Brad Bradford
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club opened its September 23, 2024 meeting in the Clubhouse at Craft Farms Golf Resort at 7:05pm. President George Autrey welcomed the crowd of about 50 attendees. He thanked the Auburn fans for showing up. More on that later.
New members and guests were introduced.
Our annual Golf Tournament is set for October 18th at Craft Farms, registration form on the website. Sponsorships are looking good, but we still need more teams! Get that info in as soon as possible.
Zach Estes is handling the Pick ‘Em Pool this year, and, so far, the 39 pickers are having a terrible year through Week 4. Gary Powers and Keith Roberson are ahead of the field. A few still need to pay and there are still 12 weeks to go in this year’s contest.
Mr. Versatility, Kevin Cochran, handled the GSHS Dolphin Report, Team Reports, and the Crying Towel. The Dolphins Football team has struggled due to injuries, primarily to our starting Quarterback. Dolphin Running Back Kolin Wilson, running out of the Wildcat, has been a dynamo, averaging almost 200 yards per game. We’re 2-3, but 2-1 in the Region. Off this week, but St. Paul’s on October 4th. Volleyball is going great as is Cross Country. Go, Dolphins!!
Team Reports and the Crying Towel went swimmingly with Kevin handling the chore evidently abandoned by Notre Dame fan Dec McClelland. Hey, Dec, ND won last week, so you can come back!! After more excuses by bad teams and their supporters, the illustrious Crying Towel went to the Auburn Tigers who were “Barbecued by the Hogs 24-14”. All in fun and John Boller graciously accepted.
Our Guest Speaker this week is Brad Bradford, former coach, author, and financial advisor. After 10 years as a High School Coach, he was hired at the University of Alabama to recruit by former HC Ray Perkins. Brad said he’s in a mixed marriage as his wife was a Cheerleader at Auburn. His local experience is that he was the first football coach at the University of South Alabama in 1999. Coaching a Club Team with 21 players, he went 19-2 his first two years.
When Coach Perkins called, Brad was in charge of Bryant Hall, the Athletic Dorm, with 132 student athletes. He told some great tales of that experience, but when Perkins unexpectedly went to Tampa Bay in the NFL, he was hired as a Graduate Assistant at Louisville with Coach Snellenberger. They played Bama in the Fiesta Bowl that year, winning 34-7, Coach Stallings’ first year.
Brad told us interesting stories relating to NIL now and players’ financial situations 30 plus years ago in College Football. He ended his most entertaining presentation with a story about a Professor and Bird Legs.
The 50-50 prize winner was Eli McKee who generously donated it back to the club.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26pm.
Our next program will be on October 7, 2024 and our Speaker will be Jim Nagy, Executive Director of the Reeses Senior Bowl.
Submitted by Bill Tunnell, GCAC Secretary
