The Right Side of Recruiting

Elisha Shaw is a young man who had the potential to have a scholarship from any team in the Southeastern Conference. In fact, he was quoted on Tuscaloosa’s flagship radio station stating that he was the recruited by every school in the SEC.

So after his injury and the doctors told him it was life threatening to play football, where did those scholarships go? From what I can tell, most of them disappeared because in the eyes of most schools Elisha would not be able to participate on the field guaranteed, thus risking the spot of someone who could play. While I believe everyone deserves a chance – no matter their situation, as long as they strive to be the best – one can see why some schools would pull the scholarship. They need a guaranteed player who can step onto that field and produce for their team. While other SEC schools pulled their scholarships and quit calling Mr. Shaw, The University of Alabama continued to give words of encouragement to Elisha. In fact on The Game (Tide991.com) Elisha Shaw told Ryan Fowler that Coach Rumph, the defensive line coach, told Elisha “we have your back, you keep doing your thing.” Soon we would find out Coach Rumph’s words of encouragement weren’t just air: they were solid truth. Coach Saban & Company offered Elisha Shaw a full scholarship to The University of Alabama.

While Shaw may never be able to play a down during his time at Alabama, he has the chance to succeed at whatever academic endeavors he chooses to conquer.  Mr. Shaw is someone we should all strive to be more like: a young man who turned his terrible circumstance into one of potential and hope.  Elisha shows us that every situation is a coin flip. It can either be good or bad. He goes on to show all who have followed his story that whatever the coin flip life gives, it can be embraced and turned into a positive situation no matter the outcome fate has designed for give you. Elisha Shaw is an example of how fate has its on kryptonite: motivation.

During this time, Alabama fans have embraced Mr. Shaw and from the following tweets I believe we will continue to follow Elisha’s career at the University of Alabama. Whether he is on the field or in the classroom, Shaw has thousands of fans rooting him on and hoping he rises to the top of whatever game he can play. A selection of tweets from fans of Elisha Shaw and the Crimson Tide from across 6 different countries show how much momentum is behind Elisha Shaw and his decision to join the Bama Nation.

"“Welcome @elisha_shaw to #BamaFamily#BamaPride#WeLiveIt#RollTide” -Iท βα๓a ไ ㅜяบรт™ RTR (@BamaPride123) February 5, 2014“Roll Tide @elisha_shaw! Keep on training hard! We’re behind you a 100% #RollTide“-Clay (@SabanSays) February 6, 2014“@elisha_shaw welcome to #BamaNation no matter what u are always apart of the family and we are happy to have you whether u get to play or not”-Bama Nation(@aiken_collin) February 5, 2014“Shout out to @elisha_shaw so glad he is coming to #bama we need the big heart of his on the team!!” Mr. Roll Tide (@ChevyRider91) February 7, 2014"

The great state of Alabama generally remains divided on football and who is the best team to call their own. However, we tend to see situations such as Shaw’s where the colors you wear on Saturdays don’t really matter. What truly matters Shaw and his situation.

"“@elisha_shaw proud of you man! You are the real deal.” Stan Tolliver (@stantolliver) February 7, 2014"

Sometimes as we fans progress through the recruiting process, Spring ball, and into the regular season, we forget the players and coaches are real folks with real feelings. Elisha Shaw, Nick Saban, and the University of Alabama has helped to remind us we all deserve a hand when we fall down.

Roll Shaw Roll!