University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: It's All In The (January) Family
7/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, July 30, 2009, 10:17 p.m.
You have probably noticed that the North Texas roster has undergone a few additions this past week. Forrest Rucker and Sean January will be with the Mean Green in the fall, good news, but what has flown completely under the radar and over some heads is the family tie…..Let’s see, January, January, where have I heard that name before with North Texas….Could he be, is he related to the legend himself Don?
Yep. Sean January is the grandson of Don January. And you’re asking, what’s he doing playing football? I wasn’t the only one.
“He’s a football player and it’s got me wondering whether or not we are kin,” the elder January said after chuckling for a few moments. “I think it’s great that he’s going to North Texas. His grandfather, grandmother, and father all graduated from North Texas.”
It’s an interesting tale how Sean January, who will walk-on to this year’s team in the fall (he did not sign with North Texas), ended up back in the metroplex.
The year before he was to start playing at J.J. Pearce high school in Richardson, his father got a job out in Arizona so the family packed up and moved. Once out in Arizona, Sean starting playing football at Cave Creek high school and was an instant success. He led his team to a state title and was an all-state linebacker his senior season.
He ended up at Scottsdale community college but never lost sight on wanting to play at the Division I level and North Texas.
And now that he’s back in the metroplex his grandfather couldn’t be happier.
“I didn’t get to see him play football at all in high school and now I’m just excited as can be to see him play for North Texas,” said January. “I think he will do North Texas very proud, he wants to go and wanted to get the chance to prove himself and now he will.”
And what about the question of how did your grandson not end playing golf like grandpa?
“I have no idea, I’ve got three grandsons and they all play football, go figure.”
