As if the Fourth of July was not enough to make this a holiday weekend, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston got to celebrate with a day of his own in his hometown of Hueytown, Alabama. The town celebrated Jameis Winston Day, a day marked to pay tribute to the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner and BCS champion.
Festivities included local dignitaries and politicians speaking before local residents, friends and family of Winston’s at Hueytown High School’s old football stadium. A plaque was unveiled to commemorate Winston’s achievements from his two-sport high school days. Winston’s day also included stops at a local children’s hospital and the chamber of commerce. His jersey number was retired by his high school and a local youth football league as well. The youth football league proclaimed Winston to be “a young man of character on and off the field,” according to David Hale of ESPN.com.
In the past year Winston has seen his name in multiple legal headlines for various reasons. He was accused of raping a Florida State student, although authorities never charged him for any wrongdoing. Winston was also discovered stealing crab legs from a local grocery store. every college kid is going to make some bad decisions at one point or another, Winston is no exception. While there reportedly was some concern addressed about honoring Winston in this fashion during the planning stages, the day went as planned without incident or protest.
