A young boy stands admiring the roaring stadium. Cheering fans all around him express their deepest emotions for the game, commencing before him with yells of passion. The men are coaching down on the field, putting all their effort and attention towards winning. At that moment, he realizes that football was made for him. Senior Casey Poe has committed to the University of Alabama and will leave Friday to begin workouts with the Crimson Tide and start college next semester.
“We are very excited for Casey and his family,” Lindale athletic director Chris Cochran said. “This has been a dream of his since he was a little boy.”
Poe began playing football in junior high and has been playing on varsity since his freshman year. He is currently an offensive lineman for the Eagle varsity football team.
“The coaching staff at Lindale is great,” Poe said. “They love us more than anything else, but they push us in a way that no other high school in the country does in my opinion.”
Poe received around 25 scholarship offers from different universities around the country. Each of these were full rides with most or all living expenses paid for.
“Every Saturday for probably months on months me and my dad would load up in a car and go see different colleges,” Poe said. “It’s just been amazing that I’ve gotten to experience that with my family.”
Poe’s Alabama scholarship includes a full-ride for his tuition, as well as living and traveling expenses from football. The scholarship will still apply even if he gets an injury that hinders his ability to play.
“I am excited about the opportunities I’m going to get at Alabama,” Poe said. “I’m so grateful to be playing with some of the best athletes in the country.”
Poe has finished his high school credits and will meet the team and attend the Rose Bowl game held in Pasadena, California. If the current team wins, they will play in Houston for the National Championship.
“Getting there early gives him a chance to practice with the team during their college football playoff preparation,” Cochran said. “That will go a long way for him in his college career.”
Poe will play under head football coach, Nick Saban, who has the most wins of any active college football coach with almost 300 total.
“Coach Saban is one of the greatest coaches in college football history, if not the greatest coach,” Poe said. “College football is one of the greatest levels of sports in the whole world.” It’s going to be cool being able to get in that atmosphere.”
For the first few weeks after he leaves, Poe will just be practicing and playing football. Once the spring college semester begins, he will then begin classes to major in business.
“It’s just kinda the best for me because I don’t know exactly what I want to do yet,” Poe said. “There’s just a lot of branch opportunities off of business.”
Poe plans to come back to Lindale to include graduation and prom. He credits his parents with helping him make the many decisions necessary to begin this journey.
“My parents have been great, and they have walked me through this process,” Poe said. “They have given me as much wisdom as they possibly could and helped me and carried me to where I am today.”
Poe plans to continue his college education, after which he hopes to go pro and have a career in the NFL.
“Casey is a phenomenal young man,” Cochran said. “We really appreciate all that he’s done for Lindale football and the way he’s represented our program and school district. It will be a lot of fun to follow him over the next 4-5 seasons.”
