Joe Burrow is setting the college football season on fire, leading LSU to an 8-0 record with a huge showdown Saturday vs. Alabama.
A win for LSU would further push Burrow to a potential Heisman trophy and a shot at a National Championship.
His father Jim, says he's a bit surprised by his son's incredible success on the football field.
"The rapid rise to where he is and LSU is somewhat surprising but that's why he went to LSU to play in big games like this on Saturday," he said.'
When the No. 2 Tigers take on the No. 3 Crimson Tide, fans are hanging their hopes on a kid from Ohio who grew up in a town of 3,000 people. A town 30 times smaller than the stadium at LSU.
Jim says it shows it's not where you come from that's important, it's what you set your mind to.
"I think he looks at it as it's an opportunity to show people hey if you're determined you may have some roadblocks but if you work at it you may have a chance for great things to happen to you," he said.
Joe Burrow started at Athens High School and was voted Ohio's Mr. Football. Scholarship offers poured in and he chose Ohio State.
But ahead of the 2018 season, with the likelihood of being a backup to Dwayne Haskins, Joe transferred to LSU to make a name for himself there.
And while he may be playing a long way from home, his parents have never missed a game — home or away.
"It is crazy, but it's fun," he said.
Joe is not only a success on the field, but in the classroom as well.
"He graduated from Ohio State in three years, he'll have his masters at end of this semester and that was our goal to make sure Joe gets a great education," Jim said.
Joe's gifts on the football field, his dad says, are tied to a family tree of athletes including his father who played football at Nebraska.
"My dad played basketball and Mississippi State, my two older brothers played at Nebraska, my brother played at Ole Miss my mom scored 82 points in a basketball game," he said.
On Friday, Jim will fly to Alabama to watch his son try and lead his team to a victory. For now, his dad says he's enjoying the ride.
"We couldn't be prouder it's above and beyond what we ever," he said.