Gus bus to make pit stop in Clanton
Published 6:05 pm Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Fan favorite: Gus Malzahn participates in his last Tiger Walk as an assistant coach for the Auburn football team. Malzahn has since been named the program’s head coach.
Chilton Auburn Club member Joe Mims described this year’s upcoming Unsung Hero Banquet as “the best one since 1985.”
One reason for Mims’ prediction could be that Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn is slated to be the guest speaker at the club’s 47th annual banquet on Tuesday, April 23.
This is Malzahn’s first season as Auburn’s head coach. He served as offensive coordinator from 2009–2011.
After a disappointing 2012 football season resulting in a 3-9 overall record, Auburn fans are ready to hear an update from Malzahn on spring training and his plans for transforming his and the team’s positive energy to high numbers on the scoreboard this fall.
In keeping with tradition, the club will also honor the newest recipient of the Unsung Hero Award, former offensive lineman John Sullen.
Club secretary Glenda Mims said Sullen will have an opportunity to speak.
Other special guests will be Aubie the Tiger, the official mascot of Auburn University, and Nova, one of the eagles from the Southeastern Raptor Center in Auburn.
Glenda Mims said the Unsung Hero Award was established in 1966 and added, “We have honored an unsung hero every year since then.”
Each year the club’s executive committee selects a person who deserves more recognition for his or her contributions to Auburn.
“Sometimes, it’s overcoming difficulty like an injury and coming back to play,” Glenda Mims said. “Maybe they’ve been asked to play several different positions and never get recognized for their team spirit. Most recently it has been someone on the football team, but in the past we have honored band members, majorettes, basketball players, coaches and baseball players. It can be anybody that has gone to Auburn and worked to make Auburn better.”
Tiger Rags will have Auburn merchandise available for purchase at the banquet, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Jemison Municipal Complex.
The deadline to make reservations to attend is Thursday, April 18.
The cost per person is $35 and includes dinner.
To make reservations, contact Amber Darnell, Glenda Mims, Brian Paschal or Charles Bates.
