As a former University of Alabama football player and current author, teacher and coach, Andrew Zow brought a unique perspective to Clanton Middle School students this week.

Zow spoke to about 75 students in grades sixth through eighth on Monday about the importance of education.

“If you understand how important education is now, it will help you in the future,” Zow said.

Zow talked about his own childhood, growing up in Florida as the youngest of eight siblings.

He would eventually attend the University of Alabama and play quarterback for the Crimson Tide football team.

Though he considered himself bright and was a successful student in high school, Zow said he failed courses in his first college semester.

Once he realized he needed to make a commitment to his school work, Zow enjoyed success in the classroom and the football field, where he led the Crimson Tide to the 1999 Southeastern Conference Championship.

Zow said there might be people who would consider his football career a failure because he didn’t play in the National Football League, but Zow told the CMS students that each person determines what is successful for himself or herself.

“You determine your own success,” he said and offered up a key to achieving that success: reading. “It all starts by opening up a book and starting reading.”

Zow has written his own book, “Crimson QB: The Andrew Zow Story,” and encouraged the students to start thinking about doing the same.

“If you understand how important education is now, it will help you in the future,” he said. “Be successful in middle school, and you’ll be successful in high school.”

Zow, who is a teacher and coach at Montevallo High School, encouraged the students to always “be good to each other.”

“In this world you are one, but to one you may be the world,” he said. “There’s always someone who is looking up to you, so how about being that role model they need.”