FINANCIAL BENEFIT A BONUS

Justin Forehand wasn’t pressured into his football playing career.

Tommy Forehand didn’t dish out $12,000 as a loan to his son, expecting it to be paid back one day. Forehand didn’t place the money as a bet his son would eventually earn an athletic scholarship to help pay his own way through college.

He just wanted his son to be happy, which meant reaching into his wallet for out-of-pocket expenses associated with playing team sports Justin showed interest in during his childhood.

“It’s been his dream since he was a little boy,” Forehand said. “We’ve got tons of pictures at Christmas where Justin is running around in a helmet and pads.”

The football scholarship to UAB, which will cover an estimated total of more than $70,000 in tuition costs the next four years, just turned out to be an added bonus while his son enjoyed playing a sport he loved growing up, Forehand said.

“It worked out for him,” his father said.