AJ McCarron - Off The Field

Everyone has their favorite spot in town. For A.J. McCarron, it's Wings. He and his family come here when he's home from school. Everywhere AJ goes, he's approached by fans. Whether it's be giving an autograph or posing for a picture, The Crimson Tide Quarterback is very gracious.

"Everywhere you go, you get noticed and all that. Which is good..but, at the same time, when I come back home I like just hangin' out with my family and kind of staying low key and everything. But, it's definitely fun to come back home and visit", said McCarron.

A lot of good memories here at Wings. This is where A.J. committed to Alabama in May of 200.  Bama memorabilia covers the walls including a large likeness of a man he's very close to.

"He's kind of like a dad away from home in a way..because he's always there", said McCarron.  A.J. admits Coach Nick Saban is tough on him. He's been known to publicly chastise A-J.  "I think that's why he stays on me so hard because he knows what I'm capable of and he wants the best out of me..and so you can't blame him. I mean people are gonna talk about him getting on to me and stuff like that. But, that doesn't bother me..I'll start worrying when he's not getting on to me", said McCarron.

In high school, A.J. received his share of direction at St. Paul's High School. "It hasn't changed one bit..everything looks the exact same", McCarron said as he stepped foot on the campus of his alma mater Saturday. A lot of familiar faces greeted him. "It's definitely a cool experience you know..just seeing everybody that I haven't seen. I mean some of those people I haven't seen in four or five years", said McCarron.

The coaches are proud of their former player, now MVP. Alumni are too..like A.J.'s buddy, Minor Leaguer Destin Hood, and Chicago White Sox Pitcher Jake Peavy who graduated long before McCarron. Even while sharing the spotlight with other accomplished athletes, all eyes are on A.J.

One man introduced himself to A.J. as a relative, "You're actually my cousin", said the man. Shaking hands, or inking his name almost always for people he's never met, A.J. takes it all in stride. "You just gotta learn to take it..I mean..just go with it. It comes with the position. It comes with the sport we play. I mean..if you fight it, it's just gonna get worse for you. So you just gotta enjoy it..while you're on the ride", said McCarron.