Patrick Hanrahan wasn’t surprised Monday when the Crimson Tide repeated as BCS National Champions.

“We knew that was coming,” he said. “I could have called that one.”

The game might have been easy enough to call without Hanrahan’s particular insight into college football, but seeing him in his office at Ultimate Fitness in Springville—surrounded by a framed Mississippi State jersey and two large photos of him in action as a fullback for the Bulldogs—it’s clear that he knows more about the sport than most.

A Springville native who began playing for the Tigers as an eighth grader, he signed with Alabama before transferring to Mississippi State, played in three bowl games, and was courted by several NFL teams.  Now he’s back home, fulfilling his long-held dream of opening a gym.

“When I was in high school, I was addicted to the gym.  I loved lifting weight and training, and the older I got, the more I wanted to have one of my own.  It’s been my brother’s and my dream, and we did it.”

Ultimate Fitness opened Dec. 1 at 5786 Highway 11, next to ONEeighty Church.  “We are a full-service 24/7 gym for people who want to work out any time of the day.  We offer cardio, free weights, and traditional speed and strength development, so there’s something for the whole family.  While your son is getting his speed work done, you can be doing cardio.”

More than anything else, Hanrahan said, he wants Ultimate Fitness to be about giving back to the community.  “A lot of people helped me accomplish the things I’ve been able to do, and this is my way of giving back.”

Besides explaining how speed and strength training help prepare student athletes for playing college-level sports, he also outlined the road from Springville to the NFL, named some of his favorite moments on the field, and explained why he left Nick Saban’s program at Alabama.

His background:  His father Gary played offensive tackle for Alabama, where he was a member of Bear Bryant’s SEC and national championship team.  “Dad is 6’6”, so when he walks in the room, you know he was an offensive lineman.”  His brother Michael played football for Hewitt-Trussville, electing not to play college sports, and several of his cousins have also played college football.

About his varsity days at Springville:  Hanrahan played fullback and linebacker for the Tigers, helping them to several playoff appearances.  “Coach (Keith) Maple is one of the best coaches to play for.  He’s very dedicated to the program and very knowledgeable about the game of football.  He knows how to win, and a lot of what we did was win during the years I was there.  Of course, when I was there, Springville was 3A, and 5A opponents are a lot different, but Coach Maple is doing the best he can with the cards he’s been dealt.  It was a great experience to play for him.”

After high school:  Coach Mike Shula recruited Hanrahan as a fullback for the Crimson Tide, who played in the Independence Bowl during his first season at Alabama.  He played for one season with Saban after Shula’s dismissal, including another Independence Bowl appearance, in which Alabama defeated Colorado 30-24.

Why he left Alabama:  “The opportunity for me as a fullback just wasn’t there.  Coach Saban obviously doesn’t run a fullback—he likes to run two tight ends and a running back—so the only time I’d get used would be in short yardage situations at the goal line.  That wasn’t my idea of playing college football, so I went to Mississippi State.”

About Saban:  “He is an unbelievable coach, and it was a great experience to be able to play for him.  He’s a perfectionist on and off the field.”

At Mississippi State:  “By far, the best time of my life.”  The 21st-ranked Bulldogs defeated Michigan 52-14 in the Gator Bowl his senior year.  Hanrahan graduated with a degree in human sciences.

Favorite memories:  “Oh, there are a lot of them.  Beating Michigan in the Gator Bowl.  Beating Florida at the Swamp my senior year.  Blocking a punt against Auburn that was returned for a touchdown.”

One particularly emotional game:  “It was my senior year, and we were going back to Bryant-Denny, which would be my last time playing against Alabama.  It was a night game, under the lights on national TV.  We were number 13, and Alabama was in the top 5.  The week before, my teammate Nick Bell had passed away from cancer, and it was the first time our team had played without him, so emotions were running high.  We ended up losing by, I think, a couple of touchdowns.  They did what Alabama does best, which is take over in the fourth quarter.”

Shopping for a professional team:  “When I went to the NFL combines, it was the year of the lockout, probably the worst year ever to come out for NFL football.  Money was really tight, and all the teams were hurting.  As soon as I got into it, I learned how much of a business the NFL is.  There’s a lot more to it than just football.”  The Atlanta Falcons first contacted him as a possible draft pick but started practice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the lockout.  

To the West Coast:  Hanrahan left Tampa Bay for San Francisco after the 49ers considered offering him a three-year contract.   “They ended up signing someone else, which didn’t bother me, because, come on, I’m from Springville, and San Francisco is not where I wanted to end up.  So I could go back to Tampa, but I decided to be patient, come back home and figure out my next step.”

Back in Springville:  “I started looking into opening a gym, and I realized that was the Lord’s plan for me instead of continuing to play football.  It’s funny how things work out.”

Advice for aspiring collegiate athletes:  “For kids, it starts with your education.  That’s the first thing.  You have to have the grades to be eligible.  For parents, if your child has the potential to play at the next level, push them to better themselves off the field, put in the extra hours, and do the little things that will make them better athletes.  Growing up, my dad had me in speed camps year-round, and that really gave me an advantage when it came to separating myself from other players.  That’s the same thing I’m trying to give back to the community here, to help our kids improve themselves.”