Joe Gottfried
President Linda Martin opened the October 22, 2018 meeting of the Gulf Coast Athletic Club. She started the meeting with introduction of new members and guests.
David Lee updated the Club with the Office Football Pool season standings and noted Debbie Bower, our “Pink Cadillac Diva”, is leading the pack with Dixie Dave surging on the backs of his beloved Washington State Cougars. Should be a lively finish over the next four weeks!
Dr. Gaylon McCullough introduced our Students Athletes of the Month from GSHS. Kaily Werthen has a 4.06 GPA and a 25 on the ACT. She will graduate with a College Preparation with Distinction Diploma next Spring and is undecided as to college choice, but will major in Sports Medicine. She runs track, holds 2 school records in cross country, and has started on the Soccer Team for three years. She said she was honored to be here and thanked her family and the Lord. Our Male Student Athlete is Conrad Reetz who would like to attend the Air Force Academy. A Cross Country runner, he is an Eagle Scout and says he’s had great mentors in his life. He says he “loves Scouts, helping others, and making a difference”.
Coach Owen Corcoran gave a great Gulf Shores High School Sports Report. Football has been disappointing, but two Home games remain. Cross Country just had the County Meet with both of our Student Athletes participating. Volleyball is playing for the County Championship. Basketball, Wrestling, and Bowling (Owen’s team) start shortly. Go Dolphins!!
Dec McClelland finally has returned from Ireland, claiming he had to go for some Irish Flu Shots. Team Reports went from top to the bottom of the teams represented. Crying Towel candidates were Ohio State and Tennessee, but the CT went to John Ward’s San Jose State in the Mountain West Conference.
Dr. McCullough introduced our Guest Speaker, Joe Gottfried, President of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame. Joe spent three decades as the Athletic Director of the University of South Alabama, and brought Division One Football to South, plus almost 20 different Sunbelt Conference Championships to USA.
Joe, a cancer-free survivor for the past 14 years, graduated from Crestline, Ohio High School, an area known for famous athletes, high school coaches, and college coaches. Joe was the Head Coach at the University of Southern Illinois before coming to South. Joe’s brother. Mike, was the Head Football Coach at Pittsburgh and a successful ESPN commentator, his son, Mark, coached at UCLA under John Wooden, later was the Head Basketball Coach at Alabama and North Carolina State, and he also has two nephews with the recognizable last name of Harbaugh, Jim at Michigan and John with the Baltimore Ravens.
He related the story of the trials to get Football at USA over the years starting in 2007, finally starting as Club Football in 2009. A new stadium with 25,000 seats will be available in 2 years.
Joe talked of the five Mobile natives who are in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame as well as those in the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
He talked about attending 35 years of NCAA meetings and noted infractions and other great information, especially a nice description of the transfer situation, also the redshirt rule.
Joe and his brother, Mike, started Team Focus, an organization dedicated to helping fatherless young men. Their father died at 41 and Mike was determined to give something back to those young men in similar situations. Hundreds all over America have and are being helped by Team Focus.
The 50/50 with $120 was drawn and awarded. Adjournment was at 8:07pm.
