Boise State Safety Marty Tadman

Colonel_Reb

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
13,987
Location
The Deep South
Tadman is probably the best athlete on the team.
smiley32.gif
Jimmy Chitwood told me about the story and I found this one online just now.

Tadman has faith in new life choices
The former Mission Viejo star now answers to a higher power.

BVPBZKGVMFJERIX.20060724220156.JPG


By K.J.M. SINGLETON
The Orange County Register


The best player on the best football team in Orange County found himself alone when his thoughts broke the silence of a cold, quiet April night on the beach in San Clemente.

"Where am I going; what am I doing?" he asked the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean.

His questions turned to screams.

"I should be in jail."

His screams turned to cries.

"I've seen people die in front of me. I've seen people killed in front of me."

His cries turned to revelations about his drug and alcohol abuse and the direction of his life.

Marty Tadman sat alone on that night for more than three hours. There, he says he found answers, himself and God.

"I had nothing that night, but when I left, I had everything."

NEW LIFESTYLE

Tadman always was busy on the football field as a player for Mission Viejo High. He was a standout receiver, but he also played quarterback, defensive back and returned kicks and punts.

He remains busy today, though he has settled in at one position - free safety - for No. 18 Boise State. He will be starting Saturday when the Broncos play at No. 13 Georgia.

Much of what keeps Tadman busy, however, is what he does off the field. Tadman is a part-time Southern Baptist pastor, spreading his ministry in Idaho and Utah. He devotes almost 20 hours a week to Bible studies as well as speaking on and around campus.

His lifestyle today is something no one could have foreseen during his days at Mission Viejo. Maybe that's because no one could see what was going on with Tadman off the field.

DOWNWARD SLIDE

Tadman said while he was at Mission Viejo he sold drugs at parties, which sometimes turned violent, leading to vicious fights or overdosing. He also took drugs regularly, including cocaine.

"He was a very good actor," his mother, Joey, said. "He didn't show the classic signs of drug abuse. He had good grades, he ate regularly. He may have been a little moody, but that was about it."

Said his father, Mark: "He hid it well. But maybe we had blinders on our eyes."

His parents admitted they were concerned with the people Tadman spent most of his free time with - described as mostly older kids and kids from schools other than Mission Viejo - but they figured Marty's problems weren't any more serious than those of the average high school student.

"The most we ever found was an empty bottle of alcohol in his car," Mark Tadman said. "He explained that he was driving a drunk friend home, but we still took away the car after that."

Tadman, the 2003 Register Offensive Player of the Year, said drug abuse never affected his play. He said he only did drugs or drank at parties after games. At worst, he said, he would smoke a cigarette hours before kickoff. He kept the other things hidden to most of those around him, including friends and coaches. Most preferred to think of Tadman as a superstar who would reach great heights. But, he admitted, he was sinking.

HITTING BOTTOM

On April 25, 2004, he hit a low point. It was an argument with his girlfriend, Nicole James, over the phone as well as a disagreement with some friends at a nearby party that led Tadman to the San Clemente shore.

"I felt like I had nothing to live for," Tadman said. "I was in a deep depression."

But then something uplifting happened.

"I didn't know I was talking to God; I was confused," Tadman said. "Everything in my mind emptied. When that happened, God came in."

BACK ON TOP

The next morning, Tadman asked his mom for a Bible.

"He told me about what happened to him that night, but I couldn't really see it until I got home from school (Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa) and saw him," said James, a former soccer star at Mission Viejo. "I saw a complete change in him. I could see how much happier he was."

James is now at Boise State with Tadman, and they plan to get married next May. The change in Tadman's life and the strengthening of his relationship with James started that night alone on the beach but didn't take hold until later.

"I didn't go out for the next two weekends," Tadman said, "but I stopped smoking and drinking the next day. That was something I couldn't do before."

Tadman was raised in a Jewish household with his parents and older brother Matthew. He had little to no knowledge of Christianity growing up and says he didn't care to learn.

Tadman said his Bible and newfound belief gave him something that the accolades of sports or the intoxication of drugs and alcohol never could: purpose.

"I found a drug more powerful; a party more fun in God," Tadman said. "He showed me true happiness. He gave me a reason to be someone.

"My entire purpose now is to share my life, to show people how much happier I am now."
 

whiteCB

Master
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Messages
2,282
I could tell Tadman is/used to be a partier. I saw the guy on tv with all his tatoos and stuff. So I'm like this guy gets messed up on the weekends to my friends and we all agreed Tadman was a party animal. Who just likes ot get f'ed up.
smiley36.gif
 
Top