The Alabama Crimson Tide will host the iconic annual homecoming game next week when the Missouri Tigers come to town and face off against the Tide in a premiere SEC matchup. There will be a very special grand marshal of the parade this year, legendary former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander.

Starring at Alabama from 1996-1999, Alexander at the time broke school records for career rushing yards with 3,565 and career rushing touchdowns with 41, numbers that have since been passed by Najee Harris, Mark Ingram, and of course Derrick Henry. Alexander’s 291 yards against LSU in 1996 still remain the program record for rushing yards in a game.

As a first round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in 2000, Alexander would go on to win an NFL MVP in 2005, becoming the first Crimson Tide player to accomplish the feat since Ken Stabler in 1974 and the only one since then.

He has also given back tremendously over the years as a key part of charitable organizations such as Café Momentum, Prison Fellowship, The Matt Talbot Center, Stand Together, and the Shaun Alexander Professional Legacy Program.

Alexander is an ideal person to lead the parade and a true representation of what it means to be a member of the Crimson Tide.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.