The bleakest weekend of the autumn for Crimson Tide football fans turned out to be the brightest for Jeremiah Green.
The Hillsborough senior, who won a national outdoor triple jump title this past summer, announced Tuesday he'll sign a full track scholarship with the University of Alabama. Standing before a cafeteria full of classmates, Green held up four college pennants — USF, Clemson, LSU and 'Bama — before discarding all except the crimson one.
"When I went on a visit, I loved their coaching staff; they've got a whole new coaching staff," said Green, who made his trip the weekend of the 'Bama football team's loss to Texas A&M. "It's like a building process. When they win their first national championship, I want to be a part of that."
Green will formally sign his National Letter of Intent in early February. Terriers coach Joe Sipp confirmed the scholarship is a full ride — a rarity in track.
"They don't give out a lot, but they do give full track scholarships," Sipp said.
The reigning Class 3A triple jump champion, Green notched his personal-best effort — 50 feet, 10 1/2 inches — en route to winning the event at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships this summer in North Carolina. In addition to his gold medal for the triple jump, he placed fifth in the long jump at the state meet, and ran a leg on the 4x400-meter relay team that placed eighth.
His goal this spring: the state high school triple jump record (52-5 1/2) set by Sanford Seminole's Andre Scott in 1994.
"It's a lot of pressure," said Green, a Terriers football standout who recorded five interceptions and nearly 400 rushing yards this past season.
"I've got a lot of records I want to break...It's like a rewind. Everything I did last year doesn't matter anymore. I've got to go out and do it again, plus more."