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A Season to Remember
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama the world revolves around one The University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide. But on April 27, 2011 everything changed. An EF4 tornado ripped through the small college town and changed it forever.
Carson Tinker, the starting long snapper for the 2011 and 2012 National Champion Crimson Tide, was among those forever changed by the events of April 27. Tinker lost his girlfriend Ashley Harrison to the storm, but not his faith.
In the midst of unfathomable destruction, Tinker saw love, companionship, perseverance, and triumph in a community torn apart by a natural disaster. Where everyone else saw tragedy, Carson Tinker saw blessing. Following the storm, the Crimson Tide suited up to face their most challenging season to date. Tinker’s personal story guides readers through what cannot be described any other way than a season to remember.
Carson Tinker, the starting long snapper for the 2011 and 2012 National Champion Crimson Tide, was among those forever changed by the events of April 27. Tinker lost his girlfriend Ashley Harrison to the storm, but not his faith.
In the midst of unfathomable destruction, Tinker saw love, companionship, perseverance, and triumph in a community torn apart by a natural disaster. Where everyone else saw tragedy, Carson Tinker saw blessing. Following the storm, the Crimson Tide suited up to face their most challenging season to date. Tinker’s personal story guides readers through what cannot be described any other way than a season to remember.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 26, 2015
April 27, 2011, a date that will be etched in the memories of Alabamians for years to come. One of the top 5 worst tornado systems wreaked havoc on the state, taking numerous lives and leaving indescribable damage in its wake.
As a student at The University of Alabama, I was living in Tuscaloosa, a city that was ravaged by an EF-4 tornado that day, killing over 50 people. I happened to be at University Mall because it was supposed to be out of the line of damage. The mall ended up taking a hit. A minor hit, but one that made me realize that had the tornado been a matter of yards over, my life could be totally different, possibly even a non-issue. God, along with my many angels in Heaven, was looking out for me that day.
Carson Tinker, the long snapper for Bama, was very directly impacted by the tornado. The home that he and a few friends were living in was demolished while he, his housemates, his girlfriend Ashley, and their dogs were inside. Carson himself was pretty badly injured; however, Ashley was killed. Naturally, this had a pretty big impact on Tinker, but to read his story is truly amazing.
I appreciate the book from a personal standpoint; however, objectively, it's still a great book. He doesn't focus too much on the tornado, which was my initial concern. Instead, he does a great job of using Scripture, along with experiences in life and football, to teach great lessons. I would recommend this book to Alabama fans along with anyone looking for a great story of life and faith.
As a student at The University of Alabama, I was living in Tuscaloosa, a city that was ravaged by an EF-4 tornado that day, killing over 50 people. I happened to be at University Mall because it was supposed to be out of the line of damage. The mall ended up taking a hit. A minor hit, but one that made me realize that had the tornado been a matter of yards over, my life could be totally different, possibly even a non-issue. God, along with my many angels in Heaven, was looking out for me that day.
Carson Tinker, the long snapper for Bama, was very directly impacted by the tornado. The home that he and a few friends were living in was demolished while he, his housemates, his girlfriend Ashley, and their dogs were inside. Carson himself was pretty badly injured; however, Ashley was killed. Naturally, this had a pretty big impact on Tinker, but to read his story is truly amazing.
I appreciate the book from a personal standpoint; however, objectively, it's still a great book. He doesn't focus too much on the tornado, which was my initial concern. Instead, he does a great job of using Scripture, along with experiences in life and football, to teach great lessons. I would recommend this book to Alabama fans along with anyone looking for a great story of life and faith.
February 3, 2016
This young man went through so much but has the most relentless spirit. His faith in Jesus Christ is truly amazing. I wish that could have the opportunity to shake his hand one day and say thank you for sharing your story with others. Be a blessing to others!
July 12, 2014
Although a short, "simple" read, it's full of profound images and life lessons to not only inspire yourself, but encourages you to inspire others.
August 24, 2017
Be a blessing
A wonderful story of a young man who has persevered a life tragedy. It just happens he plays football for Alabama. Want to learn to be a blessing, read and enjoy this story!
A wonderful story of a young man who has persevered a life tragedy. It just happens he plays football for Alabama. Want to learn to be a blessing, read and enjoy this story!
May 8, 2023
An absolute must read for any student that was in Tuscaloosa for the tornado and saw the resilience after<3
dnf
July 11, 2022The second part of the book is a protestant inspiration book. I enjoyed the first half of the book and feel sorry for the man, but i was turned by the part where he says some loud baptist church "Is what heaven's like!"
Hand me the barf bag
Hand me the barf bag
September 8, 2015
Carson Tinker became the face of the city of Tuscaloosa in the spring of 2011 after an EF4 category tornado left much of the town decimated. He was the starting long-snapper on the University of Alabama football team, and the national media quickly picked up his story after it became known he lost his long-time girlfriend in the storm and barely survived himself. This brief but inspiring story is both an account of personal resiliency in the face of tragedy and also a lesson in the power of team sports to heal and unite a community.
For Alabama fans, it is also a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the 2011 season and in particular Coach Nick Saban’s leadership style: how he prepared and challenged his players week to week, how he instilled a sense of team cohesiveness, and how he refocused those young men during adversity.
As an account of spiritual inspiration, this is an uplifting but not terribly deep work. Tinker is clearly a committed Christian, although he seems to filter all the teachings of Scripture through the lens of football success. For example, comparing the resurrection of Lazurus to the team’s second chance against LSU seemed a bit inappropriate to me. (Of course, at age 23 I may have done the same sort of mental gymnastics when trying to figure out how to apply Biblical principles to my everyday life situation.)
Carson does not dwell very much on his relationship to his girlfriend, which surprised me. He talks about dealing with his grief but only in vague terms. Perhaps the memories were still too painful. (By the time the book was written, three years after the tornado, Tinker had met and was engaged to another woman; so he may have been trying to be respectful of his current relationship by not dwelling inappropriately on feelings from the former one.) Still, I thought the book would have been more effective if the author had provided a deeper glimpse of his struggle with loneliness and depression, rather than just his rehab and desire to get back on the football field.
For Alabama fans, it is also a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the 2011 season and in particular Coach Nick Saban’s leadership style: how he prepared and challenged his players week to week, how he instilled a sense of team cohesiveness, and how he refocused those young men during adversity.
As an account of spiritual inspiration, this is an uplifting but not terribly deep work. Tinker is clearly a committed Christian, although he seems to filter all the teachings of Scripture through the lens of football success. For example, comparing the resurrection of Lazurus to the team’s second chance against LSU seemed a bit inappropriate to me. (Of course, at age 23 I may have done the same sort of mental gymnastics when trying to figure out how to apply Biblical principles to my everyday life situation.)
Carson does not dwell very much on his relationship to his girlfriend, which surprised me. He talks about dealing with his grief but only in vague terms. Perhaps the memories were still too painful. (By the time the book was written, three years after the tornado, Tinker had met and was engaged to another woman; so he may have been trying to be respectful of his current relationship by not dwelling inappropriately on feelings from the former one.) Still, I thought the book would have been more effective if the author had provided a deeper glimpse of his struggle with loneliness and depression, rather than just his rehab and desire to get back on the football field.
May 8, 2014
On April 27, 2011, Tuscaloosa, Alabama was hit with EF-4 tornado. Carson Tinker, the author was an University of Alabama college student and Crimson Tide football player. He, his friends, his girlfriend, Ashley and his 2 dogs hunkered in a walk-in closet to ride out the storm. The last thing Carson remembered at the time was the roof of their house being ripped off and waking several hours later to massive destruction. This is the inspirational story of Carson Tinker and how he overcame his ordeal, which included the loss of life of his girlfriend, as well as his dogs and how he inspired himself the community, as well as the Crimson Tide football team. I am not a fan of football, but I found this story wonderful and inspirational. If I could rate this 4 and a half stars, I would. Although, it does not mention it, Carson Tinker plays now for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
I got this as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
I got this as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
September 6, 2014
Having lived through the April 27, 2011 tornadoes and also being an Alabama fan, I devoured this book. It is authored by a football player whose girlfriend died in the storm despite him wrapping her up in his body in a closet when the tornado tore up the home they were in. This young man chose to not be defined by his circumstances and adversity, rather how he responded to it. A devout Christian, he wanted to somehow bless others as a result of what he went through. A very simple yet inspirational read that also details how the Alabama football team helped to rebuild after the destruction and went on to win the National Championship. I loved it!
August 3, 2016
A Season to Remember, by Carson Tinker is about how a young man dealt with the aftermath of the tornado that ripped through Tuscaloosa in April 2011. There were many tragedies that day, and because of his role with the Alabama football team, Carson became one of the public faces of the community trying to rebuild. No matter what team you cheer for or even if you have no idea of the passion of college football, this is a tremendous story about a young man's quest not to let tragedy define his life and to be a blessing to others. This book is only a couple of hundred pages, so it's a very quick read.
December 21, 2016
Read by: Harland Groves
I really liked A Season to Remember because it is about an Alabama football player named Carson Tinker. In the book, Carson recounts the 2011 Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado and how the entire town and state helped people recover from the natural disaster. He also talks about the 2011 and 2012 national championship seasons. Carson Tinker is so positive even though his house was destroyed and he got hurt. This is a very good book.
I really liked A Season to Remember because it is about an Alabama football player named Carson Tinker. In the book, Carson recounts the 2011 Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado and how the entire town and state helped people recover from the natural disaster. He also talks about the 2011 and 2012 national championship seasons. Carson Tinker is so positive even though his house was destroyed and he got hurt. This is a very good book.
February 7, 2015
I enjoyed it - I am not by any means a huge college football fan but even so the game descriptions were not at all boring. They did tie into the overall theme of the book, which was the author's and the Tuscaloosa community's devastation and recovery from a tragic tornado. Good story of faith in Jesus sustaining through the pain and times of healing.
February 12, 2016
Very inspirational!
June 1, 2023
Great read from his perspective. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews