Former Hall County football star takes national stage

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A former Gainesville football star took the biggest stage of his life Monday night when the Clemson Tigers beat Alabama.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson graduated from Gainesville High School, where he helped bring home a state championship in 2012. Just over four years later, he brought a national championship to Clemson, and his alma mater was rooting for him.

GHS may be the fighting Red Elephants, but Monday teachers, students and staff wore orange for Watson.

“He says what he means and means what he says, and that’s the one thing I respect about him more than anything else,” said Michael Jackson, who was Watson’s school counselor.

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Channel 2’s Craig Lucie also spoke with one of Watson’s former football coaches about the Clemson-Alabama National Championship game Monday night.

“I hope he destroys Alabama, personally,” said coach Dave McConnell.

How beloved is Watson in Gainesville? School officials are asking the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board to rename Touchdown Drive to Deshaun Watson Drive.

His teachers told Lucie that Watson is great football player, but a better man.

Helen Perry said he honored her on Cancer Awareness Day.

“He walked down and had the pink eye patch with my name on it because I’m a breast cancer survivor, and that meant a lot to me,” said Perry.

It’s clear Watson means a lot to many on campus, and everybody was watching their hometown hero in his last college game before the NFL draft.

“It’s almost like watching one of my own children play football.  Every time he’s on TV, I get the feeling he is one of mine. He’s a fine young man. We are all in for Deshaun Watson,” Jackson said.

The Planning and Appeals Board will vote to change the street name Jan. 17. His counselor said he probably won’t be an Atlanta Falcon, so he’d like to see Watson play for the San Francisco 49ers.

Cox Media Group