The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
More Than a Game: The Tevin Crews Story
11/21/2017 4:18:00 PM | Football
Story by Josh Brunner.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tevin Crews was working his job as a valet when he received the news that the UAB football team was making its return in 2017.
Crews' first thought when he heard the news?
"I need to get back in shape."
One of just 15 players from the 2014 team to return for the 2017 season, Crews was ready to hang up his cleats and begin his life after football before he received the news.
"I was getting offers to play football elsewhere, but it was not anywhere I really wanted to go," Crews said. "So, I graduated and started interning at Northwestern Mutual and I was valet parking cars. I was just living a normal life trying to prepare myself for the real world."
While being away from the sport that he loved was a tough pill to swallow, Crews found an upside to his football hiatus: He was able to rediscover himself.
"Being away from football really opened my eyes to a lot of different things," Crews said. "I realized who was really in my corner and who wasn't in my corner. It humbled me tremendously. I started taking a different approach to life and realizing that life is not all about myself. It is about way more than me."
Fast forward to Sept. 2, 2017. The return of UAB football.
A program-record 45,212 fans flooded into Legion Field to see Birmingham's team take the field for the first time in over 1,000 days.
"The first game was very emotional," Crews noted. "All I wanted to do was go out and give the city of Birmingham everything that they deserved for standing behind this program. I wanted to fight for all of the people that paved the way for us. Every play that I was out there, that was all I could think about."
Crews is having a breakout senior season and is getting looks for Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. The senior has led UAB in tackles in seven games this season. He is the only player in C-USA to rank in the top 10 in both tackles per game (91 total, 8.3/game) and tackles for loss (11.0 total, 1.0/game).
But the Bibb County, Ala., native does not care about the stats. He has a much bigger purpose for this team, one that greatly exceeds his performance on the field.
He wants to leave a legacy as someone who made a difference for this program.
"I am surrounded by some great football players and I have a great football staff in my corner. I have an FCA leader who helps me out tremendously. So, it is far from what I do. For me, if those stats are the only thing I am remembered for when I leave here, I have not done something right. I want to influence others to take a different approach to life."
UAB has provided Crews with more than just an education and a place to play football. It has given him a sense of purpose. A sense of something bigger than himself.
"UAB is so emotional for me," Crews said. "I have been through so many different stages of my life here. I came here as a lost young man, or a little boy, and UAB has turned me into a man with a purpose. It has given me the tools to be successful in life. UAB has given me everything and I am just trying to give something back, but I don't think I can ever repay them."
Being part of this University and this program was more than just a home and a logo for Crews. It is his way of life.
"It is more than just an emblem on my chest," Crews added. "It is a lifestyle for me now. I have been through some of those tough times here at UAB and I am finally getting to see an upside to it. This is only the beginning of what is going to happen at UAB."
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tevin Crews was working his job as a valet when he received the news that the UAB football team was making its return in 2017.
Crews' first thought when he heard the news?
"I need to get back in shape."
One of just 15 players from the 2014 team to return for the 2017 season, Crews was ready to hang up his cleats and begin his life after football before he received the news.
"I was getting offers to play football elsewhere, but it was not anywhere I really wanted to go," Crews said. "So, I graduated and started interning at Northwestern Mutual and I was valet parking cars. I was just living a normal life trying to prepare myself for the real world."
While being away from the sport that he loved was a tough pill to swallow, Crews found an upside to his football hiatus: He was able to rediscover himself.
"Being away from football really opened my eyes to a lot of different things," Crews said. "I realized who was really in my corner and who wasn't in my corner. It humbled me tremendously. I started taking a different approach to life and realizing that life is not all about myself. It is about way more than me."
Fast forward to Sept. 2, 2017. The return of UAB football.
A program-record 45,212 fans flooded into Legion Field to see Birmingham's team take the field for the first time in over 1,000 days.
"The first game was very emotional," Crews noted. "All I wanted to do was go out and give the city of Birmingham everything that they deserved for standing behind this program. I wanted to fight for all of the people that paved the way for us. Every play that I was out there, that was all I could think about."
Crews is having a breakout senior season and is getting looks for Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. The senior has led UAB in tackles in seven games this season. He is the only player in C-USA to rank in the top 10 in both tackles per game (91 total, 8.3/game) and tackles for loss (11.0 total, 1.0/game).
But the Bibb County, Ala., native does not care about the stats. He has a much bigger purpose for this team, one that greatly exceeds his performance on the field.
He wants to leave a legacy as someone who made a difference for this program.
"I am surrounded by some great football players and I have a great football staff in my corner. I have an FCA leader who helps me out tremendously. So, it is far from what I do. For me, if those stats are the only thing I am remembered for when I leave here, I have not done something right. I want to influence others to take a different approach to life."
UAB has provided Crews with more than just an education and a place to play football. It has given him a sense of purpose. A sense of something bigger than himself.
"UAB is so emotional for me," Crews said. "I have been through so many different stages of my life here. I came here as a lost young man, or a little boy, and UAB has turned me into a man with a purpose. It has given me the tools to be successful in life. UAB has given me everything and I am just trying to give something back, but I don't think I can ever repay them."
Being part of this University and this program was more than just a home and a logo for Crews. It is his way of life.
"It is more than just an emblem on my chest," Crews added. "It is a lifestyle for me now. I have been through some of those tough times here at UAB and I am finally getting to see an upside to it. This is only the beginning of what is going to happen at UAB."
Players Mentioned
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