🏈 Alabama football player was nervous, confident before getting engaged in unique proposal

[PhillyGirl]

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/10/austin_shepherd_engaged.html

Nerves were setting in, but Austin Shepherd was confident.

The Alabama right tackle proposed to his long-time girlfriend Jenna King last Thursday at a place special to both. Through the Austin Shepherd Foundation, the two worked with Children's of Alabama to help kids who are hospitalized long term.

The patients at Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham were part of Shepherd's plan.

"I mean, I just did it at Children's Hospital with a bunch of little kids, and one of my favorite ones that I've always kept up with really, just held the ring for me."



Shepherd couldn't even downplay his anxiety in the moment.

"Yeah, probably the most nervous thing I've ever done in my life," he said, but didn't doubt she'd accept the offer.

Back in August, Shepherd talked about starting the foundation with King, who lost a brother to cancer as a child.

"She wanted me to go visit the hospital with her one day, Children's of Birmingham," Shepherd said. "I was kind of nervous about it because I'm really uncomfortable in those situations, seeing kids like that. But we went up there, we kind of played with the kids, drew, painted, all that. I kinda fell in love with it. That night, me and Jenna, we got in the process of starting one. So we came up with that idea, so now we do the Austin Shephard foundation. We try to bring a kid and their family to at least every home game."

 

[rick4bama]

Congrat's and Good Luck!

 

[alabama mike]

Very heart warming story. On the flip side, the poor guy has no idea what he is getting into.

 

[mhardiman]

Very heart warming story. On the flip side, the poor guy has no idea what he is getting into.

I know everyone's different with different circumstances, but I find marriage easy and makes life great (no I'm not a newlywed). Kids on the other hand is hard and can be frustrating.

 

[alabama mike]

I know everyone's different with different circumstances, but I find marriage easy and makes life great (no I'm not a newlywed). Kids on the other hand is hard and can be frustrating.

@mhardiman Not a slam on marriage at all. The reality is people can tell you things about marriage, family, in-laws, death of family members, kids, school, sickness, etc... but until you go through the process you just don't understand everything that life has in store. Next time, I will choose my comments a little more carefully. BTW, not a newlywed either, 32+ years.

 

[UAgrad93]

Good for him. Marriage definitely has its challenges. My coaching put a strain on my marriage plus having two young kids made my wife feel like a single mom. My kids actually thought I "lived" at our fieldhouse! If they are willing to work, their marriage will work. 15+ years here.

 

[BamaFan334]

My marriage is easy and great, but I absolutely hate my father in law. My wife knows it because I told her in those exact words. Best thing I could have done regarding the matter because now she knows and we plan around it. Kids are definitely the biggest challenge, so I agree with the earlier comment. But on the other hand , they're the greatest accomplishment in my life as well.