Dabo Swinney and Jake Pratt – two class acts (must watch videos)

Birmingham Alabama
Screenshot of Dabo Swinney meeting Vestavia’s Jake Pratt

Two class acts met on Saturday evening before the matchup between college football’s defending  National Champion Clemson and Auburn University:

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney and senior Vestavia Hills High School football player Jake Pratt.

Below is a video posted on Facebook by WBRC Fox 6 sports reporter Christina Chambers of  Alabama native Swinney greeting Pratt before the nationally televised game.

Last month, Jake Pratt’s inspirational story became a national sensation when a video of his pre-season touchdown run in a game between Vestavia Hills and Briarwood went viral. The clip has been viewed tens of thousands of times on various news and sports channels on You Tube. The video was also featured on ESPN, the Saturday after the game.

Here is the special “Why we love sports” video produced by ESPN describing Jake’s story.

WBRC’s longtime sportscaster Rick Karle produced a four minute feature on Jake titled –  A memory to last a lifetime for Vestavia Hills’ Jake Pratt . 

In the video clip, Karle summed up that special play in late August.

“The play lasted 11 seconds, the memory a lifetime.”

This past weekend, Jake experienced another special moment:  a beaming Coach Swinney, hugging Jake and thanking him for coming to the game, adding:

“You look good in orange.”

Two class acts.

 

 

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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