NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans fullback Ahmard Hall won't discuss his tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“It's classified,” said the man dubbed “The Big Marine” by Titans quarterback Vince Young. “That's really all I can tell you.”

Nor will he volunteer much more about his time in Kosovo other than to say, “It was more of a humanitarian mission. Just trying to give a little back to people who had lost so much.”

But that doesn't mean Hall, 28, has put his four years of military service behind him. Especially on a day like today.

“Memorial Day means a lot to me,” he said Thursday, just after the Titans completed the first day of their first mini-camp combining rookies and veterans. “My main focus is all the guys who have died for our freedom.”

So when the Marines asked Hall to help open their new recruiting office today in Franklin, Tenn., he asked only what time they needed him to be there. He also intended to visit a veterans’ hospital over the weekend, as well as phoning several friends he'd served with abroad.

“I've already sent C.A.R.E. packages to several guys,” he added. “There's never a day that goes by that I don't think about them. Not a day. Those four years are always with me.”

Becoming a Marine was not Hall's lifelong dream. He grew up in Texas, after all, emotionally blinded by Friday night football lights.

“I was your typical jock,” he said. “Just going through the motions academically. I thought I could sweet-talk my teachers. Just do the bare minimum. I was visiting big-time programs. I just knew I was going to play big-time college football. But nobody can take the SAT or ACT for you.”

Hall couldn't pass either standardized test. Without the necessary scores he would be forced to attend junior college for a year or two before signing with a Division I school.

“But I couldn't see myself playing college football on a high school field, which is where a lot of junior colleges play,” he said. “So I joined the Marines. Probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”

He was assigned to Comm Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Hall's wife, Juana, also served four years in the Marines.

“There were 73 guys in my platoon,” said Hall. “A lot were injured, but they're all still alive. Fifteen are still serving. It can be a tough life. A lot of families are torn apart. It's hard. But you become friends for life.”

After four years of active duty, Hall decided he had served enough. He would give college football one last try. Thanks to the GI Bill he was able to walk on at Texas, which was about to be led by a stunning quarterback named Vince Young.

“You can have a hard time transitioning back to civilian life,” Hall said. “But football was fairly easy once I got out there. And I was very focused. I had a kid by then. I had a little extra drive to succeed. I wasn't getting caught up in a lot of things that distract a college freshman.”

One of his toughest civilian adjustments was deciding how to approach the National Anthem before games. Should he pop to attention? Should he put his helmet over his heart? Should he stand silently?

“That song really means a lot to me,” he said. “I can't hear it and not think about all the men and women who have died for this country.”

His patriotism aside, what impressed the Texas coaches the most was Hall's ability to block for Young. Hall became the starting fullback for the Longhorns’ 2006 national championship team. His skills and his age convinced him to enter the supplemental draft. With encouragement from Young, he landed with the Titans.

Hall admits to looking over his shoulder during the entirety of his Texas career and his first season with the Titans. Though he had served four active years with the Marines, he was on an inactive list for four more years. He could have been called back to active duty at any time.

“I was definitely nervous,” said Hall. “But they never called.”

Some of his best friends from the Marines still call for tickets. “They don't care about catching up wth me,” he grinned. “They just want to meet Vince.”

Everybody wants to meet Young. Men, women, children. It has made him rich and famous. It has also brought him a bit of unwelcome attention on Deadspin.com, where photos of Young partying hard with a few of his former Longhorns teammates recently surfaced.

“I know I'm supposed to be a role model,” Young said last week. “That comes with being a pro quarterback. That's the life I chose. But if the kids want a real role model to look up to they should look at the Big Marine.”

Especially on a day like today.

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