Meet Alabama's "Trailer Park Jesus," tight end Giles Amos
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the record, Alabama senior tight end Miller Forristall was the one to disclose the nickname, and he couldn't wait to do so.
Notre Dame may have Touchdown Jesus, but the Crimson Tide has Trailer Park Jesus, senior tight end Giles Amos, who has been growing his brown hair out for approximately 30 months.
Although a little bit of it is right place, right time as Alabama has had numerous losses at the position, Amos has made the rare progression from walk-on to scholarship player.
At 6 foot 4, 245 pounds he didn't have any scholarship offers coming out of Perry, Ga,, but is the Crimson Tide's latest example of hard work does pay off.
"I got offered by Valdosta State and the same day they offered me, they called me back later and said they offered another guy and rescinded it," he said. "I really didn’t have many options and this was kind of like a last-minute thing."
Here's five other questions he received from reporters on Tuesday during his first visit to Alabama's media room.
What's the origin of the nickname?
“It was during Fourth Quarter during conditioning. I was running around a cone or something and all of a sudden I hear ‘Pick it up Trailer Park Jesus!’ I was thinking 'Trailer Park Jesus,' that’s new. But it just kind of stuck and everyone kind of goes with it. I kinda like it.”
Alabama Athletics
You're not offended by it?
“No, it doesn’t offend me at all. I actually take it as a compliment. Everybody says I remind them of one of the Trailer Park Boys. I’ve never really seen the show but they seem like a good group of guys so I go along with it.”
What was it like being a walk-on?
“Yeah, honestly, it’s been really neat. It’s kind of like living out a dream. Honestly, I never thought I’d be up here talking to you guys. So that’s really neat. It’s something that a lot of people don’t understand but kind of when you sign up for the walk-on deal, you sign into something bigger than yourself. You buy into the team and buy out of yourself and there’s something rewarding in that as well. I think really it has paid off and I’m honestly blessed to be in the situation I’m in and hopefully I can help my team out on Saturday.”
Were those years as a walk-on especially hard on you?"
“I mean, it’s difficult. Sometimes you question yourself and question why you’re doing it but it kinda goes back to what I said, somethings are bigger than yourself. And that’s the mindset I always went with and I was always told, my dad was always like ‘Just stick with it. Things will always work out. Just keep doing what you’re doing and things are going to work out.’ Honestly, it’s been really rewarding for me so far. So I wouldn’t change a thing.”
How did you learn you were getting a scholarship?
“It happened in the team meeting room the last day of camp. We were breaking up to go to position groups and Coach [Nick] Saban was like ‘Wait, I have one more thing to say.’ And he said ‘Giles, you’re going to be on full scholarship this fall.' And it was really cool and unexpected and that made it even better. I appreciate Coach Saban for that. It was awesome. ... [Teammates] were excited for me, which made me feel even better. They were loud and came and consoled me and told me good job and you earned it so that made me feel good. I got the best teammates in the world and it meant a lot to me.”
Bonus question from Miller Forristall: Would you mind telling the story about your run-in with the roll-in door?
“(Laughs) So, it was last year on scout team, and I forgot what week it was but we were -- like I said, that was my spot to show my ability. So, I get a long ball thrown in the indoor, and of course, I see it and I’m going to go try to catch it. And I’m running, and I put up hands and then I hit the back of the garage doors (laughs) in the indoor facility. I kind of knocked down for a little bit, and I was looking, I was like, ‘How did I wind up right here?’ But I made a dent into the door, so if y’all are out there today, you can look into the door and see my dent that I will forever in there -- until they replace it.”
