SI Vault
 
'I NEVER WAS SURE ABOUT ANYTHING'
Rick Telander
September 11, 1978
Anxiety was the constant companion of Joe Jones, running back and kicker, during his year as a redshirt at Alabama. Across the country a redshirt's jersey may be any color, but his hopes and fears will be identical to Jones'
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font
September 11, 1978

'i Never Was Sure About Anything'

Anxiety was the constant companion of Joe Jones, running back and kicker, during his year as a redshirt at Alabama. Across the country a redshirt's jersey may be any color, but his hopes and fears will be identical to Jones'

View CoverRead All Articles View This Issue
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Joe continues to work hard at football, rising every morning at six to run, then running again in the afternoon after work. In the evenings he visits his girl friend or chips golf balls in his front yard.

He feels certain that he is not one of the players to be cut, that the Johnny Musso Award guarantees as much. Then on June 30 a letter comes from the Alabama Athletic Department informing him that his scholarship has been renewed for another year.

"Boy," sighs Joe, "that really puts my mind at ease. To tell the truth I never was sure about anything. But it's official now. I'm finished being a redshirt. I'm ready to play football."

After all this time, it seems only fair.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8