Tuohy, Clark highlight 2015 QB Club schedule
Published 10:20 pm Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Leigh Anne Tuohy and UAB head football coach Bill Clark highlight the Selma Quarterback Club’s 2015 lineup, which was announced Tuesday.
Tuohy is best known for being the legal guardian of Michael Oher, who was a first round pick of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and currently plays with the Carolina Panthers. Oher’s story became famous in the 2009 movie, The Blind Side, which told how Tuohy became involved in his life. Sandra Bullock portrayed Tuohy in the movie and won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance.
Tuohy will speak on Oct. 8, which will be ladies night at the club.
“We expect a huge crowd. Every time I’ve mentioned it to both of my daughters — their husbands are members — they said they are coming,” said quarterback club captain Ray Hogg. “They don’t know if their husbands are coming, but they are coming.”
Tuohy was a cheerleader at Ole Miss, where Oher played his college football, so she’s got an athletic background of her own.
“Through the years, we’ve had Barbara Dooley, we’ve had Ann Bowden — Bobby’s wife — so we’ve had female speakers and I think she fits that mold,” Hogg said.
Another big name on the lineup list this year is Clark, who is guiding UAB’s football program back following its cancellation last year. Clark led UAB to a 6-6 record in 2014, but after the season the Blazers football program was cancelled due to financial concerns. Just months later, the university reversed its course and reinstated the UAB football program, meaning Clark is basically having to start from scratch. The Blazers will return to Football Bowl Division competition in 2017.
“I, like most other people, am interested in what’s going on at UAB,” Hogg said. “I think he’s going to be a very good speaker and will tell us as much as he can kind of what’s going on.”
Although those are two of the headliners, the entire schedule is full of interesting names that should have plenty of stories to tell.
The club’s first meeting of the year will take place Aug. 31 at Julius Talton’s river house. Jay Tate, the owner and publisher of AuburnSports.com and Andrew Bone, the head recruiting analyst for The Tuscaloosa News and TideSports.com, will speak at that meeting.
Both insiders will probably be able to provide some insight six days before Alabama takes the field against Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas and Auburn battles Louisville at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Former Georgia and Marshall head football coach Jim Donnan will speak on Sept. 14.
Donnan compiled a 40-19 record turing his time with the Bulldogs, including leading Georgia to four consecutive bowl victories. He also played quarterback for North Carolina State in the 1960s.
Former Auburn All-American Jackie Burkett, who played 11 years in the NFL, will speak on Sept. 28. Burkett played with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys during his professional playing career.
After Tuohy and Clark speak on Oct. 8 and Oct. 26 — the only two meetings that month — former Arkansas and Jacksonville State head coach Jack Crowe will be the club’s guest on Nov. 9.
Crowe won three Ohio Valley Conference championships during his twelve year tenure at Jacksonville State and currently hosts the Game Day Bunker radio show.
The final scheduled meeting of the year is Dec. 7, when Paul Crane will speak to the club. Crane played four years under legendary Alabama head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and was a part of two Crimson Tide national championships.
The club plans on announcing its eighth speaker and the date of its eighth meeting at a later date.
To become a member of the Selma Quarterback Club contact Hogg at 875-1960 or W. Forrest Hatfield at 872-4042. The cost for an entire year’s membership is $175, which covers eight meetings, hearing the speakers and meals.