Above Ground

What would you do if you thought your life was over...
Your dreams dashed...
What do you do...?

In ex-Alabama Crimson Tide running back Gene Jelks' case, it was a quarter-century of lashing out, going public, finding drugs as a refuge, fighting that addiction, being homeless out of shame, knowing there were those who wanted you dead, and being at the center of the Alabama-Auburn college football rivalry for all the wrong reasons.But, now, Gene is telling his story and wants everyone to know the "why" behind the actions of a young college football star that thought he was wronged, dealt with those wrongs in the wrong way, and is now trying to put his life back together for the next generation of student-athletes and their families to learn from his past.

"I prayed to the Lord," Gene admits, "'I surrender! Help me! I will give my gifts back to you so you can bless them and help your children. Just answer my cry Lord!'"

It's a story of rebirth, renewal, resurrection, and life in the Southeastern Conference. It's about one man's choices, twists, and turns that caused a ripple effect in an entire region- and still is remembered to this day by teammates and fans alike. There are those who have forgiven and those that haven't twenty-five years later and, now, Gene is letting everyone willing to listen to know what happened.

It's about one man's quest to find himself and determine a future to give back to those who need to listen the most. Now that Gene Jelks has returned home, in more ways than one, it's time to tell his story and let everyone know just how he got back "Above Ground" once and for all.