Charles Karr
President David Lee welcomed all to the October 23, 2017 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club. He commented on College Football results over the past two weeks and welcomed Dr. Charles “Chuck” Carr, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Alabama, to our club. After some engineering jokes and stories, the crowd cheered when he was finished.
He had Club Visitors and Guests introduced, including the parents of our Student-Athletes. He also introduced three new members, Coach & Mrs. Jeff Bower, and Coach Matt Blake’s father, a former coach himself.
Membership Chairman David DeMeyer noted we are now up to 92 members.
The Office Football Pool is going great. Still leading the pack at this point is UNAJIM, Jim Richards, with an overall winning percentage of 62%. Last week’s big winner was our own El Presidente, Professor Lee, with 11 correct out of 15.
Linda Martin has accepted the challenge of raising scholarship funds for the Foundation. Her first project sounds like a winner – Trivia Night. Tentatively to be held at Craft Farms on Monday, December 4th, it will feature 20 tables of six trivia players going through eight rounds of sports and non-sports trivia. Craft Farms will allow food to be brought in, plus having a cash bar, so all proceeds will go to the Foundation. Decorations promise to be a great fun addition to what looks to be a great and fun evening. Seven tables have been sold, and Fred Connell has promised to match up to $1,000 of table sales.
Coach Blake’s Gulf Shores High School Dolphins said the Dolphins took former State Champs Daphne High Trojans down to the wire. The Trojans scored with less than 30 seconds left on its Homecoming night. Coach Blake talked about character and leadership and how this team is growing to believe in itself. “We’re in the business of changing people’s lives.” Girls Volleyball also did great, finishing third in our area but ranked seventh in the State!
Student Athletes were introduced by Dr. Gaylon McCullough. Annalee Lane is a Senior who has a GPA of 3.8. This 4 year veteran of Cross Country and Swimming has recently moved here from Baton Rouge, LA, where she was a member of five straight State Championship teams. She wants to go to Birmingham Southern and become a Physical Therapist. Vincent Russo has a 3.64 GPA with 28 on his ACT. He participates in Football and Track. He wants to go to Auburn and study Mechanical Engineering. Both students are now qualified for our year end scholarships.
Team Reports were again handled artfully by Dec McClelland. Team Reports from the Top 25 and our local favorites were discussed. The Crying Towel was awarded to Papa Rocco for his Michigan team who got wiped out by Penn State.
Dr. McCullough then introduced Dr. Charles “Chuck” Carr, Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Alabama. This three sport athlete from Gulf Breeze, Florida went to Tuscaloosa 37 years ago from High school and has witnessed many changes there, not the least of which is that now the “new” Bryant Hall is 51% athletes and 49% Engineering students! More than $300 million in new buildings have been built there in the past 10 years.
38,000 students are now at UA, with more than 6,000 of them in the School of Engineering, and 15% of that number are athletes. Dr. Carr says “Don’t let your schooling get in the way of your education.” He also is heavily involved in all types of recruiting for the University, including being the only speaker Coach Nick Saban would take on the Crimson Caravan tours. He shared some humorous stories from those trips.
His keys to success in college is to balance athletics, academics, and social, and all must be important to the students. “Hold on to your moral compass.” His philosophy is to be honest with these kids. More than 1.4 million hours of community service was performed last year by students.
The story of the famous UA Sideline Medical Tent was told as it started as a project of mechanical engineering, who now are developing inventions and braces for injured players with alarming success! The Tent has exploded into a licensed marketing tool as all teams are asking to buy one. They also are developing riding saddles for autistic children as horse-riding settles down autistic children.
Chuck said, “Give back so you can pay it forward,” and also “Nobody cares what you think until they think you care.” Showing he cares for GCAC, he gave his speaking fee back to the Club. His presentation was one of the best ever at GCAC.
After Dr. Carr’s presentation, the 50-50 was drawn and awarded to Bob Conlyn, who gave the $105 back to the Club.
President Lee adjourned the meeting at 8:33pm.
