Charlie
Anderson

Once again fellow Thomasvillian and 2001 Thomasville High School graduate Anthony Madison has done us proud.

Madison who was an outstanding athlete at Thomasville High School entered the University of Alabama on a football scholarship as a partial qualifier back in the fall of 2001. Since his admission to the University he has done nothing but over achieve both on the football field and in the classroom.

Those achievements on his part haven’t gone unnoticed by the many people at the University who have had the occasion to work with him. This includes the coaching staff that has felt blessed to have him as a three-year letterman in the Alabama secondary including being a starter at cornerback for the past two years. Those same coaches also are thankful he is back for a senior year that he earned through his efforts in the classroom. Considered to be one of the best cover corners in the nation by many, his efforts were also recognized recently by the coaches in the SEC as witnessed by his pre-season selection to the All- SEC third team.

Beyond his exploits on the playing field Anthony’s achievements have also been recognized by his college instructors and those who have watched him in the classroom. It is here through his diligence and hard work that he has earned his undergraduate degree in Marketing within four years and by so doing earned back the year of football eligibility he lost as a partial qualifier. Even now he continues his efforts as he has started working on a graduate degree following his graduation in August.

Recognition of his efforts goes beyond these two groups as his teammates and fellow students have a genuine appreciation for the way he has conducted himself both on and off the playing field and in and out of the classroom.

With all this recognition and acknowledgement of his accomplishments there is now one more to add to the list.

Anthony Madison has the distinction of being the only football player at the University of Alabama who has been chosen as a member of the most exclusive “High Tide” Club for all the three seasons of its existence. The High Tide Club was established back in 2003 as a way to recognize football players who have had the most successful academic year and have made the most progress on the field and off the field. In 2003 only four people were selected for this honor, two offensive players and two defensive players. Since then the size of the group has been expanded to ten because there were so many more players who were seriously striving to meet the stringent criteria to be a part of it that the coaches and the selection committee decided to expand it to recognize more of them.

Even though Anthony is proud of all his accomplishments himself, and rightfully so, he is always quick to acknowledge that were it not for God’s help he could never have accomplished any of it.

Just as certain that I am that many of you join with me today in acknowledging and appreciating all that this fine young man has accomplished, I also believe God has taken notice and is proud of him too.

Until next time……be safe!