Troy University Athletics
Senior Feature - A.J. Pierce
9/7/2023 4:40:00 PM | Football
This story originally appeared in GAMEDAY, Troy's official gameday program
Every Saturday morning, just 55 miles from home, AJ Pierce Jr., proudly represents the brotherhood that is Troy football while carrying the family name on the back of his jersey. For any student-athlete, being able to represent your university and your family as you run out under the lights of Veterans Memorial Stadium is a special honor. But, for Pierce Jr., that honor truly runs a bit deeper.
Like most sons that get tagged as a "junior," Pierce is named after his father, Anthony Pierce Sr. However, the name on the back of the jersey doesn't tell the full story.
The Pierce family had a first-born son 11-years older than AJ, who passed away at a young age before AJ was ever born. Pierce Sr.'s first born son carried the name Anthony Pierce Jr.
"My name is really special," Pierce Jr. said. "I am named after my dad, but I had a brother that was 11 years older than me that passed away. He passed away at a young age before I was born. I really am kind of the third, but I took the name of my older brother."
After the passing of their first-born son, the family went on to have three beautiful daughters. Until, exactly 11 years after the birth of their son, came AJ – Anthony Pierce Jr.
"For me, it is fate," Pierce Jr. said. "We share the same name, and we were born on the same day, just 11 years apart. I feel like it was God giving my dad a second chance to raise a son. It means a lot to me. It is something I think about every time I wear my jersey."
With the birth of their youngest child came an unbreakable bond between the father and son, giving Pierce Sr. a second chance of being the upstanding father figure to a son, unlike what he had.
"My dad is my best friend," Pierce Jr. said. "I have always felt very indebted to him because he didn't have a father figure, but he has raised us to be exceptional people. Even without a father figure growing up, if something goes wrong at the house or in the car, my dad fixes it. That is what I have always wanted to be as a man, so I will` always be indebted to my father for showing me those qualities."
Every Saturday morning, just 55 miles from home, AJ Pierce Jr., proudly represents the brotherhood that is Troy football while carrying the family name on the back of his jersey. For any student-athlete, being able to represent your university and your family as you run out under the lights of Veterans Memorial Stadium is a special honor. But, for Pierce Jr., that honor truly runs a bit deeper.
Like most sons that get tagged as a "junior," Pierce is named after his father, Anthony Pierce Sr. However, the name on the back of the jersey doesn't tell the full story.
The Pierce family had a first-born son 11-years older than AJ, who passed away at a young age before AJ was ever born. Pierce Sr.'s first born son carried the name Anthony Pierce Jr.
"My name is really special," Pierce Jr. said. "I am named after my dad, but I had a brother that was 11 years older than me that passed away. He passed away at a young age before I was born. I really am kind of the third, but I took the name of my older brother."
After the passing of their first-born son, the family went on to have three beautiful daughters. Until, exactly 11 years after the birth of their son, came AJ – Anthony Pierce Jr.
"For me, it is fate," Pierce Jr. said. "We share the same name, and we were born on the same day, just 11 years apart. I feel like it was God giving my dad a second chance to raise a son. It means a lot to me. It is something I think about every time I wear my jersey."
With the birth of their youngest child came an unbreakable bond between the father and son, giving Pierce Sr. a second chance of being the upstanding father figure to a son, unlike what he had.
"My dad is my best friend," Pierce Jr. said. "I have always felt very indebted to him because he didn't have a father figure, but he has raised us to be exceptional people. Even without a father figure growing up, if something goes wrong at the house or in the car, my dad fixes it. That is what I have always wanted to be as a man, so I will` always be indebted to my father for showing me those qualities."
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