Sylvester Croom
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.
