried to tutur 30 football players after they were exhausted from an afternoon practice.
"Most of the players wanted to be somewhere else", Frayne said. "But Baldo sat front and center and said, 'Hi, I'm Baldo. Bring it on".
The whole room erupted in laughter, until the 225-pound Orozco turned around and said, "Hey, be nice to her, man. She's trying to help us out".
Towards the end of the memorial service, Orozco's former teammates gave his wife, Mayra, a framed No. 45 green-and-gold Cal Poly football jersey. Lt. Col. Norma Tovar, a Cal Poly military science professor, also presented her with Bronze Star and Purple Heart awards.
Orozco -- who grew up in Earlimart in Tulare County -- served in the university's ROTC program. He was the first member of his family to graduate from college.
He went on to command a platoon in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they gaurded Al Qaeda prisoners.
After he returned from Iraq, Orozco and his wife were to start a family.
His brother, Andy Orozco, planned to enroll in a college ROTC program and become an officer. "It pumps me up even more and add gasoline to the fire." said the 18 year-old, who along with his three brothers wore black No. 45 armbands.
Another brother, Jorge Orozco, 28, said he was proud that "Baldo" fought for his country but saddened to lose his best friend.
"It's war, and it's going to happen," he said. "There's a price to pay for freedom, And unfortunately, it cost us our brother."
The Cal Poly Athletics Department will honor the memory of Orozco with an award given perpetually to the student-athlete who exemplifies what he represented; leadership, outstanding personal achievement, the ability to overcome obstacles, commitment and someone who reflects sacrifice. The Orozco Inspirational Award is presented at the Night of the Mustang to deserving student-athletes as deemed appropriate. The first recipient of the award in 2004 was fresman defensive end Chris White.
Below is an article that tells about Osbaldo:
In Memory of Osbaldo Orozco
Destined for the Battlefield
Osbaldo Orozco wanted to be a soilder long before he came to Cal Poly. After watching "Rambo" as kids, he and his brothers would use broomsticks and knives to attack a make-believe enemy soldier -- a cactus in their back yard.
Indeed, some would say Orozco was destined for the battlefield, where he died April 26, 2003, on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cal Poly officials held a public memorial May 22, 2003, at the campus' War Memorial Plazza to honor the 26-year old alumnus and U.S. Army First Lieutenant.
"Baldo", as his friends called him, died when the Bradley fighting vehicle he commanded rolled over while rushing to help other American soldiers under attack near Tikrit in northern Iraq.
At the memorial service, a few hundred people -- including family, veterans, students, and past teammates -- remembered the former school football star who was commissioned as an Army officer on June 16, 2001, the same day he earned his bachelor's degree in social science.
As the late afternoon sun reflected off the bronze Mustang Statue, school officials added the 64th name to the plaque below that honors Cal Poly students who died on the battlefield. Orozco's mother and wife gripped each other's hands throughout the service and wiped their tears with white tissues through the playing of "Taps".
Speaker after speaker talked about a big, muscular man full of enthusiasm and passion for his family, school, football team and the Army.
Former football teammate Steve Prejean recalled that Orozco was so proud of his Mexican heritage that he would blare mariachi music from his pickup and sing along.
Prejean also recollected how fired up his old teammate was on the gridiron. "Here we were on a hot day in August during double days (practices)." Prejean said, "and Baldo is talking as if he wasn't hot and didn't have an extra 10 pounds of pads on his body. The guy was full of energy.
Orozco was known for his pregame ritual of applying black war paint to his face. He earned All-American horors as a linebacker for the Mustangs and finished his career in 1999 with 300 tackles -- then third on the team's all-time list.
He brought that same passion to academics, said business professor Colette Frayne.
She remembered the first day she met Orozco, when she tried to tutur 30 football players after they were exhausted from an afternoon practice.
"Most of the players wanted to be somewhere else", Frayne said. "But Baldo sat front and center and said, 'Hi, I'm Baldo. Bring it on".
The whole room erupted in laughter, until the 225-pound Orozco turned around and said, "Hey, be nice to her, man. She's trying to help us out".
Towards the end of the memorial service, Orozco's former teammates gave his wife, Mayra, a framed No. 45 green-and-gold Cal Poly football jersey. Lt. Col. Norma Tovar, a Cal Poly military science professor, also presented her with Bronze Star and Purple Heart awards.
Orozco -- who grew up in Earlimart in Tulare County -- served in the university's ROTC program. He was the first member of his family to graduate from college.
He went on to command a platoon in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they gaurded Al Qaeda prisoners.
After he returned from Iraq, Orozco and his wife were to start a family.
His brother, Andy Orozco, planned to enroll in a college ROTC program and become an officer. "It pumps me up even more and add gasoline to the fire." said the 18 year-old, who along with his three brothers wore black No. 45 armbands.
Another brother, Jorge Orozco, 28, said he was proud that "Baldo" fought for his country but saddened to lose his best friend.
"It's war, and it's going to happen," he said. "There's a price to pay for freedom, And unfortunately, it cost us our brother."
The Cal Poly Athletics Department will honor the memory of Orozco with an award given perpetually to the student-athlete who exemplifies what he represented; leadership, outstanding personal achievement, the ability to overcome obstacles, commitment and someone who reflects sacrifice. The Orozco Inspirational Award is presented at the Night of the Mustang to deserving student-athletes as deemed appropriate. The first recipient of the award in 2004 was fresman defensive end Chris White.