Ex-Alabama defensive back John Fulton played for head coach Nick Saban from 2010-13. Fulton was one of many players to win two national championships and a Southeastern Conference title, but his biggest contribution to the Crimson Tide family comes off the field.
Alabama football was in utter sorrow Wednesday morning, due to the tragic loss of former Crimson Tide running back Altee Tenpenny. The Arkansas native and 2013 Alabama signee was killed in a one-man car accident in Mississippi. Tenpenny’s teammates and friends took to social media to express their grief and Saban went to visit his family Wednesday afternoon.
“I went to visit his mother and brought our dearest condolences from the University of Alabama,” Saban said. “Altee was once a member of our program and family and built a lot of relationships with the players here.”
Venting on Twitter and Instagram was not enough for Fulton. He decided to start a fund in order to provide a proper burial for Tenpenny. His site, Go Fund Me, will supply all funeral assistance for the Tenpenny family. It currently has 163 donations and others have left comments of love and sympathy. “We all knew Altee as someone with the biggest smile and would do absolutely anything for anyone. Now is our time to do something for him and his loved ones.”- Fulton.
It doesn't matter if it's $1, $10 or $100 anything helps. We all know Altee would have done it for us #FlyHighMyGuy #RIPAltee
— Judah Fulton (@_Elvis_Freshley) October 22, 2015
We all knew Altee as a guy that would do anything for anybody. Well now is our chance to give back to his family https://t.co/uR0jV9x3mx
— Judah Fulton (@_Elvis_Freshley) October 22, 2015
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.