Roll Lester, Roll Tide

   You want to win football games?

   Simply follow the Lester Towns method. Hire Towns as a volunteer assistant coach. His teams are 24-5 this season.

   It's that simple. The Panthers hired towns as a volunteer assisant in training camp. The team had the best camp I've ever seen. Towns, who played for the Panthers from 2000-03, was a big-hitting, move the pile linebacker who started for George Seifert.

   I'd see Towns at camp this summer working one on one with the linebackers.  Towns was always popular with players and coaches, and right away you could tell he had the ability to impart what he knew.

   When camp ended, Towns went to Tuscaloosa to do the same job for Alabama. Towns'  final NFL stint was with the Miami Dolphins, whom Nick Saban coached, in 2005. Saban now coaches the Crimson Tide.

    What kind of impact did Towns have at Alabama? The Tide lost one game this season. They'll play Utah at 8 p.m. tonight in the Sugar Bowl.

   I ran into Towns Dec. 24 at Best Buy, and he and his family were getting ready to make the trip to New Orleans for the game.

   I also ran into Towns after he left football. He had just started a real job. But it didn't feel like him. Coaching does. He has such passion for the work. He also has credibility and class. He's a man you want in your organization no matter who you are.

   I mean, look at his record.

Comments

[Michael Procton]

Kind of strange, that this guy's fate turned so quickly in the league. From a 15-game starter to afterthought in just a year. Good to know, though, that he's making an impact.