GCAC
2018 Scholarship
Recipients!
Celebrating Sports Fellowship,
Spirit, and Community Pride
GCAC
16th Annual Golf Tournament
2018 Special Edition
From President, Linda Martin.
The 16th Annual Gulf Coast Athletic Club Golf Tournament was held at Craft Farms. The tournament was a great success with nearly 100 golfers enjoying a fun day of golf and festivities. The net proceeds from the tournament of over $9000 fully funded the scholarships to be presented this year to deserving Gulf Shores High School senior scholar athletes and helps assure GCAC‘s continued support for Gulf Shores High School Athletics.
Thanks to all who participated as golfers and those who volunteered their time to make this tournament a success. A special thanks to John McCormick & Fred Dickinson and their committee members for all their hard work.
Congratulations to all winners including:
Womens
1st Place Ladies: Carolyn Boudreaux #2 Place Ladies: Linda Spangrud
Kathleen Forbes Joy Majors
Leslie Anderson Susan Hirsch
Mary Ann Terrell Linda Runtz
Mens
#1 Gross: Jeff Kimbro #1 Net: Ken Hall
Steve Long Forrest Forbes
Randy Hilsman Terry Peeples
Mike Pyer Rod Erdman
#2 Gross: Ballard Sweat #2 Net: Dec McClelland
Cole Baas Joe Macaleer
Blake Rowell Richard Lamar
Randy Davis Michael Heroman
Thanks to everyone for helping to make this a great year for GCAC. I know everyone is looking forward to our new season which starts with our kick-off meeting in August.
See you then!
Linda Martin
President
Shown below are more scenes from our tournament.
Click on the link below to view the album
2018 GCAC 16th Annual
Golf Tournament Results
Congratulations to our Winners!
A special thanks to our Tournament Co-Chairmen,
John McCormick and Fred Dickinson, who year after year, put on a great tournament. Also we want to thank Craft Farms and their staff for exceptional support to our tournament, to
all the volunteers who provided additional help, and
especially our tournament sponsors for supporting
the GCAC 16th Annual Golf Tournament!
GCAC funds scholarships for local athletes, as well as helping local athletic departments. The membership is made up of more than 80 men and women who are graduates and supporters of college athletic programs across the country, including the SEC and other conferences.
To raise money to support scholarships and athletic programs, an annual golf tournament, several trivia nights and other activities help to accomplish the club’s mission.
Each of the eight Fall meetings includes dinner and a well-known guest speaker as well as team reports and a “crying towel” award. The meetings are held at the Craft Farms Golf Clubhouse on Monday evenings.
Those interested in joining GCAC may contact Andrew Harte,
membership chairman, at 251-223-3622 or email at Andrew@remaxgs.com , or go to the website at
If you have identified anyone you would like to invite to join the club this year. please send me their name and email address. I will work with Andrew Hart to solicit these potential members next week.
Thanks you for your continued support of GCAC!!!
President: Linda Martin
Another great lineup of Gulf Coast Athletic Club speakers for this year!
Please respond to President Linda Martin's E-Mail RSVP
just prior to each meeting to help prepare for the event.
Speaker Schedule for GCAC Meetings for 2018-19
August 27- Greg Byrne: Athletic Director at the University of Alabama
September 10- Tony Barnhart: CBS Sports College Football Insider
September 24- Jamarcus Russell: Former LSU and NFL Quarterback
October 8-Sam Jankovich: Former AD for Washington State & U of Miami
October 22-Joe Gottfried: Former AD for University of South Alabama
November 5-Sylvester Croom: Alabama Hero and Senior Bowl VP
November 19-Cole Cubelic: Former Auburn Captain and Radio Host
December 3-Trivia Night: Start planning your team now!
January 21-TBA: More suspense!?!
From Our First GCAC Meeting
of the 2018-2019 Season
Monday
August 27, 2018
Greg Byrne
Athletic Director
University of
Alabama
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club started its 2018-2019 season at 7:00pm on Monday, August 27, 2018. New President Linda Martin opened the meeting and thanked all attendees for their interest and attendance. “I’m proud to serve as the Chair of such a great organization.”
Proving that this year will be different than others, President Martin turned the podium over to Dr. Gaylon McCullough to introduce our Guest Speaker who needs to catch a plane earlier than expected.
Our Speaker was University of Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne, who took the job in January 2017. He was previously at Arizona, Mississippi State (he hired Dan Mullen there), Oregon State, and Kentucky. His Dad was also an AD at Oregon, Nebraska, and Texas A&M.
He was very much at ease with the GCAC crowd and commented on the excellent state of UA athletics in all sports. His job is “trying to make our student-athletes the best they can be and also make them great citizens for our communities after graduation.”
What’s the next step for Bama? “Making sure we don’t get complacent”, and then he talked about the Crimson Stadium Initiative, making it a first class experience for all over the next 10 years and prepare for the future.
He said Head Football Coach Nick Saban is “66 going on 50” years old and just born to coach. Byrne said, “If you want to keep score, you need to try to win. Do it the right way.” He said all student athletes at UA have an average 3.7 GPA. When asked about Saban staying forever, he said he hoped so!
His annual budget at UA is $148 million and he’s trying to do what’s right for the school, adding U Texas in 2020-21. The school currently spends more than $100 million on travel, food, etc., and he doesn’t see paying athletes in the future.
When asked the inevitable question of who’s the starting Quarterback, Byrne replied, “Tua Hurts.”
President Martin thanked AD Byrne and then introduced the present and past Board Members. She also noted Dr. McCullough was presented the Paul W. Bryant Achievement Award and Doc has written a new book about his UA experiences with proceeds benefitting GCAC!! He’s always been a tremendous GCAC supporter!
Membership Chair Andrew Hart reported 71 members prior to the meeting, but we picked up 15 new members tonight!
David Lee reported on the kickoff of the Office Football Pool for this year noting last year’s Top Prognosticator was Fred Dickinson.
Gulf Shores Head Football Coach Matt Blake gave an excellent update on all GSHS sports, noting we have a State Champion in Wrestling’s 132 lb. Class. 2 cross Country runners set new school records and the Volleyball kicked off their year live streaming at all games. He noted seeing some brotherhood developing and said “We teach life.”
The 50/50 drawing was held and money donated back to the Club, with meeting adjournment at 8:33pm.
By: Bill Tunnell
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club
Is Proud To Announce Our
2017-2018--Scholar Athlete
$3,500 Scholarship Award Winners!
Erin Corcoran and Jyon Corbett
Erin and Jyon will both receive a $3,500 Scholarship Award.
The GCAC, through the hard work of their members and partnered sponsors, were able to increase the scholarship award
to the highest in the clubs history.
Erin & Jyon were chosen from a distinguished list of Scholar Athletes from the Gulf Shores High School. We wish nothing but continued success in the futures of both our winners and all the Nominees.
G U L F C O A S T A T H L E T I C C L U B
Erin Corcoran and Jyon Corbett with Linda Martin & Dec McClelland
Jamarcus Russell was born in Mobile, Alabama and attended Williamson High School. Russell started for all 4 years and never missed a game. By his sophomore season, Russell had grown to 6’3” and 185 pounds and started receiving his first recruiting letters. Russell's best season was his senior year where he threw for 3,332 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for another 400 yards and five touchdowns. This earned Russell Parade magazine All-American honors. His 10,774 career passing yards broke the Alabama High School Athletic Association record and still stands today.
In February 2003 on National Signing Day, Russell committed to LSU over many of the nation’s top programs. As a redshirted freshman, in 2004, Russell played in 11 games passing for 1053 yards with 9 TD’s and led LSU to a 9-3 record. His coaching staff for the 2004 season consisted of Nick Saban (HC), Will Muschamp (DC), Jimbo Fisher (OC), and Kirby Smart (DB’s). By the fall of the 2005 season, Russell was the starting quarterback under new HC, Les Miles. He led the Tigers to a 10–1 regular season record and the SEC Western Division title. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,443 yards and 15 touchdowns, with LSU ending the season ranked #6.
As a junior, Russell beat out Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux to hold on to the starting job. He led the Tigers to a 10–2 record and a BCS Sugar Bowl berth. In the Sugar Bowl, Russell accumulated over 350 yards of passing and rushing combined and scored three touchdowns, leading LSU to a 41–14 win over Notre Dame. For his performance, he was named Sugar Bowl MVP. For the season, he threw for 3,129 yards and 28 touchdowns with LSU finishing the season ranked #3.
Russell passed on his senior year to declare for the NFL Draft. For his collegiate career, he threw for 6625 yards, with 52 TD’s over 36 games and was named to the All-SEC first team, a Sports Illustrated All-American, SEC Player of the Year, and Manning Award winner. Jamarcus was the #1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and played in the league for 3 years.
From Our
GCAC Meeting
Monday
September 24, 2018
Jamarcus Russell
Former LSU
Quarterback
and NFL Player
Erin Corcoran and Jyon Corbett
President Linda Martin opened the September 10, 2018 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club. She welcomed all attendees, especially the new members. She also complimented Craft Farms and the staff for their food and cooperation in staging our meetings.
Membership Chairman Andrew Hart announced that we now have 97 members, up from 72 just two weeks ago!! Great!! Guests were introduced as well as new members.
David Lee said the Office Football Pool has started off the way he planned, since, after two weeks of picking, he is on top. Yes, that’s very suspicious, but there are several shooting for first place, so hang on there, David! This year, the top three pickers at the end of the year will receive a payout with the top being named Prognosticator of the Year. Yours truly won the first year and Fearless Fred Dickinson currently holds the POTY Cup. 21 club members are competing this year. President Martin noted she had picked Kentucky to beat the Florida Gators, which they did!
Coach Owen Corcoran from Gulf Shores High School gave a rundown on school athletics. Cross Country Boys and Girls are already winners. He noted that GCAC donated the money to buy the camera that will be used to stream Basketball and Wrestling around the world. Football is not proceeding as well, but the season is still young. Homecoming is this week and our opponent is Satellite Beach, FL.
Dec McClelland took over the podium for Team Reports, telling our Guest Speaker that this wasn’t LA as we all know it, but UCLA – Upper Class Lower Alabama! He also noted that Geritol was detected in the random Club Drug Test. The first Crying Towel of the year was awarded to Michigan State for their terrible loss to Arizona State 45-13. No one could be found who said they actually were a Michigan State fan to accept the Crying Towel.
On to introduction of our great Guest Speaker by Miss SaltyAirDawg herself, Cheryl Cochrell, one of the best UGA supporters ever! Cheryl did a marvelous job introducing fellow Georgia Alum Tony Barnhart, Mr. College Football himself! Barnhart’s career stretches from early days at the Atlanta Journal Constitution to his present position at ESPN. He is a Past President of the American Football Writers Association, has written several books, and won many awards.
Tony said we all love college football, but those of us in the SEC and the South love it more than anywhere else. Going through the East and West Divisions of the SEC, we sees the following: East – 1) Georgia; 2) Kentucky; 3) Florida; 4) South Carolina; 5) Tennessee; 6) Missouri; and 7) Vanderbilt (currently undefeated). The West rankings are: 1) Alabama; 2) Auburn; 3) Mississippi State; 4) Texas A&M; 5) LSU; 6) Ole Miss; and 7) Arkansas. It’s Georgia vs. Alabama in the SEC Championship.
He noted Alabama is as good as he’s ever seen and this is the best offense Coach Saban has ever had. He also noted the highly touted Big 10 East Division is nowhere as good as the SEC West.
Looking at the Power 5 Conferences, Alabama wins the SEC, Clemson, also loaded, wins the ACC, Ohio State and Wisconsin are the class of the Big 10, but O State wins, the Big 12 sees Oklahoma vs. TCU with OU winning both games they will play against each other in successive weeks, and the PAC 12 sees Washington vs. Stanford, Washington coming out on top.
As far as the Playoffs are concerned, and he said he doesn’t see them expanding, due to the high expense involved by teams and supporters. Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State are in, and in a surprise choice that will again be highly debated, a one loss Georgia team, beaten only by the Crimson Tide, might possibly be selected as the fourth team over Oklahoma and Washington or Washington might prevail.
Semi-final games will pit Alabama, playing in the closest bowl site to their home in Tuscaloosa, against Washington or Georgia in the Cotton Bowl on December 29th, and Clemson and Ohio State tangling in the Orange Bowl the same day. The Finals sees another rematch of Bama against Clemson with Dabo taking another loss on the chin. Tony noted, until two weeks ago, his #1 choice was Clemson, but that has now changed.
Taking Q&A, he said Dabo is the logical choice to succeed Nick Saban, a job that no one should want to follow Saban. Texas and Oklahoma are the only two teams that would benefit the SEC if they chose to expand, and Auburn shouldn’t be moved to the SEC East to maintain competitive balance in the league. FSU had been previously been offered to come into the SEC, but Coach Bowden turned it down.
The 50/50 drawing was held with a pot of $120. Adjournment was at 8:29pm.
Jamarcus Russell
Former
LSU Quarterback
From Our
GCAC Meeting
Monday
September 10, 2018
Tony Barnhart
"Mr. College Football"
Radio and TV
Personality
By: Bill Tunnell
From Our
GCAC Meeting
Monday
October 8, 2018
Sam Janovich
Former Washington State & University of Miami
Athletic Director
Our own David DeMeyer friend
Sam Janovich!
From Our
GCAC Meeting
Monday
October 22nd, 2018
Joe Gottfried
Former University of
South Alabama
Athletic Director
President Linda Martin opened the October 22, 2018 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club. She started the meeting with introduction of new members and guests.
David Lee updated the Club with the Office Football Pool season standings and noted Debbie Bower, our “Pink Cadillac Diva”, is leading the pack with Dixie Dave surging on the backs of his beloved Washington State Cougars. Should be a lively finish over the next four weeks!
Dr. Gaylon McCullough introduced our Students Athletes of the Month from GSHS. Kaily Werthen has a 4.06 GPA and a 25 on the ACT. She will graduate with a College Preparation with Distinction Diploma next Spring and is undecided as to college choice, but will major in Sports Medicine. She runs track, holds 2 school records in cross country, and has started on the Soccer Team for three years. She said she was honored to be here and thanked her family and the Lord. Our Male Student Athlete is Conrad Reetz who would like to attend the Air Force Academy. A Cross Country runner, he is an Eagle Scout and says he’s had great mentors in his life. He says he “loves Scouts, helping others, and making a difference”.
Coach Owen Corcoran gave a great Gulf Shores High School Sports Report. Football has been disappointing, but two Home games remain. Cross Country just had the County Meet with both of our Student Athletes participating. Volleyball is playing for the County Championship. Basketball, Wrestling, and Bowling (Owen’s team) start shortly. Go Dolphins!!
Dec McClelland finally has returned from Ireland, claiming he had to go for some Irish Flu Shots. Team Reports went from top to the bottom of the teams represented. Crying Towel candidates were Ohio State and Tennessee, but the CT went to John Ward’s San Jose State in the Mountain West Conference.
Dr. McCullough introduced our Guest Speaker, Joe Gottfried, President of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame. Joe spent three decades as the Athletic Director of the University of South Alabama, and brought Division One Football to South, plus almost 20 different Sunbelt Conference Championships to USA.
Joe, a cancer-free survivor for the past 14 years, graduated from Crestline, Ohio High School, an area known for famous athletes, high school coaches, and college coaches. Joe was the Head Coach at the University of Southern Illinois before coming to South. Joe’s brother. Mike, was the Head Football Coach at Pittsburgh and a successful ESPN commentator, his son, Mark, coached at UCLA under John Wooden, later was the Head Basketball Coach at Alabama and North Carolina State, and he also has two nephews with the recognizable last name of Harbaugh, Jim at Michigan and John with the Baltimore Ravens.
He related the story of the trials to get Football at USA over the years starting in 2007, finally starting as Club Football in 2009. A new stadium with 25,000 seats will be available in 2 years.
Joe talked of the five Mobile natives who are in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame as well as those in the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
He talked about attending 35 years of NCAA meetings and noted infractions and other great information, especially a nice description of the transfer situation, also the redshirt rule.
Joe and his brother, Mike, started Team Focus, an organization dedicated to helping fatherless young men. Their father died at 41 and Mike was determined to give something back to those young men in similar situations. Hundreds all over America have and are being helped by Team Focus.
The 50/50 with $120 was drawn and awarded. Adjournment was at 8:07pm. By: Bill Tunnell
By: Jim Walker
By: Jim Walker
By: Jim Walker
By: Jim Walker
By: Jim Walker
President Linda Martin opened the October 8, 2018 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club. She thanked her “Auburn Friends” for her Mississippi State victory over the Tigers. Guests were introduced and then Membership Chairman Andrew Hart announced we have 100 members!
David Lee said he went into hiding after such a poor week of prognosticating in the weekly Football Pool since he had been bragging about leading the Stats. Debbie Bower, the “Pink Cadillac Diva”, is currently winning the season-long race. President Martin noted that she was second last week.
Coach Matt Blake gave another sterling accounting of Gulf Shores High School athletics. Football will be at home 3 of the last 4 games and that will help. The Swim Team qualified for the State Meet and all other sports are doing really good. Bowling and Basketball will start soon.
With Team Reports and Crying Towel Guru Dec McClelland back in his home country of Ireland, Andrew Hart jumped in and did Dec’s duty for Team Reports. In a surprise move applauded by all, former Crying Towel Master Kevin Corcoran took the stage, thanked all for the “lukewarm reception”, and gave another wonderful performance like he’s been giving for the past 15 years. Honorable Mention went to John Boller and his Auburn Tigers, but the Crying Towel went to LSU for the loss to Florida. Mimicing Coach O’s gruff voice, he declared “Tight End Tops Tigers” and “with their schedule, he might get a whole set.” Always great to have Kevin with us!
David DeMeyer then introduced an amazing guest speaker, former Athletic Director at Washington State and the University of Miami and former CEO/General Manager of the New England Patriots, Sam Jackovich. Hailing from Montana, Stan gave the Club an amazing view of his career with wonderful insights into his experiences at each stop. The crowd was impressed with his recall of such detail at age 84! He note with pride that Miami won three National Championships (83-87-91) under his leadership.
“God’s been good to me”, he said after remarking how much he appreciated former SEC Commissioners Roy Kramer and Mile Slive. He also said Kramer tried to get Miami to join the SEC. Stan said he said ‘no’ since Vanderbilt was the only private school in the SEC and “we can’t win in the SEC”.
He remarked he had been blessed to work with and for some wonderful people, starting in the small mining community of Butte, Montana where he was born to two God serving parents who immigrated from Yugoslavia. He was rather uncomplimentary about the NFL, full of cronies, sorry reputations, and always being a money war. He said college coaches don’t last in the NFL since they can’t have total control.
The 50/50 drawing was held with the pot donated back to the Club. Adjournment was at 8:14pm.
By: Bill Tunnell
By: Linda Martin
By: Linda Martin
By: Linda Martin
Cole Cubelic, former Auburn University offensive lineman and captain, joined ESPN in 2011 as an analyst covering the SEC and Sun Belt Conference football games. He has worked as an analyst on SEC Network and ESPN3 telecasts, and has also been a weekly guest on the Paul Finebaum Show. In fall 2017, he will join SEC Saturday Night, the franchise that features SEC Network’s marquee college football game each Saturday – as a field analyst, alongside analyst Jordan Rodgers and commentator Tom Hart.
Cubelic currently works at the SEC Network as a field analyst alongside commentator Tom Hart and Heisman Award winner Andre Ware.
He works at AL.com as a sports analyst, providing analysis and film room explanations of key battles on the offensive and defensive lines. He hosts “The Cube Show” from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on 730 AM-WUMP. Cubelic previously worked for the Sun Belt Network from 2009-13 and was a radio personality at WZZN from 2010-13, where he was the co-host of “Cubelic & the Kid” and “Monday Night Blast off” on 97.7 FM in the Huntsville, Ala. area.
Cubelic, a native of Homewood, Ala., graduated from Auburn in 2001 with a degree in communication and media studies.
Our Next GCAC Meeting
of the 2018-2019 Season.
Monday
November 19th, 2018
Cole Cubelic
Former University of Auburn Great!
SEC Network & ESPN
Reporter and Analyst
From Our
GCAC Meeting
Monday
November 5th, 2018
Sylvester Croom
Former University of Alabama Great!
Former Miss. State
Head Coach
President Linda Martin opened the November 5, 2018 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club at 7:05pm. She started the meeting with introduction of new members and guests, one who was named “Jim from Tuscaloosa!” LSU Ted was decked out in Bama gear, we suspect he was on the losing end last week for something. Linda Martin thanked Craft Farms for another outstanding meal – gumbo!!
David Lee announced that the ever popular Trivia Night would be returning on Monday, December 3rd at Craft Farms. 20 teams of 6 players each will fill the room at $20 per player. Craft Farms will have the bar open and are allowing the teams to bring their own food and snacks. 8 rounds of 10 questions each in 4 sports and 4 non-sports categories. Somebody said the Mississippi State team are Defending Champs.
David also gave an update on the Football Pool. Seems our “PinkCaddyDiva”, Debbie Bower, is kicking butt right now, with Dixie Dave and DecTheHalls close behind. Only 3 weeks to go!
Coach Matt Blake came to the podium amongst a chorus of “Go Dolphins” and announced GSHS had won their last game of the season on Senior Night. He was proud of the effort put forth this year in a very trying season. He declared that GSHS is on a winning streak going into next year. It’s that “lemons into lemonade” thing! Girls Volleyball won their first match at State and Boys Cross Country also qualified for State. Basketball, Wrestling, and Bowling start shortly. Go Dolphins!!
Dec McClelland handled the Team Reports and Crying Towel duties expertly as usual. Noting 6 SEC teams in the Top 25, he ran down the slate of other teams represented. “We’re all friends, at least we pretend we’re all friends, but if you lose, many don’t show up”. This week’s Crying Towel recipient did show up. Tom Grabowski’s Penn State Nittany Lions took it on the chin 42-7 to Michigan. Of course, Tom pointed out Penn State won 42-13 last year.
MSU Fan, Bill Broyles, introduced our Guest Speaker, Sylvester Croom, former Head Football Coach at Mississippi State. Croom was the first African-American Head Football Coach in SEC history.
Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Sylvester’s father was a Reverend and an All-American at Alabama A&M. Sylvester played for the Bear at Alabama, then went to the New Orleans Saints where his career was cut short after one year. He returned to Alabama at age 22 as an Assistant Coach and stayed there several years coaching in a variety of positions, as well as coaching in the NFL. In 2004, he was named Head Football Coach at MSU, and in 2007, was named Coach of the Year.
Croom is now in Mobile, near his daughter, and he now serves as the Senior Vice-President for Operations at the famed Senior Bowl. At age 64, he noted this is his first season since he was 13 that he’s not been on a team. He says he loves the game, and told of many incidents with coaches, players, and “fans”. He said he always put his players first and has great respect for coaches who try to do it right. “Always tell them the truth”.
Talking about Coach Bryant, he said there were just a few rules, because some would try to break any rule. Bear also said the first thing you’ve got to do to win is to keep from losing! Croom, saying he was blessed to have played there where he was learned how to be a man, coached Defense, even though he had played offense. He coached two of Bama’s greatest – Derrick Thomas and Cornelius Bennett, but he said the best running back he ever saw was Auburn’s Bo Jackson.
Bama this year is “the perfect football storm”, even with 6 new Assistant Coaches! Finishing his great talk, he noted MSU fans are great and he loved the great family atmosphere at Mississippi State.
The 50/50 was drawn and awarded to Jim Walker of Nebraska fame, who promptly gave it back to the Club. Adjournment was at 8:29pm.
By: Bill Tunnell
To say we, as a club, have been blessed to have
Dr. Gaylon McCollough as not only a
"founding father" of GCAC, he also continues to amaze us with stories, commentary,
and a strong resolve to
"pay it forward" to our young Scholar Athletes.
From providing access to big name Athletes to sharing personal stories of Alabama's most beloved football coach, to one of his passions, mentoring young, aspiring athletes, students, and future professionals. His dedication never ends.
We've devoted Dr. McCollough his own page,
to allow new and future GCAC members, a glimpse into a man who played for, and evolved into a personal confidant to Coach Bear Bryant.
Beyond that,we have a prolific author, philanthropist, mentor, and he can make you look pretty too!
