TOWSON, Md. – Jermon Bushrod enjoyed being home.
 
Radiating a vibrant energy, he had fun interacting and laughing with familiar faces. The former Towson University standout delighted in celebrating after the Tigers' first touchdown by raising his arms high of what ultimately turned into a 31-24 victory over rival Delaware in a key Colonial Athletic Association football game last Saturday at sun-splashed Unitas Stadium.
 
The 2007 Towson University graduate was feted midway through the first quarter for his accomplishments and a fantastic NFL career. Beaming proudly while flanked by his parents, Bushrod was grateful of the recognition. He earned a degree in sports management with a minor in business.
 
Bushrod retired from the NFL after a spectacular 12-year career in which he was a member of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl winning team in 2009. Standing 6 feet 5 inches, he was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.
 
"It's always good to be back," Bushrod said. "It's been a few years since I had a chance to be back here and come to a game. I am not playing in the NFL anymore so this a great opportunity for me to bring the family back so this is pretty cool. This is where my foundation started."
 

Bushrod was also in town for another reason. He was hosting his "BushandMee" sports podcast with one of his best friends, Ryan Meehan in the parking lot as wafts of charcoal smoke and smell of barbeque scented the air with a fabulous fragrance. One of his guests was recent Hall of Fame inductee and former Towson men's basketball standout Gary Neal.
 
"It's fun and I love to talk sports," Bushrod said of his podcast. "I love to travel and we sample food and go and visit different restaurants. I am an offensive lineman and I am very fond of food. I played sports all my life and this was a unique opportunity. Ryan and I came into Towson together."
 



Once he finished his podcast, Bushrod looked comfortable standing on the Towson sideline especially after the Tigers scored. All that was missing were a Towson uniform, helmet and some shoulder pads for him.
 
Before the Tigers kicked off after their first touchdown, Towson head football coach Rob Ambrose sprinted to Bushrod and embraced him in a hug while offering a few kind words.
 
"That was cool," Bushrod said. "He congratulated me on my career and told me that my family was beautiful."
 

The special bond of Towson football is unique. Former and current players support each other. It's like one continuous squad of men linked by their experiences playing for the black-and-gold during the 51-year history of the program. Last year during homecoming, current NFL players and former Towson standouts Jordan Dangerfield and Tye Smith attended a game.
 
Whenever he was in the sweating in the searing heat of those humid Louisiana training camps, pushing through the exhaustion of aching muscles and battling some of the best defensive linemen in the world in the trenches, Bushrod always thought about his roots of excellence that were established at Towson.
 
"Without me coming here and being able to cross paths with somebody like John Donatelli who changed my mindset and taught me a lot, I am not sure where I would be," Bushrod said. "Without a guy like him in my life pulling for me and pushing me to get the best out of me,it would have been tougher here. I know that was everything I needed at that time.
 
"So I am glad I was able to come here and cross paths with some great people and meet some great players that I was able to play with and have a relationship with after the game. Still to this day, it's fun watching each other's families grow."

Over the course of his 12-year NFL career, Bushrod appeared in 145 games with 128 starts at multiple positions, including 100 at left tackle. Seventy-seven of those appearances came as a Saint with 68 in the starting lineup. He appeared in nine postseason contests with seven starts, all but one game played or started occurring as New Orleans reached the playoffs in four of the five seasons where he had starts, capturing Super Bowl XLIV and advancing to the NFC Championship twice.

The Saints defeated the Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV in a victory that meant so much more than the franchises' first championship. It was the perfect moment for a city that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
 
"It's the best football memory that I will ever have," Bushrod said of winning the Super Bowl. "It was the first championship I won at any level of football. It was very significant not just for me or our team, but the entire region. It was a blessing to be in this position and cross paths with people and to play and meet some people who I met over the years. I thank God every day."
 
Bushrod's wife Jessica, gave birth to their fourth child on Sunday, Nov. 3. They named their daughter, Janae, which means "God has answered."
 
While watching the current Tigers compete with poise, pride and passion, Bushrod couldn't stop smiling. He enjoyed witnessing quarterback Tom Flacco and wide receiver Caleb Smith play catch. He was thrilled seeing Coby Tippett intercept a pass before intermission that led to a Tiger field goal and a 24-14 lead.
 
The selfless values of helping others learned at Towson fueled Bushrod during his NFL career. The Virginia native gave back significantly both to his home state and to the community where he played the majority of his career.
 
Bushrod and his Saints offensive line teammates annually sponsored a holiday bike drive for underprivileged youth during the Christmas season. He also held an annual golf tournament to help award scholarships with the proceeds for student athletes from his hometown of King George, Va.
 
He wanted to leave the team a motivational message as they prepare for the home stretch of their arduous November slate beginning Saturday at Stony Brook.
 
"Continue to follow your dreams," Bushrod said. "This is an opportunity you have in front of you that you will build a special bond with a good group of men who share the same interest you have. That's the beautiful thing about football is you come from all different types of backgrounds and come together for a common cause and goal. Just enjoy the ride because it's a beautiful ride that you're on. It's exciting and fun. Just leave everything out on the football field. Every game. Every practice because you never know where it could take you."
 
It's taken Bushrod from the Towson sidelines to the NFL pinnacle and back to the Towson sideline.