Michael Gavaghan and Justin Pugh are brothers in uniform.
Brothers in Uniform
8/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Two brothers wake up in the morning and put on their uniforms. While senior offensive tackle Justin Pugh dons the Orange out on the gridiron, his older brother puts on slightly different attire. Pugh's older brother, Michael Gavaghan, is a member of the United States Air Force and is based out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst base in New Jersey. SU football's week of preseason camp at Fort Drum brought out some similarities between the two brothers.
"He thought us training at Fort Drum was cool," Pugh said. "He was joking with me saying now you see what I go through. Obviously what the Air Force does is different. It's still the same basis with discipline and teamwork. It was cool. He was just laughing and was like finally you see what I go through every day like getting woken up by the Drill Sergeants."
Even though the Orange worked with members of the Army this past week at Fort Drum, Gavaghan was able to give Pugh some tips before he headed to the unique preseason camp experience.
"He told me to make sure whatever they told us to do, to do," Pugh said. "He said the worst thing that you can do is to make them mad and if they get mad they just take it out on you later down the line. He said to keep my mouth shut and just do what they tell you to do."
Pugh's admiration for what the military does is evident through his praise and appreciation of his older brother. The week at Fort Drum provided a huge learning experience for Pugh and his teammates and they plan on using their time at Fort Drum to help them in the upcoming season.
"I think it was great for the team," Pugh said. "I think it definitely got everyone closer together. It was cool to see guys come together. It was nice to get away from Syracuse because here we're kind of familiar with everything. Getting out of that comfort zone helps us build and get better. "
Since Pugh didn't start playing football until high school and Gavaghan has been in the Air Force for 11 years, the eldest of the two has never seen his younger brother play football.
"My brother will be back around Thanksgiving which is around the time of the Temple game," Pugh said. "That'll be the first game he'll see me play ever since I didn't start playing until high school. He was gone by the time I started playing."
While the week at Fort Drum wrapped up on Sunday, Pugh plans on taking what he learned with him for the remainder of the season.
"Personally, I'm going to take away some of the leadership stuff," Pugh said. "When you're out there playing, someone's got to step up. Someone has to be that leader. I think this camp helps build who is going to be a leader of this team. I want to be a guy out there who people can turn to. Just hearing some of the stories that the Army guys had helps you build your character and makes you want to be that guy who everyone leans on."
The Orange kick off the 2012 season on Sept. 1st at the Carrier Dome against Northwestern (12 p.m., ESPN2). Season and individual game tickets are available online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX. Tickets and travel packages for the New York's College Classic against USC at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 8th are available at www.nycollegeclassic.com.
"He thought us training at Fort Drum was cool," Pugh said. "He was joking with me saying now you see what I go through. Obviously what the Air Force does is different. It's still the same basis with discipline and teamwork. It was cool. He was just laughing and was like finally you see what I go through every day like getting woken up by the Drill Sergeants."
Even though the Orange worked with members of the Army this past week at Fort Drum, Gavaghan was able to give Pugh some tips before he headed to the unique preseason camp experience.
"He told me to make sure whatever they told us to do, to do," Pugh said. "He said the worst thing that you can do is to make them mad and if they get mad they just take it out on you later down the line. He said to keep my mouth shut and just do what they tell you to do."
Pugh's admiration for what the military does is evident through his praise and appreciation of his older brother. The week at Fort Drum provided a huge learning experience for Pugh and his teammates and they plan on using their time at Fort Drum to help them in the upcoming season.
"I think it was great for the team," Pugh said. "I think it definitely got everyone closer together. It was cool to see guys come together. It was nice to get away from Syracuse because here we're kind of familiar with everything. Getting out of that comfort zone helps us build and get better. "
Since Pugh didn't start playing football until high school and Gavaghan has been in the Air Force for 11 years, the eldest of the two has never seen his younger brother play football.
"My brother will be back around Thanksgiving which is around the time of the Temple game," Pugh said. "That'll be the first game he'll see me play ever since I didn't start playing until high school. He was gone by the time I started playing."
While the week at Fort Drum wrapped up on Sunday, Pugh plans on taking what he learned with him for the remainder of the season.
"Personally, I'm going to take away some of the leadership stuff," Pugh said. "When you're out there playing, someone's got to step up. Someone has to be that leader. I think this camp helps build who is going to be a leader of this team. I want to be a guy out there who people can turn to. Just hearing some of the stories that the Army guys had helps you build your character and makes you want to be that guy who everyone leans on."
The Orange kick off the 2012 season on Sept. 1st at the Carrier Dome against Northwestern (12 p.m., ESPN2). Season and individual game tickets are available online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX. Tickets and travel packages for the New York's College Classic against USC at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 8th are available at www.nycollegeclassic.com.
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