If you drive through the small town of Jennings, you might feel as if you’re in an episode of the Twilight Zone because the town is split on which Tiger to pull for in Monday’s college football national championship game. That’s because Clemson Tigers stand out running back Travis Etienne hails from the Jefferson Davis Parish town. Jennings Mayor Henry Guinn is conflicted.
“Great kid, great background, excellent work ethic, we can’t say enough positive things about him and I’m not mad about seeing the Clemson stuff either, despite LSU being my alma mater,” says Guinn.
As he looks out his window Guinn says he can see plenty of Clemson flags flying along with the purple and gold, but he doesn’t seem to mind because he knows the Clemson flags show support for the hometown player.
Etienne a college Junior, graduated from Jennings High School in 2017, is playing for his second college football national championship. Guinn says they are extremely happy for the ACC Player of Year’s success and it just worked out that Clemson is playing LSU for the Championship.
“The people of Jennings would support him no matter where he went. We knew he was talented; we knew he was very smart, and very well composed. I may have been a little disheartened if he’d signed at Alabama, but anywhere else,” Guinn reflected.
Mayor Guinn says despite the city being split, the trash talk hasn’t gotten out of hand and the town supports their standout player no matter what happens on the field.
“We can’t say enough good things about Travis and his family, and his success in college football and his success on the next level, because we know he’s going to the next level. We’re really happy for him over here in Jennings,” says Guinn.
As a senior at Jennings High School, Etienne rushed for 2,459 yards with 39 touchdowns. Clemson and LSU play in the CFP National Championship Game Monday, January 13th in New Orleans.
