It's good

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  "Coach put me in!" 
Sure enough, a few moments later there he goes trotting out onto the field with his ever so famous bare foot. 
As people come to their feet, he takes his proper alignment steps, gives a go ahead nod, and strides forward booting the ball a record 45 yards down field cutting the eight foot wide uprights in half, then looks to the ref as he signals the kick is good. 

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Tongate, station captain at fire station #1 for the 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron, has pursued his dream thus far. Tongate is the kicker for the 2009 Alaska Wild intense football league football team. 

Tongate, who played football while being raised in San Angelo, Texas, said that he always knew that he wanted to join the Air Force and be a firefighter when he got out of high school. His grandfather was a Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force, which Tongate said really prompted him to join because he wanted to follow in his grandfather's footsteps. 

After being in the Air Force for 16 and a half years and at age 37, Tongate said, "I play professional football, I never thought I could say that, so it's a dream come true." 

Tongate got his first shot at playing professional football in 2004 when Arena Football arrived in Texas. At the time Tongate was teaching at the fire academy at Goodfellow AFB as an instructor for the tech school that is there. After learning about the tryouts, Tongate said he thought he would give it a shot. However, he was turned away, but this would not be his only chance. 

A few years past by and Tongate thought he was ready to give it another try. This time the outcome was more appealing as Tongate was offered to sign a one year contract for 2007. 

During 2008, Tongate was told he would have to PCS since he was at the fire academy the longest. During the 2007 season, Tongate came to Alaska to play with the Alaska Wild, and said he fell in love with it. So he made up his mind, and put Elmendorf as his first option for an extended long tour and got it. 

After arriving to Elmendorf in August 2008, Tongate got together with Abe Hernandez, the team's general manager , after letting Hernandez know about the year he played arena football in Texas, Tongate was put into the developmental league. After spending little time there he signed a one year contract with the Wild. 

Not only is Tongate the kicker for the Wild, but he does it with a bare foot. Watching the NFL as a child, Tongate said, "As a kid if something's different then you wanted to try it." After playing soccer for 23 years Tongate said he had the kicking style down, but when you kick with a shoe and a sock it adds more padding not letting the ball go to its full extent. After kicking bare foot for a while, Tongate said that it stings but it never hurts, if anything it's more of a mental thing for him now than anything else. 

During practice, Tongate not only kicks but practices as a wide receiver and as the emergency quarterback for when the team travels. 

Tongate said that arena football isn't like the NFL. When an NFL team travels the whole team goes, but in arena you can only take 20 of your players. So it's important for him to know the routes and the system. 

Tongate said when he does travel, he can do it with no worries; he said he has great leadership and they are very flexible with him. When Tongate goes to an away game it's considered a permissive temporary duty assignment. Although when it comes to juggling the two professions Tongate said, "The mission always comes first." 

Not only is playing professional football an award itself because it's a dream come true for Tongate. It's also rewarding because it's allowed him to be closer with his sons. Tongate said, "A lot of the joy is just passing it on and being able to share it with them." Tongate's boys Tyler and Tanner are both in high school and take after their dad because both of them are kickers for their high school football team. Tongate said it's neat for them that they get to see their dad playing professional ball. 

Something Tongate started with one of his sons is his main superstition, "Started with my oldest son two years ago is when we had to watch, The Replacements, before every game," he said, "Believe it or not I'm very superstitious ." 

Tongate said he is very superstitious from how he warms up to not washing something or wearing something every game. 

Aside from his bare foot kicking style and his creative superstitions Hernandez said, "Guys don't look at him as just a kicker. They see him as more of a veteran and leader."
Jeff has great leadership qualities and always comes to practice and game day with a very intense setting ... just ready to play football, Hernandez said, "It's like having a linebacker as a kicker." 

Tongate doesn't hope to stop here. He would like to pursue his dream beyond arena football if given the chance. "I know that I will not be able to play much longer. Once I am done playing, I would like to be able to start coaching. I would love to see more military members involved, as I know there are many talented athletes here. 

"You can always obtain your dreams, even when you don't think it's obtainable," Tongate said. "If you work hard enough at something, you can do it."