Bobby Humphrey, Alabama Legend and Broncos Pro Bowler, to Headline Gulf Coast Athletic Club Nov. 9

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Former Alabama All-American and Denver Broncos running back Bobby Humphrey will be the featured speaker when the Gulf Coast Athletic Club meets Monday, Nov. 9, at the Craft Farms Clubhouse in Gulf Shores, bringing one of the most decorated careers in Crimson Tide history to a room full of south Baldwin County sports fans.

The club, which gathers every other week during the fall, says guests are always welcome. The evening opens with a social at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.

What to expect at the Nov. 9 meeting

Gulf Coast Athletic Club programs follow a familiar rhythm that regulars know well. Along with the keynote address, the 7 p.m. program includes team reports on local high school athletics, the club’s well-known “crying towel” segment and presentations recognizing scholar athletes.

• What: Gulf Coast Athletic Club meeting featuring speaker Bobby Humphrey
• When: Monday, Nov. 9
• Where: Craft Farms Clubhouse, Gulf Shores
• Social: 6 p.m.
• Dinner: 6:30 p.m.
• Program: 7 p.m., including team reports, the crying towel, scholar athlete presentations and the keynote speaker
• Guests: Always welcome

The crying towel is a lighthearted tradition at the club’s fall meetings, a nod to the friendly ribbing that comes with a weekend of football results. The scholar athlete presentations, meanwhile, put a spotlight on local students who excel both in competition and in the classroom.

Bobby Humphrey’s record-setting years at Alabama

Humphrey, a Birmingham native who was born Oct. 11, 1966, and starred at Glenn High School, arrived at the University of Alabama in 1985 and quickly became one of the most productive backs the program had ever seen.

He was a two-time All-American halfback in Tuscaloosa, earning the honor in 1986 and 1987, and was twice named first-team All-Southeastern Conference. In 1986 he ran for 1,471 yards, a school single-season record at the time. The following year, United Press International named him its offensive player of the year, and he finished 10th in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

By the time he left Alabama, Humphrey held the school’s career rushing record with 3,420 yards and had scored 40 total touchdowns. He also finished with four 200-yard rushing games and 16 games of 100 yards or more, the most by a Crimson Tide running back at that point.

Injuries took a toll on the end of his college career. Humphrey broke his left foot during spring practice and then suffered another foot fracture during his senior season, cutting his final year short.

A fast start in the NFL with the Denver Broncos

Rather than enter the regular NFL Draft, Humphrey was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1989 supplemental draft, a separate process the league holds for players whose eligibility status changed after the regular draft.

He made an immediate impact in Denver. As a rookie in 1989, Humphrey rushed for 1,151 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the franchise’s first rookie to top 1,000 yards on the ground and earning a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

Humphrey joined a Denver team coached by Dan Reeves and led by quarterback John Elway, and his arrival gave the Broncos a reliable ground game to pair with Elway’s arm. Denver won the AFC West that season and went on to capture the AFC championship.

That season ended on the sport’s biggest stage. Humphrey played in Super Bowl XXIV on Jan. 28, 1990, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, where the Broncos fell 55-10 to the San Francisco 49ers. Humphrey had 61 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards in the game, one of the few bright spots for Denver on a difficult day.

Humphrey followed up in 1990 with 1,202 rushing yards and seven more touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection and becoming the first Bronco to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.

He later played for the Miami Dolphins after a trade that sent running back Sammie Smith to Denver. In his season with Miami in 1992, Humphrey ran for 471 yards and caught 54 passes for 507 yards. He finished his NFL career with 2,857 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.

From the sideline to the boardroom

Humphrey’s football life continued after his playing days. When the Birmingham Steeldogs formed in the af2 indoor football league in 1999, he was named the team’s head coach. He led the Steeldogs for six seasons, compiling a 51-50 record.

He also returned to the University of Alabama to complete his education, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Off the field, Humphrey has built a career in business and banking. He currently works as an executive at Bryant Bank, where he has served in business development. He also owned and operated a construction company during his coaching years.

Humphrey was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Promoting fitness across Alabama

In addition to his work as a speaker, Humphrey chairs the Alabama Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports. The commission’s stated mission is to protect, promote and improve the physical fitness of Alabama residents, and it supports statewide efforts such as the Get Moving Alabama initiative, the 100 Alabama Miles Challenge and the Alabama Senior Olympics.

His role with the commission gives him a platform to encourage Alabamians of all ages to stay active, a message that fits naturally with an audience of coaches, athletes, parents and fans.

A football family

The Humphrey name remains well known to Alabama fans thanks to the next generation. Bobby and his wife, Barbara, have five children. Their son Marlon Humphrey played cornerback at Alabama, wearing his father’s old No. 26, before the Baltimore Ravens selected him 16th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Marlon has since become a Pro Bowl cornerback. Another son, Maudrecus, played college football at Arkansas and UAB.

That family connection to Alabama football, spanning two generations and two eras of the program, is likely to resonate with Tide fans in the audience.

About the Gulf Coast Athletic Club

The Gulf Coast Athletic Club brings together sports enthusiasts from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and the surrounding area for fall meetings built around local athletics and guest speakers. The club’s programs highlight area high school teams through regular team reports and recognize scholar athletes, while its speaker lineup regularly features figures from college and professional sports.

Meetings are held every other week during the fall season, giving members and guests a chance to share a meal, swap stories about the latest games and hear from people who have shaped the sports world.

Where the club meets

The Craft Farms Clubhouse sits at Craft Farms Golf Resort, home to two 18-hole championship courses, Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend, both designed by Arnold Palmer. The resort, set among pines, lakes and wetlands, is a short drive from the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

How to attend

Anyone interested in hearing Humphrey speak can plan to arrive for the 6 p.m. social on Nov. 9 at the Craft Farms Clubhouse. The club says guests are always welcome. Those planning to attend may wish to contact the Gulf Coast Athletic Club in advance for dinner details.

For fans who remember watching Humphrey break tackles at Legion Field and Bryant-Denny Stadium, or who know him through his son’s success in Tuscaloosa and Baltimore, the evening offers a rare chance to hear his story firsthand, from Birmingham’s Glenn High School to the Super Bowl and beyond.