Murfreesboro, Tn. – As a wide receiver for the Florida State Seminoles, Kez McCorvey had a knack for finding the end zone. An all-around athlete, he had a pair of younger eyes watching him as he found success in athletics. That pair of younger eyes was his brother, Camron Packer. Speaking of his younger brother, McCorvey said, “I was his hero when we were growing up. He saw me hit home runs in baseball, play basketball, and go off to play college and professional football.” On Applebee’s Tailgate Talk this morning, McCorvey said that when his brother was about to graduate from high school, he encouraged him to join him at Florida State, but Camron Packer had different plans. For Packer, his mission was to serve his country by joining the Navy and that’s exactly what he did.
Over the next twenty years, Packer served in several places around the world including the Iraq War. During his brother’s years of service, Kez McCorvey found something much more valuable that the end zone, he found a hero. McCorvey recalls a phone call with his brother while he was serving in Iraq. One minute McCorvey was talking to his brother and the next minute Packer was calling off numbers as he was carrying out his Naval duties. Not only did McCorvey’s brother commit to a life of service in the armed forces, but his sister-in-law, Divina, as well. For McCorvey, he has seen his brother and sister-in-law’s sacrifices and it has earned his utmost respect.
After retirement, McCorvey says that his brother continued to put into practice the skills that he learned in the military, namely his skills as a leader. McCorvey says that his brother is the go-to guy for answers. McCorvey acknowledges the incredible job that his brother and sister-in-law have done with children over the years as well.
The service of his brother and sister-in-law in the armed forces has given McCorvey an even greater appreciation for those who serve. He knows that many make sacrifices when it comes to family and other activities that we as civilians often take for granted. I imagine that through the years, McCorvey has done something for those who serve as well. We’ve all seen pictures of troops around the television watching their favorite football teams on the field. Through McCorvey’s athletic success, he has offered troops, especially those who wear the garnet and gold, the feeling of being back home. That’s important too. You can “Mark It Down”.
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