It was a chilly Friday morning in Birmingham, with the sun rising over Protective Stadium. This was no ordinary game; it was the culmination of years of sacrifice, sweat, and an unshakable belief in something bigger than individual achievement.
The scene: a packed stadium, radiating the small-town pride only found in the heart of Deep South Alabama. For Coach Jimmy “BooJu” Martin, this moment was more than just a game. It marked the closing chapter of a journey that had started long before that fateful day—a journey that had transformed young boys into championship-caliber athletes and shaped Martin from a player with big dreams into a coach dedicated to helping others achieve theirs.
Martin’s career trajectory was never defined by instant success but by a slow, deliberate process of building something lasting. “Back when I was playing, we weren’t exactly the best team,” Martin recalled, reflecting on his high school days. “In fact, my junior year, we were three and seven. I broke my elbow, and it was a tough season for us. But the next year, Jeff Kelly came in as head coach, and we went from three and seven to nine and four. That turnaround was huge, and it set the foundation for everything that came after.”
For Martin, football was about more than just the game itself; it was about finding the right players who could support each other and buy into a shared vision. “That next year, my senior year, we made it to the third round of the playoffs,” he said. “Even though we lost, we knew we had the potential to do something big. That was the turning point for me. I knew I wanted to be involved in football for the long haul.”
When Martin graduated from Jackson High in 2009, his dreams of playing college football were dashed by injuries. “In 2011, I had a shoulder injury and couldn’t play,” he said. “I kept up with my studies, but I wasn’t on the field anymore. That was a tough pill to swallow, but it also opened a new path for me.”
It was during this time that Martin began to step into the world of coaching—a role he had never fully considered before. “Danny Powell was the head coach at the time. I had just come home from college, rehabbing, and I started working out with the kids. Just helping out here and there. Danny saw me around and asked if I’d ever thought about coaching. I told him no, not really,” Martin chuckled. “But then Danny and Le sat me down and said, ‘We want you to help out this year.’ It was a shift, but I was open to it.”
At just 20 years old, Martin found himself immersed in coaching. “At first, I was just helping with defense, but halfway through the season, I started coaching kickoffs and defensive backs. We went 15-0 that year and won the championship. I mean, it was wild. I wasn’t even a full-time coach, and we were undefeated.”
But Martin’s journey didn’t stop there. “After that season, I went back to college to finish my degree,” he said. “I played two more seasons of football at Selma, and when I came back to Jackson, I knew coaching was where I belonged. I didn’t know it would happen this fast, but everything just clicked.”
Returning home was a pivotal moment in his life. “I was selling insurance at the time,” he recalled, “but I knew I wanted to be involved in sports. So, I started coaching full-time, and that’s when the real learning began.”
Martin’s eyes softened as he spoke about the current group of players he coaches. “This group of kids—man, they’re something else,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of talent in my time, but we’ve got 10, 12 kids who are just really good. I’ve never had a team like this. And it’s not just about talent. It’s about chemistry. These kids, they really believe in each other. They trust each other. And that’s what makes them special.”
As the conversation unfolded, it became clear Martin’s philosophy extended far beyond the football field. “When I was in high school, we had a lot of tough times. Our football program wasn’t exactly the most successful, but there was always a sense of pride. It was about more than just winning games; it was about representing Jackson, representing our people,” Martin said, his voice thick with emotion. His connection to the town and community ran deep—a thread woven into every lesson he imparted.
His coaching style wasn’t solely about football techniques. It was about life. “I’m just trying to teach these kids what I learned, what I wish I had known when I was their age,” he said. “It’s not just about sports—it’s about life. These kids are going places, and I’m just here to help guide them.”
Martin’s early coaching experiences took shape when he received a call from his old coach, Danny Powell. “Danny called and said, ‘Hey man, I need some help with my peewee program.’” At first, Martin wasn’t sure. Coaching six- and seven-year-olds seemed like a far cry from high school football. Yet, as he got involved, he quickly realized these young kids, despite their age, had something special. “They were raw, but they had the drive,” he said, pride evident in his voice.
The lessons he learned while coaching this young group formed the foundation for everything that came after. “That group that graduated last year, they were the older set in my program,” he explained. “We had a mixed bag—some real standouts and some who still needed work. But they all had that same fire in them.”
These early years shaped the coach Martin would eventually become. “During that time, Danny was still coaching the high school team, and I started helping him out whenever I could. I’d assist with whatever he needed—defense, offense, you name it. I was learning as much as I could, trying to soak it all in.”
Then came the breakthrough. “The following year, an opportunity came up for me to get into the school system as a coach. I took it, and I’ve been there ever since.”
His leadership on the field translated into his coaching style. “I wasn’t the fastest or the strongest, but I knew the game inside and out. I could always see things developing before they happened. And the kids respected that,” he said, pride in his players clear. “They followed my lead because they knew I wasn’t going to steer them wrong.”
As the years passed, Martin saw the potential of his players unfold. “There’s always that one moment when you see a kid and you just know—they’re going to be great someday,” he said. “With some of those kids, I could see it. They had that ‘it’ factor.” The foundation he had helped build over the years was starting to bear fruit.
Coach BooJu Martin reflects on the unforgettable years he spent coaching a youth team. Known for their wild antics and unparalleled talent, the team was more than just a group of athletes—it was a spectacle, a show that captivated every fan who watched.
“We were so talented, and with me and Torrez, who was young and crazy, it became something unique,” Martin recalls. “Before every game, we’d stop in Mobile, grab a box of Krispy Kreme donuts, put on donut hats, and give them to the other team, saying, ‘Here’s your donut for the zero that’s going to be on the scoreboard.’ It became our thing. And that’s when people started calling us ‘the show.’”
That irreverent spirit, mixed with undeniable talent, made the team irresistible to fans. But Martin credits more than just raw skill for their success. “It was the parents,” he says. “They were the most supportive group I’ve ever seen. If we told them we were going to New Mexico, they didn’t hesitate. They just said, ‘We’re in.’” The team’s bond wasn’t limited to the players—it extended to their families, who traveled, supported, and made every game feel like a family event.
The players themselves were exceptional. Martin highlights Landon Duckworth and EJ Crowell as key examples. Duckworth, with his quick decision-making and athleticism, and Crowell, who transitioned from defense to offense in eighth grade, were at the core of the team’s success. “Landon’s got four rings, EJ’s got three,” Martin chuckles. “And they’re both still hungry for more.”
What made Duckworth and Crowell so special wasn’t just their talent, but the way they pushed each other to be better, year after year. The two had been teammates since they were five years old, growing up together, their bond on the field undeniable.
EJ Crowell, initially known for his defensive prowess, became a game-changer when he was given the chance to step into an offensive role. Martin remembers the moment clearly. “We always knew EJ had something special, but we’d never really given him the ball. Once he got the chance to run with it, you could see the difference. He made everyone around him better.” Martin laughs as he adds, “I always joke with Coach Flournoy for discovering EJ’s ability to run the ball—it was a game-changer for us.”
The chemistry between the team was a reflection of their unity. They had grown up together, not just as teammates, but as brothers. Their ability to work together, even in high-pressure moments, was a testament to years of shared experiences and a deep understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “This is the greatest team the school has ever seen,” Martin said, his pride evident as he looked at the bond they had built.
What set this group apart wasn’t just their performance on the field; it was their commitment to each other. “We never had to chase down a starter for practice,” Martin recalls. “They were always there, ready.” This sense of responsibility and unity, he believes, was key to their championship success.
As Martin looks back on his time coaching, he’s proud not just of the wins, but of the culture they built. “It wasn’t just a team; it was a family,” he says. “That’s what made us special.” For Coach BooJu Martin, that bond will forever be the true legacy of “the show.”
On that fateful Friday in Birmingham, when everything was on the line, Martin stood by the field, watching his players—his family—prepare for the biggest moment of their lives. “They were destined for greatness,” he said softly. “And they had arrived.”
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This article was originally published by The South Alabamian – Deep South Media Group. © 2024 Deep South Media Group. All rights reserved.
Eduardo Magaña 
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