Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
September 11, 2001: A Flashback All Too Familiar with Temple DB Zamel Johnson
9.11.13 | Football
by Andy Esworthy
There are some days in your lifetime that will never be forgotten. You will remember exactly where you were, who you were with and what you were doing. For most, it's the birth of their first-born child or their wedding day.
For a then ten-year-old Zamel Johnson, it was September 11, 2001.
"At first I was just really confused because [the attacks] were during school and everyone's parents were coming to pick them up, and no one came to pick me up, so I was thinking, What is going on?"
Born and raised in Staten Island, Johnson, saw the World Trade Center everyday going to and from school. Igniting the New York City skyline like two electrifying cracks of lightning, the Towers to him were a symbol of the excitement and liveliness of New York City. He loved living in the city that never sleeps and said that he likes to visit home as much as possible in his rare downtime away from the football team.
"I saw what was going on across the water and was just like…. Wow! Nobody told me what was going on until I saw it for myself. Then once I saw it on the news I was just scared, confused; I had no idea what was going on."
The scenes on that tragic day in downtown Manhattan will always be etched in the memories of those who witnessed the attacks, and Johnson, at a young age, had those visuals cemented into his memory forever. Reflecting back on those memories, Johnson can still remember vivid details of the hours that transpired soon after the two airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center.
"It has to be the visuals," Johnson said on the aspect which most resonates with him about the attacks then and even now twelve years later. "On the ride home [from school] you can see Manhattan across the water, and see the Towers. Once I got to my grandmas house, I saw it on the news. At the time I was too young to understand, but the visuals just stuck out to me."
Thankfully Johnson and his surrounding family were all safe and accounted for that day, but he did say his uncle had to run to the ferry in order to reach safety.
In the midst of all the tragedy, Johnson admits there was a positive life lesson he learned that day, as his vision on life was turned upside down.
"[In life] things can happen unexpectedly, and it's all about the way you come back from it. In the times of adversity, how do you respond? The city and the country only got stronger. Personally, I learned about the world, I was only 10-years-old and at that age you're thinking everything's perfect. But knowing things like this could happen; it was really a shock for me."
This is evident in Johnson's play, as he responds to the adversity and the ups and downs of the game, coming back stronger and stronger, play after play, never forgetting the city where he was raised and life lessons he learned along the way.
Especially the lessons he learned from his city and country from that horrific September morning twelve years ago.
There are some days in your lifetime that will never be forgotten. You will remember exactly where you were, who you were with and what you were doing. For most, it's the birth of their first-born child or their wedding day.
For a then ten-year-old Zamel Johnson, it was September 11, 2001.
"At first I was just really confused because [the attacks] were during school and everyone's parents were coming to pick them up, and no one came to pick me up, so I was thinking, What is going on?"
Born and raised in Staten Island, Johnson, saw the World Trade Center everyday going to and from school. Igniting the New York City skyline like two electrifying cracks of lightning, the Towers to him were a symbol of the excitement and liveliness of New York City. He loved living in the city that never sleeps and said that he likes to visit home as much as possible in his rare downtime away from the football team.
"I saw what was going on across the water and was just like…. Wow! Nobody told me what was going on until I saw it for myself. Then once I saw it on the news I was just scared, confused; I had no idea what was going on."
The scenes on that tragic day in downtown Manhattan will always be etched in the memories of those who witnessed the attacks, and Johnson, at a young age, had those visuals cemented into his memory forever. Reflecting back on those memories, Johnson can still remember vivid details of the hours that transpired soon after the two airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center.
"It has to be the visuals," Johnson said on the aspect which most resonates with him about the attacks then and even now twelve years later. "On the ride home [from school] you can see Manhattan across the water, and see the Towers. Once I got to my grandmas house, I saw it on the news. At the time I was too young to understand, but the visuals just stuck out to me."
Thankfully Johnson and his surrounding family were all safe and accounted for that day, but he did say his uncle had to run to the ferry in order to reach safety.
In the midst of all the tragedy, Johnson admits there was a positive life lesson he learned that day, as his vision on life was turned upside down.
"[In life] things can happen unexpectedly, and it's all about the way you come back from it. In the times of adversity, how do you respond? The city and the country only got stronger. Personally, I learned about the world, I was only 10-years-old and at that age you're thinking everything's perfect. But knowing things like this could happen; it was really a shock for me."
This is evident in Johnson's play, as he responds to the adversity and the ups and downs of the game, coming back stronger and stronger, play after play, never forgetting the city where he was raised and life lessons he learned along the way.
Especially the lessons he learned from his city and country from that horrific September morning twelve years ago.
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