We were happy to see a big crowd greet Alabama Athletic Director Bill Battle Monday night at the Selma Quarterback Club.

Battle, who spent several years in Selma working for Circle S Industries, rightfully had a big crowd. It was probably the largest crowd at any quarterback club meeting this year.

We’ve written in this space before about the club’s uncanny ability to attract big name speakers.

Just this year Tony Barnhart and Battle have already spoken and Bruce Pearl is among the big names still left on this year’s schedule.

Kudos to those who work tirelessly behind the scenes for the club to attract the speakers they do.

But more importantly, we want to thank those in the community for coming out to support the speakers.

After all, big name speakers — especially those with the clout of Battle, Barnhart and Pearl — do not want to talk to mostly empty rooms.

In Selma, it doesn’t appear that will ever be a problem.

Thanks to the community for giving Battle the kind of warm welcome he deserved. We encourage everyone to do the same thing for the club’s final handful of speakers this year, so that they will want to come back to town in the future.