Shearer, Suttles spoke to Selma Quarterback Club

Published 5:34 am Thursday, September 14, 2023

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The first Selma Quarterback Club meeting of the year featured two guest speakers from Iron Bowl rivals Alabama and Auburn.

Jeff Shearer, Auburn University Director of Strategic Communications; Aaron Suttles, Director of Content for Yea Alabama, addressed the Selma Quarterback Club on Monday at the George P. Evans Building.

Shearer said it was an honor to speak at the Selma QB Club for a second time. He spoke to the Selma QB Club in 2011, one year after the Tigers won a BCS national championship.

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A former WSFA-12 Sports Director, Shearer praised Selma for producing quality athletes over the years.

“For a city its size, Selma has a lot of talented athletes,” Shearer said. “You have former NFL player Michael Johnson, former MLB pitcher Terry Leach and the likely AL Rookie of the year in Gunnar Henderson.”

Shearer also reminded club members that some of the talent went down to the Plains in Auburn. Jeremiah Wright of Selma is a Tigers’ offensive lineman.

“Thank you for producing football coach Ralph ‘Shug’ Jordan and wide receiver Ben Obomanu,” Shearer boasted. “We love Jordan-Hare Stadium.”

Shearer also said it was a pleasure working with Jerome Hand,who announces Morgan Academy football games on 100.9 ALEX FM WALX Best Hits of All Time, at WSFA-12.

Suttles shared his experiences covering Alabama football, including 15 years at The Tuscaloosa News and the Athletic. He earned a Pulitzer Prize for the Tuscaloosa News’ coverage of a 2011 tornado.

Suttles said his journalistic career is best-known as the beat writer for Alabama football, mostly under head coach Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide won six national championships under Saban, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020.

“I got to cover the greatest run in Alabama football history,” Suttles said. “Covering Nick Saban got the job at the Atlantic.”

Suttles also said Alabama fans are overreacting to the Crimson Tide’s 34-24 loss to Texas, a rare home defeat in Bryant-Denny Stadium under Saban.

“The Alabama fan base has been spoiled,” Suttles said. “The stuff I’ve been hearing is who’s going to be the next Alabama football coach.”