Alex Lincoln
President Linda Martin opened up the November 18, 2019 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club meeting at 7:05pm. She thanked Craft Farms for everything, including some tasty Fried Chicken. Guests were introduced, including Coach Blake’s son, Paten. President Linda also gave a shout-out to Ace Photographer and GCAC Website Guru Jim Walker, who has handled all pictures and website updates as long as your Editor has been in the club.
George Autrey took the podium and announced that Dec McClelland is the new bottom picker in the club in the Football Pool. George noted several are struggling, but President Martin is no longer last!! Only two more action-packed weeks to go.
Coach Matt Blake was introduced. He said the Girls Bowling Team has started 4-0. Boys aren’t doing as well, but still are very good. The GS Middle School Wrestling team hosted the Junior Varsity tournament and won!! Our own Kevin Corcoran’s son won his first three matches by pins. All 16 team members won at least one match. Basketball has started. Questioned about where GSHS will be in either 5A or 6A next year, he said we’ll soon find out, it’s strictly based on enrollment. GO DOLPHINS!!
David Lee talked about the upcoming Trivia Night fundraiser on Monday, December 2nd. It was decided to still hold the event despite a Craft Farms member golf event that same day and evening. Table for 6 are $120 and, even if you don’t have a team, it’s only $20 each and you will be assigned to a team. Again, Craft Farms is allowing GCAC to bring in its own food and the bar will be open as usual. Always a great time and look out for the Mississippi State team! Wear your favorite colors!!
President Martin announced that our own Dr. Gaylon McCollough has been selected to receive the University of Alabama Distinguished Alumni Award this year. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Dec McClelland led the Team Reports and Crying Towel presentation. In a completely unexpected move, he ditched the Team Reports and proceeded to give the illustrious Crying Towel to President Linda Martin for the hapless performance of her favorite Mississippi State Bulldogs. Dec noted the Dogs had more losses than Isis and was dropping faster than Bernie Sanders in the polls. “Crimson Tide clobbers Fail State in showdown.” President Martin was gracious in her acceptance.
Past President Taylor Means took the podium and said he has rarely had any speaker cancellations in all his years of procuring speakers, but has had two this year! Our scheduled speaker, Cole Cubelic, did secure former Auburn University and San Francisco 49ers Linebacker Alex Lincoln.
This program was clearly one of the best your Editor has ever witnessed. Alex told us of trials and tribulations of being a non-recruited college football player. He graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, AL but ended up going to Mississippi College in Clinton, MS for his freshman year. His father convinced Alex to transfer to Auburn to “go where the big boys play. Go pursue your dreams”. Though an enrollment error caused him to be redshirted his next year, being a walk-on and basically unloved, he told of the struggle to compete and earn a spot as a starter at Auburn. Dad’s advice was “All you can do is all you can do, but are you doing all you can do?” That next year, Coach Tommy Tuberville arrived and the rest is history. Alex said he got to experience football in an incredible way after that.
Alex was drafted by the 49ers and Coach Bill Walsh, who told Alex “we drafted you for your character”, but Alex had a recurring issue as he couldn’t feel his hands and feet and had suffered a cracked vertebrae. After his second year, he was released with no medical explanation to his situation. Dr. James Andrews, he of sports medicine fame, had watched Alex for years while at Auburn and knew he had a huge heart. He approached Alex with an offer to run his new sports medicine clinic in Gulf Breeze, FL.
Alex had the opportunity to work with top level athletes from all sports and also Military Active Duty and Veterans at Andrews as they shared common ailments and injuries. “They listen to me because I played football, but these guys save lives.” For the last nine years, he has headed an organization named EXOS that works with elite athletes for $3,500 per week, the “most elite gym” in the world.
In Q&A, Alex talked about Tua’s injury and how Tua’s heart has affected the atmosphere at Alabama and elsewhere. He commented about how many players he worked with in the past had just had their careers ended, life changing events and the adjustments needed to continue. He said Coach Joe Whitt was a huge inspiration to him.
The 50/50 was drawn and awarded. Adjournment was at 8:10pm.
