L ess
t ha n
M i ss i ss i pp i defensive as
he
24
h o urs
S tat e end
looked
a f t er
by
Sam
d ow n
On it rested a shiny chunk of purple and gold and his newest trophy – an LSU Ring. “It means a whole lot to me,” said the sixfoot-five defender. “This is more important than any bowl ring.” Montgomery has received mountains of accolades for his on-the-field performance in a Tiger uniform. Just this season, he was selected for the Coaches’ All-SEC first team, named a Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award finalist, twice chosen as an SEC defensive lineman of the week and once as the SEC defensive player of the week. But this honor, an LSU Ring, is different. It is a testament to his academic accomplishments. Montgomery, a sports administration major, admitted it is not easy being a student athlete. Balancing coursework and football can seem to require acrobatics. Montgomery said his ring is tangible evidence of his hard work in the classroom. “It shows
a
LSU
d e f eat e d
20-point
m ar g i n ,
M o n t g o m er y
bea m e d
at
his
f i n g er .
that I came to school, went to class, and did what I’m supposed to do,” he said. Montgomery also credited his classmates for their support in his academic success. “I’m not just the guy you see on the field. That’s less than one-fourth of who I am,” he said. “But the guy in the classroom is who I am, and my classmates see that and help me out.”
More than Jewelry Like the rest of this year’s recipients, Montgomery feels his LSU Ring is much more than a piece of jewelry. It signifies hard work, dedication, accomplishment, and more. Though the ring is inherently valuable, this year’s crop is extra special.
LSU Alumni Magazine | Spring 2013
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