The Alabama Football players we love: Hootie Jones and his Mom

Alabama football fans develop powerful attachments to many players. Viewed not just as players but as people, even from a distance, they touch our hearts.

Life is bigger than Alabama football. We all know it even when we don’t want to acknowledge it. Life is bigger, more complex, sometimes unfair and too often mean, even evil.

There is joy and sorrow, battles won and lost. How we respond to those battles says much about who we are.

There is a video at the end of this post. It is beautifully done and worth the several minutes it will take to view it.

For those who can’t squeeze in several minutes now, here is a summary.

Hootie Jones is an Alabama football senior who features in the Tide’s dime defense and on special teams. Hootie is very close to his Mother, Jessica Carr. Despite that bond, Carr did not know which school Hootie would pick on National Signing Day in 2013.

Andrew Lopez of nola.com quoted Jessica talking about Hootie’s decision.

"“I didn’t know where he was going until he picked up that hat. But he’s just that type of person. He wouldn’t tell anybody. He kept asking me what I thought and I just told him that Alabama was more genuine on how they were going to treat him and take care of him for the next four years.”"

That comment alone is reason enough for Alabama football fans to like Jessica Carr. But there is more to the Hootie Jones and Jessica Carr story, much more.

Jessica Carr has stage 4 lymphoma. The disease was in remission for four years but returned in 2014. The disease and the medical expenses are near overwhelming. Jessica’s fight is also Hootie’s fight, though she tries to limit his exposure to any bad news.

From al.com, Hootie talks about his Mom’s struggle

"Hootie Jones’ mom usually doesn’t tell him how bad she really feels. Jessica Carr will normally give the same answer her son does when Alabama coaches ask him how he’s doing, “I’m good.” Only rarely will either open up and actually be honest about how they truly feel and how difficult this really is. Even with those closest to them. “She just tells me ‘Don’t worry about me. I’ve got it.’ Stuff like that,” Jones said. “Then, if it gets real bad, then she’ll tell me ‘I’m not feeling too good.'”"

Jessica Carr still works as often as she can, trying to cover large medical bills. Hootie works too, even during football season and sends his Mom money. According to al.com that includes washing cars, even after Alabama football games and sometimes late into the night.

No matter what happens on the football field this fall, we’ll be rooting for Hootie and his Mom.

Next: 30 Great Crimson Tiders who were 3-Star recruits

For those wanting to contribute funds to Jessica Carr’s medical costs, here is how to do so https://www.gofundme.com/jessicacarr