My take on Captain Grid-Iron?
Let's see if I can summerize his filecard:
[rough quote]Quarterback at West Point and was in the top ten of his class. Could have gone to the War College, but wanted to be with a regular infantry outfit. Is determined [/rough quote]
OK-He's a West Pointer, but I just don't see him as the proverbial negative 'ring-knocker' that flouts his elite status. I've read a couple of novels that had this type of character that looked down on the other non-West Point soldiers and officers.
He could have gone to the War College and been a really educated military officer. Instead he wanted to be involved as simply as he could. He wants to be a soldier's soldier.
He's determined. How many other JOEs have joined up to see things through to make a difference or complete a goal?
While I do like the football idea, I thing it was taken to far. Yeah he's proud of his accomplishments at the Point, but he doesn't normally dress like that. Those are his training 'get dirty' BDUs, meant for working with this various JOEs as they work on their H-t-H skills. He doesn't carry football grenades. He doesn't use the weird gun. He doesn't have missile attachement point on his legs The helmet is not an actual 'football' helmet. It is like the ones used in basic training when they spar in the circle with the giant q-tips.
I see him as a capable field leader, always trying to better himself and his troops. Why? Because of his determination and desire to be with the troops that have to do the fighting. If he went to the War College, he might have ended up as some armchair tactician back at HQ who doesn't know the conditions or what he's asking the troops to do or pulling tours at the Puzzle Palace as a aide-de-camp for some General (the Jugglers?)
I see Captain Grid-Iron as a physical person, spending time in the gym working out a few times a week when he is off duty. I don't see him as a diehard bodybuilder or bodysculptor, just someone who is serious about getting a good workout. Maybe he's the type of guy that would have been a high school Phys Ed teacher in civilian life. He's the guy you want training others in Hand-to-Hand combat. Not some exotic martial arts, I'm talking US Military H-t-H training. Maybe he works with the Physical Conditioning of the JOEs with the Fridge.
[rough quote] Other JOEs were a bit put off at first, but he became bearable. Always trying to be likeable. Has a decent John Wayne imitation. Could be the QB at the JOE picnic[/rough quote]
OK, characterization-wise, Captain Grid-Iron seems to try to hard to be liked. He isn't a wallflower or passive type of guy. They got used to him, even though they seemed to have a pre-disposed idea that as a West Pointer he would have some specific attitude or behavior issues.
Sounds like he would relish meeting new JOEs and wants to have the best possible professional relationship with them-wants to get along with 'the men' and doesn't want to be that officer that's hated/despised by the troops.
He does a John Wayne imitation. I don't see what's wrong with that. Maybe he's good at it. Wild Bill fancies himself a singer, why can't Grid-Iron occassionally drop a John Wayne movie quote?
I think when the time comes for the JOEs to actually take some down time and have a picnic, if it was me I'd definitely want a guy that had some experience playing ball on my team, especially at QB. Is somebody gonna pick Tripwire to be their QB? A team including Roadblock, the Fridge, and Bazooka on the line with Recoil (WR) and Hit&Run (WR) would be big on defense and speed.
Although a team made up of Beachhead (LB/WR), Tunnel Rat (C/WR), Heavy-Duty, Salvo, Topside, and Shockwave (QB) would be good on defense...
Then there's Red Dog (K/LB), Big Lob (QB), Big Brawler (C/TE)
, SteamRoller, Wild Card, and Armadillo...more like something out of the Longest Yard...
If I really sat down and figured out what the command structure was...
[-->refers to Chief's comments on the structure of the JOE team and ranks in the wiki]
...I think I would have Captain Grid-Iron filling the role of General Hawk's aide-de-camp.
