From Patriot to patriot

[patfanken]

From 2012-15 Jake Bequette disdain rivaled Jordan Richards as Pats fans punching bag. When he was released after going on IR in 2015 he was forgotten faster than a Jets fan's hope for success, . I doubt there was anyone who gave a single thought about his life after he left New England. I know I didn't So when I saw this article over at The Athletic, I thought it might make us rethink those negative thought about him.

Jake is an Army Ranger just coming back from a tour of duty in Iraq. And if you think Ranger school isn't tough read this quote.

"He went through basic training, officer candidate school and branched into the infantry and completed the Basic Officer Leader Course before he qualified for Ranger School, a two-month process that started Aug. 27, 2018. He said about 330 people started in his class, and he was among the 80 or so who went straight through to graduate from one of the most physically and emotionally challenging tests on earth.

“Ranger School is a life-changing experience,” Bequette said. “It challenged me like I’ve never been challenged before. Mentally, physically, it’s a great leadership challenge as well. That was a goal I had going in, to graduate Ranger school. I was lucky enough to accomplish that goal. It was tough going from football. I played ball at about 270 (pounds). I went into Ranger School about 245. I graduated at about 200 pounds. People lose a lot of weight during Ranger School. Coming from a sports background, we’re used to being well-fed. Ranger school is more about pushing yourself past what you think are your boundaries. That was definitely one for me."

I was kind of blow away by the fact he lost 45 lbs during Ranger school. Another thing that struck me in the article was the fact that it took over a YEAR for him to be healthy enough to even join the Army after he left football. And that's a guy who rarely saw the field.

It was another great article from Jeff Howe, who covers the Pats for the Athletic. I think he's on par with Mike Reiss in his coverage.

I didn't post a link because it's from a pay site. But I will if it's OK with the Mods

At any rate. Jake Bequette is doing fine post NFL.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Great story to post Ken ...... A life being well lived by Jake it seems.

 

[luuked]

Easy to see what BB liked about Bequette and why he hung around for a while despite being a better athlete than football player.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Yup. Ranger school is tough. Ive known many who have gone thru. A young mans game, thats for sure. Nice story and thanks for sharing.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Good for you Jake Bequette!

 

[DarrylS]

6'5" and 200 lbs., sounds like he is in great shape..

Good for him, glad he is getting some positive attention on this board, when he was a Patriot he was pretty crapped upon daily.. something about how the 6 time Pats Superbowl Coach did not know how to draft.. or other crap.

 

[sean10mm]

Yeah, Ranger school is just brutal. Lots of people fail the school, and lots of people just get injured so badly they're forced to drop out.

Jake is an Army Ranger just coming back from a tour of duty in Iran.

I highly doubt that.

 

[captain insano]

respect and congrats to jake. what a great accomplishment.

 

[Gwedd]

I marvel at the guys who graduate either Ranger or SEAL schools. Takes a man who is both physically and mentally tough. I thought b that the Navy's Aircrew Candidate school was tough,then I went through Rescue Swimmer (SAR) school, and that was tougher, but Ranger and SEAL? I doubt I'd have made that grade.

One thing that stood out to me about Ranger school, is that they really do not want guys who are buff. Turns out that the really muscular guys wash out at a near 100% rate. It's because they have little to no body fat and so have a difficult time dealing with exposure to both hot and cold temps. They end up with heat stroke, or hypothermia, both of which can and will be fatal due to not having proper medical staff right there. True, they have medics or corpsmen at hand, but where the schools are, you aren't close to an actual hospital. And, on a mission, out in the field somewhere, that could easily be an impediment to success.

This old airdale gives Jake a salute and mass props for doing this. May God bless him and keep him safe.

 

[patfanken]

Yeah, Ranger school is just brutal. Lots of people fail the school, and lots of people just get injured so badly they're forced to drop out.



I highly doubt that.

Thanks for the edit check, I sorely need one. A bit surprised more people didn't notice the error. I guess I was looking for the easy way out and finding the n key is a lot easier than the q.

 

[jboston19]

I loved Bequette, mostly owing to the fact that I randomly picked Arkansas as my team in NCAA “whatever year”and he and I absolutely dominated whatever friend of mine and their doomed offensive line we faced.

 

[BTTA]

I played ball at about 270 (pounds). I went into Ranger School about 245. I graduated at about 200 pounds.

6'5" and 200 lbs., sounds like he is in great shape...

Ranger school graduation is amazing. I have a hard time envisioning someone going from 275 to 200 (who wasn't fat to begin with) and then being in great shape. Seems like that would be so much muscle loss that you'd be greatly weakened by it. Maybe he's gaining some of it back now.

 

[sean10mm]

People take months to recover from ranger school. Getting maybe 50% of the calories you need and sleeping 0-4 hours a day for weeks on end is absolutely terrible for your health. The only good thing is that it's done to people who are young and started out in great shape so they can bounce back.

 

[Patjew]

Bad ass.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I finished a half marathon once, it took me less than a day! Jake's accomplishment is pretty good too tho...

 

[BlueThunder]

Gwedd....Thanks for your service as Aircrew SAR....Hats off to you Bud !

 

[Patriot Missile]

The physical demands are just brutal. To add to the above about muscular washouts etc.

At peak physical shape their demands are ludicrous for pushups, pull ups and sit ups. Its something crazy like 80 a minute which seems impossible, but a tad easier doing it as a 150-200 range. Less weight to push, pull etc.

Swimming and treading water is the other where yep, you weigh more you sink faster.

You’ve got to be pretty f’n smart as well. These guys are dealing with kilometers and meters as if their lives depended on it. And they are, longitude and latitude are everything When calling in air strikes, drop off and pickup points. Seals, Para rescue and Rangers are pretty ok in my book. Anyone that has served or is serving in any form is too.

Thanks for sharing Ken, very proud of Bequette, he was a beast in college and glad to see he got a good education too. Not the best nfl player but who cares? In a free lancing system he might of been darn good.

 

[NormZauchin]

Maybe after his tour of duty, he comes back to the Pats and Belichick uses him for special ops.

 

[signbabybrady]

Awesome!

From Patriots to PATRIOT

 

[PP2]

One thing that stood out to me about Ranger school, is that they really do not want guys who are buff. Turns out that the really muscular guys wash out at a near 100% rate. It's because they have little to no body fat and so have a difficult time dealing with exposure to both hot and cold temps. They end up with heat stroke, or hypothermia, both of which can and will be fatal due to not having proper medical staff right there. True, they have medics or corpsmen at hand, but where the schools are, you aren't close to an actual hospital. And, on a mission, out in the field somewhere, that could easily be an impediment to success.

That's not true. Plenty of "buff" guys have made it through. They don't give a **** what your physique is, or about any of the other stuff, height, color, whatever- the only thing that counts is that you cross the finish line.

That's all.

Good for Jake Bequette. Looks like he found his true calling.