For Some College Football Players, Graduation Does Not Mean Goodbye

For some graduating or departing college football players, they leave and rarely look back. They go to the next chapter of their lives with fond memories and some friendships, but others stay connected to the coaches, players and university forever.

Pictured above is Arizona Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson, a former Alabama standout, who still has close ties to the players and coaches and will remain a Crimson Tider for the rest of his life.

Kirby Smart told me he talks to Rashad by phone, and when Alabama was headed to the national championship, Rashad texted and phoned players to encourage and congratulate them.

Before leaving for Arizona and his pro career, Rashad said, "Though I'm eager to start the new challenges and opportunities ahead of me, my heart will always be here at Alabama and I'm sure I will never grow more and enjoy life as I did here. This will always be home for me."

Colin Peek, who only got one year of playing time here after starting his career at Georgia Tech said at the Senior Bowl, "My whole college experience has been something that I will never forget and I will always in my heart be an Alabama man. For me, it almost didn't get to happen, but I'm so glad it did. It will forever be a part of me and my family like it was for my grandfather."

Like his grandfather, Peek got to play in the Rose Bowl with a Crimson jersey on his back and walk off the field a champion.

Barry Kraus a linebacker in the '70s and T.V. commentator now said, "When you leave the university for a pro career, you get caught up in the moment of all of that, but you always look over your shoulder and keep up with what's going on. In the pros, it's hard to have the same team mates for four or five years, that's why the friends I made at Alabama are so special and so enduring. They with you when you are maturing and help make you the man you become."

"Getting to come back like I have in a second career and once again be affiliated with Alabama is a dream come true." Kraus continued. "You never get the Crimson out of your blood."

Now we have yet another group of men leaving, but they leave with more than just memories and friendships, they leave with a championship. That makes them a special group.

"We all worked so hard as a team," said Javier Arenas, "That we really didn't have time to get caught up in all the championship hoopla and I don't know if it's really soaked in yet.

"I know that in 25 years when they bring us all back and introduce us at half time at some game as the 2009 season national champions, it may mean even more to us all. I think it takes a while for all the meaning of something like this to come to you," Javier ended.

But the most poignant comment came from Marquis Johnson, who said, "We are players here for a short time in our lives, but we're Crimson Tiders for life, just like the fans. No matter what uniform I wear on my back in the future, the one around my heart will be Crimson."

Players come and players go, but Crimson Tiders stay here forever. That's the way it should be.