'I'm about the team': Towns promotes team in personal accolade
Val Kikkert
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Sports
When freshman exercise science major and football player Jeremy Towns was asked to comment about his Male Freshman Leadership award, he said that it was not about him. Instead, it was more like an award given to the team, he said.
Towns was honored with the award for his 3.61 GPA and team and scholar leadership. The award was created this year by the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society to honor one outstanding male and female from the freshman class.
After his first season with the Bulldogs, Towns registered 15 tackles, broke up one pass and recovered two fumbles as a defensive lineman reserve player. He said he did not start playing football until his senior year of high school.
"My basketball coach said he wouldn't mind if I played," Towns said. "I went out there and had a decent year, and now I'm here."
Head coach Pat Sullivan said Towns has been an excellent football player, person and student on the team this year.
"(Towns) represents everything you look for in a student-athlete, and he has earned everyone's respect," Sullivan said.
Towns said his ability to balance academics and athletics came from his tight schedule in high school. He worked a job on top of school and athletics and said that his mom always expected good grades from him.
"At Samford, you have to study," he said. "It's a tough school, but your degree will be worth something. In all, it's worth it."
Towns said that he wants to go to medical school. He said that while he dreams of playing pro football, getting a degree is at the top of the list for now.
As for his more immediate future with Samford football, Towns said he believes the program is moving forward.
"I love the team here," Towns said. "If I get an award, it's about the team. With coach Sullivan on our side, we're going to go somewhere. We put a lot of hard work and dedication into being successful."
Towns was honored with the award for his 3.61 GPA and team and scholar leadership. The award was created this year by the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society to honor one outstanding male and female from the freshman class.
After his first season with the Bulldogs, Towns registered 15 tackles, broke up one pass and recovered two fumbles as a defensive lineman reserve player. He said he did not start playing football until his senior year of high school.
"My basketball coach said he wouldn't mind if I played," Towns said. "I went out there and had a decent year, and now I'm here."
Head coach Pat Sullivan said Towns has been an excellent football player, person and student on the team this year.
"(Towns) represents everything you look for in a student-athlete, and he has earned everyone's respect," Sullivan said.
Towns said his ability to balance academics and athletics came from his tight schedule in high school. He worked a job on top of school and athletics and said that his mom always expected good grades from him.
"At Samford, you have to study," he said. "It's a tough school, but your degree will be worth something. In all, it's worth it."
Towns said that he wants to go to medical school. He said that while he dreams of playing pro football, getting a degree is at the top of the list for now.
As for his more immediate future with Samford football, Towns said he believes the program is moving forward.
"I love the team here," Towns said. "If I get an award, it's about the team. With coach Sullivan on our side, we're going to go somewhere. We put a lot of hard work and dedication into being successful."
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