By Shane from Centerpoint
Many young men in the state of Alabama grow up dreaming of playing football for the University of Alabama. There are only a few who actually complete the journey and fulfill their desire to wear the famed “crimson jerseyâ€. However, there are some who are destined to reach that goal and they don’t allow anything to stop them from achieving it.
Washington County’s Kyle Pennington is a prime example. His lifelong dream became a reality recently when he took the field and contributed to Alabama’s victories over North Texas and Arkansas.
Prior to coming to Alabama, Pennington was a standout three-sport athlete at Washington County High School, all while maintaining a 3.5 GPA in the classroom. As a team captain during his senior year (2006) he produced 1400 yards passing, over 400 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns in 11 games while own his way to his third consecutive All-County selection. Kyle also earned an All-State (honorable mention) award that same year.
His exploits on the gridiron and excellence in the classroom brought interest from college recruiters. The Southern Miss Golden Eagles were in hot pursuit and offered Pennington a scholarship, as did several other universities.
While Pennington pondered his future in playing at the next level, something happened that changed everything. While sitting in one of his classrooms at WCHS, he was called to the school office for a phone call.
He soon learned the person calling him was a representative of the University of Alabama letting him know that head coach Nick Saban wanted him to play football for the Crimson Tide as a preferred walk-on.
Pennington made a rare and brave choice to pass on the easy route. While he could’ve taken the offer from Southern Miss with promises of starting he still had a dream of wearing that crimson jersey. As a result of Saban’s offer combined with a desire to play for Alabama, Pennington chose to take on the monumental task of competing against some of the best talent in America for a position and playing time. As shown through his time with the Tide, Pennington arose to the challenge and has joined the force of the Crimson Tide during two games this season.
He has proven his value to the team by making the roster three years running. He earned scout team “player of the week†six times in 2008 and has been named the same twice already this year.
Scout team players are referred to by many as the backbone of a good program. Football programs that have quality walk-ons are able to better prepare the front-liners for competition because they can match the athleticism of the upcoming opponent.
This year Pennington has taken his efforts to a higher level by gaining enough of Coach Saban’s attention to earn playing time. Those who know the demands of Nick Saban will understand how hard Kyle has been working to get on the field.
Several experts who study the Crimson Tide and programs like it have noted that Saban continues to be known as a builder of teams with an extraordinary number of tremendous athletes. Therefore, the fact that Pennington has played in Alabama’s last two games, and will likely contribute in others, is a strong statement in itself. In essence, Kyle must be a very good football player.
Pennington is solid proof that hard work, perseverance, and intelligence can be combined to attain lofty goals. Young people like him offer a sense confidence for the players who follow.
During recent interviews with family members it was said that each time Pennington steps onto the playing field he wears his crimson colors in honor of the many people in Washington County who have supported him during his venture. As a result of their support he wears his number 39 for them.
Two people who have been standing at Pennington’s side during his trials of the grid-iron have been his mother, Angela and father Carl. The three have a bond that Alabama’s legendary coach Paul “Bear†Bryant would have been proud of. Through his efforts and accomplishments Pennington has made his parents and hometown fans proud.
—Shane writes a weekly column for the Call News and the Capstone Report.
30 thoughts on “Alabama football: Pennington lives his dream”
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ICEMAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BAMA TERDS SO FAR? THE GATORS PUT A BEATING ON THE WILDCATS LAST WEEK SO I THINK THE BAMMERS WILL WIN BY 11 POINTS OVER THE CATS.
What an ignorant jerk. Why come on to a Bama publication website to go slinging mud on a perfectly decent story about one of our players. Go to hell, zionhippy2.
ROLL TIDE!
JustTidesey he sounds like a Gayturd, but with a name like zionhippy2 he must be a drug addict from Utah! Flea turds aside, I’m waiting to see what kind of negative spin the Barner Mafia’s gonna put on this. They never waste a chance to slam Shane. I think they anticipate his posts more than sex with their wives, cows, goats, chickens or whatever. ROFK! RTR!
I am very proud of you, cuz. Roll tide Roll
Great story! I have talked to Kyle a few times and he seems like a good kid. We need more in CRIMSON like him! Keep up the good work. See you at homecoming!
Great heartwarming story Shane. Not like you. Not one shot at AU today. Do I need to call an ambulance to Centerpoint?
Shane,
I do appreciate where you are coming from, but Rudy want’s his Velvetta back.
If you truley love UA go to Reese Phifer and take journalism 311 (inverted pyramid).
Actually in Shane’s defense, the inverted pyramid has fallen into disfavor among academics and many journalists. According to the Northwestern Ph.D.’s my former company brought in for a seminar, greater narrative and conversational styles engage readers and create more interest in the subject.
However, I prefer the inverted pyramid.
That said, this isn’t really a “story.” This is much more a column than a feature. As such, several tidbits will be sprinkled throughout. That was one reason I loved reading Bob Novak–he, like many political scribes, always hid a tasty morsel of information near the end.
Another thing since I’m on a rant about journalism. I prefer English majors or ANY major over journalism majors. Why? English majors write better and actually have better attitudes than most communication graduates (I said most…so, this isn’t an indictment of all journalism grads…just most.) Attitude is the most important element in any employee, and that is a critical element in newspaper reporting–because journalism majors aren’t prepared for the real world of reporting; journalism is about experience more than what can be taught in a textbook because reading people, learning where to dig and how to dig aren’t really covered in the classroom…these are skills acquired through the investment of shoe leather and sweat.
Damn! Do I detect that one of those “mother of all intellect” battles is about to take place? Sounds like the MENZA boys are about to hit the hyper-drive!
Not from this Mensa! Subjects and conjectures such as CR’s bore me. I could care less about analyzing someones education, type of work or why they do what they do in reference to either. I’m single now and other than making myself happy, the only thing that matters is CRIMSON TIDE FOOTBALL!
Egg—a level headed, even tempered guy like yourself single?? I’m sure the lucky lady is just around the corner!
Actually, a nice story.
I’ve always been for the “underdog”. I’m not a Tide fan by any stretch, but consider me a Kyle Pennington fan.
Hahahahahahaha! Actually there’s a s**tload of ’em around the corner, and around the corner is where I intend to keep ’em!
Hahahahahaha! Actually there’s a s**tload of ’em around the corner, and around the corner is where I intend to keep ’em! If I wanted a ball and chain I’d probably kill a couple of assholes who deserve it, and pass the rest of my life on the chain gang! Love my FREEDOM!
I don’t blame ya!
JUSTIDESEY I WILL COME ON HERE AND
TALK ABOUT WHATEVER I CARE TO. HOW MANY TEAMS DOES CHEATER U HAVE ON PROBATION TODAY? IS IT 18/19 ROTFLMAO AT YOU BAMMERS. AFTER KY TAKES OUT LEROY MCELROY SATURDAY I AM GOING TO LAUGH MAO.
TiDeSeY I can sling more than mud lil one. come on up to north alabama if you dare. piss ants like you are not worth my time but i will take care of you.
If the Hillbillies (http://gpsinformation.net/exe/HillbillyOveralls.jpg) can get around two or three INT’s from the COW COLLEGE (http://msa4.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/cows1.jpg) they have a chance to win.
ROLL TIDE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
21 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
CrimsonBrother
>>>zionhippy2<<<… were you or are you the drum major for your high school band? or did another light in the loafers gayer beat your out for that position? I Bet you never played sports of any type…you're just a loud mouth pre-puberty child with 3 hairs on your chin, You silly girlie boys are so tough on anonymous forums you should grow a pair.. little feller.
If Florida makes it to Atlanta the Tide will beat them by 21 points!
Why are folks JEALOUS of Nick Saban and Alabama?
Don’t ya’ll realize zionhippy2 is a crack smokin’, weiner smackin’ 12 year old fag who’s dumber than a truckload of drunk Barners. Its posts are unintelligible. If we just ignore it, it’ll go away like a fart! LMFAO! RTR!
You know when I was a cocky dumba$$ long haired teenage punk, I saw myself as a ‘Hippy’!!! In fact, I kinda like ‘Hippy chicks’ because they tend to be cute, stupid, and easy. But the ‘Hippy Dude’ gig is still a punks game. So WAZ UP PUNK??? This is Huntsville calling, get your grimey, lazy, basement living dumba$$ off this board, fool. As far as the ‘You being a Bad A$$’ thing, give it a rest Douchebag!!! Crawl back in your hole and count yourself lucky if you never try to engage any of the folks on this board, the result would not be pretty for you, FOOL!!!!
Now Bye!!!!
This blog is being viewed by young people, mothers, and class people. Everybody try to have some “class”. Take the smack-talk over to Shane’s other column.
BAMA 14 0 NUFF SAID////////////////////ROLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Yo Einstein, live up to your moniker. Letting children blog on sports, come on. Go to nickelodeon, OK!!
We are gonna beat Kentucky 38-10. I cant’ wait until next Saturday for Jarell’s coming out party. Auburn’s goin down 23-21 in an overdue heartbreaker, because Eric Berry is gonna do it himself. RTR
YO! Shane, as one who has SERIOUSLY QUESTIONED your journalistic skills (and still do occasionally), I must confess that the above article IS PROBABLY the best you’ve ever written. Kudos to you. RTR! Later!
to all the hair lip retarded tobacco spitting bammers. i hope you have the worse weekend of your life. lets hope bama doesn’t cheat on their first road trip of the year. i dare say you people are looking down at the trigger of the gun now. coach B from gadsden told me the ncaa is not finish
yet with the investigation. BIG TROUBLE IS COMING TO TTOWN.
Yeah dumbass you’re right. They haven’t finished with their investigation. In fact they’re just getting started good on the Auburn conspiracy that went down there. Don’t think they’re gonna be too happy about being played the fool in Gadsden or Mobile or Foley. Don’t think they’re gonna be impressed by Mr. Barner Booster Anderson’s antics either. And just for good measure throw in Big Cat Weekend. ROTFLMAO! You stupid, crack smoking inbred! RTR!