Alabama greats Shaun Alexander and Gene Stallings talk football and life at Birmingham event
Former Alabama and NFL running back Shaun Alexander delivers his keynote address to the Boy Scouts of America Greater Alabama Council's "American Values Luncheon." (Michael Tomberlin/Alabama NewsCenter)
Former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Shaun Alexander told Gene Stallings, his former head coach, that now that his playing days are over, he’s ready to pursue the same line of work as Stallings.
The former Seattle Seahawk is not planning on getting into coaching. He’s getting into farming.
Alabama NewsCenter interview with Gene Stallings and Shaun Alexander from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
“I’m following in Coach Stallings’ footsteps. I just bought a farm,” Alexander said in an Alabama NewsCenter interview with his former coach. “We’re kind of doing baby farm life (compared to) Coach Stallings. You know, he has a big ranch. We weren’t big enough to do a ranch, we’ve got a farm.”
“As you get older, you’ll accumulate more,” Stallings told his former player. “It took me 40 years to pay for mine. You probably paid for yours.”
The two men were in Alabama for the Boy Scouts of America Greater Alabama Council’s “American Values Luncheon” at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
Alexander delivered the keynote address at the luncheon. In addition to taking shots at rivals Auburn and Tennessee and talking about his eight children, Alexander shared his four keys to success (watch the video below).
Former Crimson Tide and NFL running back Shaun Alexander’s “Four Keys to Success” from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
The luncheon recognized the 2016 “Heart of the Eagle” honorees for their support of scouting and the Greater Alabama Council. Birmingham Mayor William Bell, former Vulcan Materials CEO Don James and former Motion Industries CEO Bill Stevens were honored with the award. John Hudson, senior vice president at Alabama Power, presented the awards.
The hundreds at the luncheon also heard from Zachary Graham, who shared how he and his fellow Boy Scouts learned the hard way about being prepared when they camped at Mount Cheaha without checking weather forecasts before a dramatic drop in temperatures.
“We will be prepared for our next camping class and for life,” Graham said.
The luncheon culminated with an interview and questions and answers in which Jerry Duncan, a former Crimson Tide football player and broadcaster, sat down with Stallings and Alexander.
You can watch some of that exchange in the video below.
Crimson Tide legends Gene Stallings, Jerry Duncan and Shaun Alexander swap stories from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
The event sponsors for the luncheon were Alabama Power Co., Altec Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, EBSCO Industries, Protective Life Corporation, Regions Financial Corporation, Robins & Morton, Stewart Lubricants & Service Co., Timberline Management, Vulcan Materials Co. and Wood Fruitticher.
