QB Clubs line up speakers
- Updated: August 18, 2015
[corner-ad id=1]Oxford grad, 49ers scout O’Dell appears as keynote speaker at both county quarterback clubs this season
UPDATE: The Oxford Quarterback Club has voted to move its meetings to Hubbards Off Main
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Calhoun County high school football fans will hear a lot from Kyle O’Dell this season as the San Francisco 49ers scout is on the roster of speakers at both of the county’s gridiron civic groups this fall.
The Calhoun County Quarterback Club and Oxford Quarterback Club both have announced their speaker lineup for the 2015 season and both have O’Dell, an Oxford grad, on their docket.
He is the only speaker appearing at both clubs this season.
“He brings a perspective we’ve not had before,” said Mike Shaddix, the procurer of the Oxford club’s speakers. “He spent a year in San Francisco and became a scout. They moved him to Indianapolis after 18 months and now he’s in Atlanta working with various schools in the Southeast for the 49ers. This was his goal to finish at Alabama and get a job with a professional team.
“What will be interesting to me is the perspective of what they are looking for and what criteria they use to identify prospects as they go forward.”
It has been O’Dell’s lifelong dream to become an NFL general manager. He played at Oxford before a shoulder injury ended his playing career, then moved into the personnel side.
At college he turned a volunteer spot in Alabama’s recruiting operations into a full-time gig, and then broke into the NFL as a 23-year-old scouting assistant for the 49ers.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to come home and talk football while also providing some insight of the work that goes into both the college recruiting cycle and the NFL Draft process,” O’Dell said. “I know how passionate the people in Oxford and throughout Calhoun County are about the game of football, so it was a no brainer when I was asked (to speak).
“I’m very much looking forward to speaking and am very thankful to both clubs for having me as their guest.”
O’Dell will be the Oxford club’s third speaker. Its lineup opens with former Alabama gymnastics coach and assistant athletics director Sarah Patterson and includes Mike Lutzenkirchen, Tony Kurre, Antonio Langham, Bobby Humphrey, Greg Burgess and Jon Holder.
The Calhoun County club’s lineup includes Eli Gold, Rod Bramblett, Bill Clark, John Grass, Scott Case, Jim Fuller and Larry Blakeney
Patterson, O’Dell, Lutzenkirchen and Langham are all first-time speakers for the Oxford group.
“We do have a diverse lineup of speakers; that’s our goal every year,” Shaddix said. “Our problem is getting new, fresh faces to come to Oxford, Alabama. That’s our challenge – to get people at what we consider to be a fair (speakers) price that would enable us to continue to support the school’s various athletics programs. We are a civic club.”
The last few years the Oxford club has given $10,000 to the Oxford High School athletics department, awarded two $1,000 Dr. James Lett Scholarships to a boy and a girl at the school and provided assistance to other organizations in the community.
The club meets Mondays during the season at the Western Sizzlin’ on Highway 78. Annual dues are $125, while the cost to hear a specific speaker is $15.
The Calhoun County Club meets on Mondays at Anniston Country Club.
(On the cover: Oxford native Kyle O’Dell talks football on the sidelines before a San Francisco 49ers game. Photo courtesy of Kyle O’Dell)
OXFORD QUARTERBACK CLUB LINEUP
Sept. 14 – Sarah Patterson, former Alabama gymnastics coach and assistant athletics director
Sept. 21 – Mike Lutzenkirchen, executive director of the Lutzie Foundation and father of former Auburn player Phillip Lutzenkirchen
Sept. 28 – Kyle O’Dell, Oxford graduate and San Francisco 49ers scout
Oct. 5 – Tony Kurre, WJOX radio personality
Oct. 12 – No meeting
Oct. 19 – Antonio Langham, former Alabama and NFL defensive back
Oct. 26 – Bobby Humphrey, former Alabama and NFL running back
Nov. 2 – Greg Burgess, Oxford graduate and “Rick and Bubba” personality
Nov. 9 – Jon Holder, TV-24 personality
Nov. 16 – Business meeting
CALHOUN COUNTY QUARTERBACK CLUB LINEUP
Alabama broadcaster Eli Gold
Auburn broadcaster Rod Bramblett
UAB football coach Bill Clark
JSU coach John Grass
Former NFL safety Scott Case
Former JSU athletics director Jim Fuller
Former Troy football coach Larry Blakeney
San Francisco 49ers scout Kyle O’Dell
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