This month, Warren St. John joined the ranks of Alabama’s acclaimed nonfiction writers in receiving the prestigious Clarence Cason Award from The University of Alabama’s journalism department. This award has highlighted Alabama’s most talented writers since 1998 and is usually given to an author who has some relation to the state.

“Even though the award stipulates books, most of the people who have won it have some kind of literary life beyond books, usually journalism. Most of us worked for a newspaper,” said Rick Bragg, a journalism professor and past recipient of the award. “Nonfiction stories in my experience tend to resonate with people and linger longer. To be recognized for nonfiction is the first thing that is appreciated. Then the fact that it’s from The University of Alabama, a flagship university in the author’s home state, means the world.”

Bragg, who had a role in deciding this year’s recipient, said St. John was the perfect choice. Wilson Lowrey, the head of the journalism department, also agreed that St. John was the clear choice 
for the award.

“He is a beautiful writer; he also has had a very prominent journalism career, making him the natural choice.” Lowrey said.

St. John is best known for his newest book, “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer,” and his work as a journalist in several well-known news publications, most notably for his interview with Nick Saban for GQ in 2013.

Lowrey said St. John embodies what the Clarence Cason Award stands for, as he writes about many themes similar to the ones Cason wrote about during his career. Cason was the founder of the journalism department at the University and spent most of his career both critiquing and admiring Southern culture. Many of St. John’s narratives of the South portray a tough-love perspective, which Lowrey said is “the deepest affection one can have. He is unafraid to explore and not leave it as he 
found it.”

While St. John grew up in Birmingham, he has since moved to New York City to further his 
journalism career.

“Sometimes to get a good perspective in writing, you’ve got to get far away,” Bragg said.

Even though St. John has not resided in the South for a long time, his fascination with Southern 
culture, particularly in sports, has led him to travel back many times in researching for his two books.

Matthew Bunker, a journalism professor and friend of St. John’s, said St. John has spoken in his classes and makes writing look easy.

“He is a fantastic writer, and observer, and also a deep thinker,” he said.

He said St. John is not just a sports writer but takes a look at sports from an anthropological point of view. He spent countless hours in an RV to gain research for “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer” to explore the social aspect of sports. St. John shines a unique light on sports, showing that they unite people and help them find meaning and security in their lives.

St. John’s works do not always shine the most flattering light on the South, particularly Alabama 
football fans.

“It never hurts to be able to make fun of yourself a little bit,” Bragg said. “It humanizes you and makes you more tangible.”

Warren St. John does exactly this in the spirit of love for his home state while creating a public fascination for the way the bottom half of the country lives.