Packers contingent watches Super Bowl on Navy carrier
Posted by on February 8, 2013 – 9:43 am
A Green Bay Packers contingent spent Super Bowl weekend off the coast of Key West, Fla., on the USS George H.W. Bush, a Navy aircraft carrier, and watched the big game with upwards of a couple thousand sailors.
The trip, arranged by Navy Entertainment, included a tour of the ship, extensive autograph sessions and some relaxing social time with the enlisted personnel on board.
DB Jarrett Bush, TE Ryan Taylor and OL Greg Van Roten were the current Packers players who went. They were joined by alumni William Henderson and Ahman Green, and by assistant equipment manager Tom Bakken and head athletic trainer Pepper Burruss. Also with the group was Houston Texans backup QB T.J. Yates, Taylor’s college teammate and roommate at North Carolina.
The group reached the carrier via an “arrested landing” on a C2 Greyhound. In addition to experiencing a “trap” or landing, the group also got to observe launching and trapping exercises on deck. At departure time on Monday, the group was “catapulted” on an aircraft back to Key West.
Bush, Henderson, Bakken and Burruss had been on similar excursions in prior years. Bakken, a military aviation enthusiast, said on a trapped landing, the airplane goes from roughly 130 miles per hour to zero in 1.5 seconds, while on a catapult launch, it goes from zero to 115 mph in about 2 seconds.
The USS George H.W. Bush houses roughly 3,000 sailors, and its Commanding Officer is Capt. Brian “Lex” Luther, a Marquette University graduate. The Super Bowl was viewed on a large, 18-feet-by-30-feet projection screen, and Bakken estimated that anywhere from half to two-thirds of the sailors were able to take a break from their regular work duties on Sunday to drop by the hangar bay for an autograph and to watch some of the game.
To view a photo gallery of the trip, courtesy of Navy Entertainment, click here.
Tags: navy, super bowl
Posted in Packers.com Blog | 24 Comments »
24 Responses
to “Packers contingent watches Super Bowl on Navy carrier”
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By Margaret Birkett on Feb 8, 2013 | Reply
Go Pack!!! Go Navy!!!
A proud Wisconsinite, former Navy Brat living in VB…
By Big Cheese on Feb 8, 2013 | Reply
Go Troops Go. Your service and sacrifice is greatly appreciated. The Pack will be back next year.
By Polish_Prophet on Feb 8, 2013 | Reply
The ghetto gang signs by the guy in the orange/black was disrespectful and uncalled for. You want to acknowledge your “homies,” do it on your Facebook or Twitter accounts, but not on a military ship that represents the United States of America. Seriously, dude.
By Dan A on Feb 8, 2013 | Reply
Packers continue to go on the road and entertain our troops! Makes this Packer fan proud.
Thank you troops and thank you Packers!
Go Pack Go!
By Canadian Bill on Feb 8, 2013 | Reply
Right on. I have family in the states that are in the Military. makes this Canadian very prowd. Go pack Go
By brat1475 on Feb 8, 2013 | Reply
I am stationed on the ship, and as a Packers fan, it was an absolute pleasure to meet these guys. Thank you to them and the Packers organization. Go Pack Go!
By The Daley Fan on Feb 10, 2013 | Reply
Hey Polish Prophet. No one cares. You’re an idiot. Everyone in the military does stupid poses and signs in pictures. Go back to Salt Lake City douche.
By Ryan on Feb 10, 2013 | Reply
Ha-Ha Daley Fan. I served on a carrier, and what an exhilirating feeling of standing on the flight deck during flight operations.
By Packer Backer on Feb 10, 2013 | Reply
Great picture. The Pack will be back. Thanks to all the military for their service.
By Retired Army on Feb 11, 2013 | Reply
The problem with sporting gang signs by a member of military has been addressed repeatedly. Unfortunately the challenge is not with rules but with the enforcement. Not only is not allowed but it is not conducive with “good order and discipline” which I quote directly from military regulations. It is sad that a a lack of discipline exercised by this young man reflects poorly on a positive event. “Go Pack”
By aman alderson on Feb 12, 2013 | Reply
oh my god im so mad that is the boat that my squadron is attached to. this is one time i wish i actually was on the boat.
By Gertrude Weber on Feb 13, 2013 | Reply
I wish my homeland of France would reinstall the Vichy.
By Charles Bath on Feb 13, 2013 | Reply
By the tidefall of the waxing moon, one can be dubbed, “the Inscriptor.”
-Abraham Lincoln
By Jimi Anway on Feb 13, 2013 | Reply
This is so cool knowing that i was on the maiden deployment of that carrier and the Commanding Officer is a a die hard packer fan like myself . it is great to know that he got to meet some of the team and hang out with them
By George Smith on Feb 14, 2013 | Reply
Why is it that every time people see a black man make some kind of hand gesture it has to be a gang sign? Maybe he should’ve put his hand on his heart and I guess he would’ve seemed more patriotic huh? People get over yourselves. Jarrett Bush isn’t and never has been a gang member. If he would’ve been a white guy with a polo shirt on and some Lee Dungaree’s on making that same gesture nothing would’ve been said. The brothers are fine as long as their scoring TD’s right? Whatever. “Go Pack Go” man……
By Walter Goltz on Feb 15, 2013 | Reply
Great job by our beloved Packers players and staff. Regarding the hand gestures: Is it possible that the gentleman being vilified is doing a Hawaii-style “hang loose” sign? I’m more concerned about the “thumbs up” gang sign from that white guy on the left? That looks like some sort of Polish gang sign to me.
By Sheboygan Area Drinker on Feb 15, 2013 | Reply
Didn’t even try and renegotiate with the 2010 Def MVP?
21 you are the man, thanks for showing us domination. Nick Collins and Charles Woodson years together were truly special. You are a turnover machine and an intimidating force. Glad you got a ring, you will be missed in GB. THANKS 21
By John Dutcher on Feb 16, 2013 | Reply
Ahhh. That is not a gang sign. Looks more like the “hang loose” “all is cool” sign. Dont judge and know what your talking about before a comment is made. Polish Prophet needs to apologize then crawl back under that rock. Go pack from Santa Barbara
By SPIDAZ on Feb 17, 2013 | Reply
I am in several ASIAN GANGS. That gang sign specifically means he is the LEADER of the particular gang, and that the gang is claiming the area the sign is shown as the PROPERTY OF THE GANG. Now some would call this Domestic Terrorism, but I think its really a CALL TO ARMS.
By Anderson on Feb 18, 2013 | Reply
Yes uhm, clearly that dude is doing the “hang-loose” sign. Made famous by surfers. You people are ridiculous.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign
By former officer on Feb 18, 2013 | Reply
City of Sheboygan Gang Task Force experience… There might be some validity to what “SPIDAZ” is saying
By John Dutcher on Feb 18, 2013 | Reply
Please activate the D-bag filter
By Rick on Feb 19, 2013 | Reply
The guy in the blue jeans is doing part of the secret KKK handshake.
By former officer on Feb 19, 2013 | Reply
http://projecthopeplainfield.org/images/gangs/hand_signs_02.jpg
Its the first sign. He’s claiming high status.