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Christina Mewborn
Mr. Price
English 11
May 10, 2014
Summary of Touchdown Alexander
Touchdown Alexander is a wonderful book written by Shaun Alexander, himself.
Shaun Alexander is number 37 and he plays for the Seattle Seahawks. He tells of his
upbringing, personal faith journey, and how he reached success; the right way.
Shaun Alexander was born on August 30, 1977 in Florence, Kentucky to Curtis
and Carol Alexander. His parents, brother, and he lived in a two bedroom apartment on
Shenandoah Drive in Florence. He and his brother Durran were still very close to their
half-siblings. He even saw his dad very often after he and his mother divorced. Growing
up he remembered all the special holidays, especially Christmas. It was the best time of
year for him. He didnt enjoy elementary school as much because he was always being
compared to his older brother Durran, he felt he had to rise to his brothers status until
sixth grade. His teacher, Mrs. Walton taught him something very important. Be the best
Shaun he could. He gave his life to the Lord when he was ten years old, in the fourth
grade, on Easter Sunday 1987. As a result of his Christianity, God prevented him from
caving into the peer pressure around him. He began football in 2
nd
grade and thats
when the #37 running back was born.
After excelling in high school, both on and off the field, he went on to play for the
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1995. At the University of Alabama, he felt really
close to his coaches, Coach DuBose and Coach Williams. He saw them as confidants.
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In 2000, he and his brother, Durran founded and set up the Shaun Alexander
Foundation. A few days later after a street naming ceremony in his honor, he was
talking to his older cousin and his cousins wife. They were telling him about the dreams
and instinct that they had. They told Shaun that his future wife was around the corner.
He just sort of shook it off, but sure enough they were right. Around the corner was the
girl in the little green Neon.
On April 15, 2000, the NFLs Seattle Seahawks chose Shaun Alexander as their
19
th
pick. He had now officially turned professional. On May 25 (just arriving in Seattle),
he met Valerie Boyd at a friends party. She was the girl in the little green Neon. She
had all the perfect qualities that he was looking for. She also had the strong hunger for
God; which he was definitely looking for in a woman, his future wife. Later he went on to
marry Valerie and they now have three children. In his career, he went on to score a
record breaking 28 touchdowns in a single season, he was the NFLs MVP in 2005, and
he also racked up a league high 1880 yards rushing while leading the Seattle Seahawks
to their first ever Super Bowl appearance.
Shaun Alexander believes that he lives a truly blessed life. Today, he is not
currently playing for any NFL team due to no offered contracts, but his Christian
foundation (SAF) still stands. By reading his story, we can all learn an important lesson.
His story is definitely an example on living a great life full of purpose and achievement
through Gods standards.