Tyler Siskey
The Gulf Coast Athletic Club opened its October 21, 2024 meeting in the Clubhouse at Craft Farms Golf Resort at 6:55pm. President George Autrey welcomed the crowd of about 60 attendees. He thanked the members for their almost precise RSVP. One special guest was introduced – former Alabama and NFL star running back Siran Stacy, who spoke that afternoon to the Gulf Shores HS Football team.
Our annual Golf Tournament on October 18th at Craft Farms was another huge success – great weather and a great turnout!! Thanks to all our Presenting Sponsors – Kitty’s Kafe, Fiber-Seal, Coastal Merchant Services, Tin Top Riverside, One Club, One Foundation, UC Funds, and other sponsors, Doc’s Seafood Shack, Ferrell Family Dental, Maidens of Mischief, The Sloop, Brent Burns, and a host of others. Thank you as we can’t continue our GSHS Scholar Athlete Scholarship program without your great support!!
Zach Estes, who handles the Pick’Em Pool this year, highlighted this year’s leaders. Kudos to Mayor Steve Means for his great weekly win and also to Kevin Corcoran for a great year so far. Several are closing in, but a long way to go and some killer game selections upcoming.
Kevin Corcoran, our always dangerous triple threat All-Star, gave us the Dolphin Report. Not great this year as GSHS lost on a last second Hail Mary pass this past week and are now 2-6, a long way from last year’s 15-0 5A State Championship, where the Dolphins were behind only 1 minute and 14 seconds all year. The move to 6A, plus several key injuries, have hampered this season. Volleyball is doing great – 2nd in the Area and 24-17 record. The undefeated Middle School team and JV team are looking good for next year. Cross Country was 3rd in the County Meet. Swimming is undefeated and, although it takes individual and team times to make the State Tournament, several are doing great. Basketball starts today. Go, Dolphins!
Team Reports and the Crying Towel were also handled by Crying Towel Hall of Fame member Kevin Corcoran in his usual splendid way. Welcomed to the podium by a huge ovation, ok, one clapped, he led the crowd through the normally exciting reports, including one from an alleged UT fan in an orange blanket or maybe it was a jacket. The Crying Towel should have gone to Nebraska for its 56-7 drubbing by Indiana, but the Committee gave the CT to Papa Rocca of Michigan fame for its 21-7 defeat by Illinois. Thanks to Papa for being such a great sport in accepting his “award’, soon to be drying dishes.
Our Guest Speaker this week is Tyler Siskey, a native of Anniston, AL and former Auburn Tiger walk-on football player. He’s had twenty years of coaching, starting at St. Paul’s HS in Mobile, where his starting QB was A.J. McCarron and a backup, Jake Coker, both of who won National Championships for Alabama. During his career he has worked at Ole Miss, Alabama, Troy, Arkansas State, and South Alabama. He started out as a student assistant at Troy and was most recently an assistant coach at South Alabama. He also worked closely with Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin at Alabama and Ole Miss where he worked as director of recruiting development and player personnel.
He currently hosts a podcast with Neal McCready. You can follow and listen to that podcast at @McCreadySiskey Podcast. He currently is CEO of his own private College Recruiting company, Qwik Recruiting.
Tyler steadfastly believes everything happens for a reason. His presentation contained several stories about his experiences and interactions with the sport’s greats. He said, “The standards don’t change – if you play, you meet the standards of your program. Do it or leave. Never lower your standards to meet expectations”.
During Q & A, he commented on NIL and recruiting noting that Big Schools are not recruiting Junior College athletes, but are concentrating on the Transfer Portal. You must have money to keep your good players. With no regulation of salaries or a salary cap, things are a mess, perhaps a player’s union is coming. He says to watch college graduation rates for players to start heading down quickly.
Another incredible program for GCAC this year!!
The 50-50 prize was awarded to David Lee
The meeting was adjourned at 8:23pm.
Our next program will be on November 4, 2024 and our Speaker will be legendary Head FB Coach Houston Nutt.
Submitted by Bill Tunnell, GCAC Secretary
