Jordan and Barkley were not among the celebrities teeing off in this year’s edition, but for the coaches in particular, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy a day on the course and also talk shop with their colleagues and the media, including at live SEC Network broadcasts for SEC This Morning and The Paul Finebaum Show at the clubhouse.
“It’s just fun seeing everyone here,” DeBoer said. “So many fans and great event all around. So, it’s been it’s always a fun day, so I’m excited to be back.”
It’s more than just a day of golf with PGA Tour Champions pros though. It also supports numerous local charities, namely Children’s of Alabama, First Tee Birmingham, Folds of Honor and The Mike Slive Foundation. To date, the Regions Tradition has raised more than $25 million since its inception in 1992, and Children’s is listed as the primary beneficiary of those funds.
Raising money for charity is the biggest hook for longtime participants like Hicks, the former American Idol winner and Birmingham native.
“This is my 17th Pro-Am with Regions, and I think the camaraderie between just all the football coaches, Gene does an amazing job of hospitality, and then, ultimately, the goal is to promote the Children’s of Alabama, and that’s what we’re here for,” Hicks said. “And, we’ve been here doing it for a long time, so hopefully a long time to come.”
For many fans though, the hook isn’t just getting to see their favorite celebrities play golf. It’s following them around and interacting with them along the ropes, as many honored requests for selfies and autographs in between shots.
The final two morning groups in particular drew large crowds. Saban and Armstrong played alongside Vijay Singh, and the final group saw John Daly play alongside Green, Tuberville and Hicks, the latter a last-minute swap for Barkley.
While Green made his rounds on the ropes, Hicks even made his way into the gallery at times, making quick conversation with fans and getting the crowd to cheer on his groupmates.
For him, it all goes back to a lesson he learned many years ago.
“Alice Cooper taught me how to do my first pro-am,” Hicks recalled. “And he said, ‘It’s not what’s inside the ropes, it’s what’s outside the ropes.’ And I’ll always take that, and it’s about the people, it’s about the fans, and, obviously, today, it’s about the Children’s of Alabama.”
The loud cheers and love from the fans isn’t lost on any of the participants. For those like Saban, it’s a reminder of all the support they have given throughout his coaching career, and it’s an opportunity to pay that love back.
“I love it,” Saban said. “I love having the opportunity to support the people who’ve always supported us and helped us be successful through the years. All the passion they have for college football is something that I appreciate and that all the players that we coach through the years appreciated their energy and enthusiasm. College football is a great game, and hopefully, even though we’re not coaching, we try to contribute the best way we can.”
Even if it’s hitting a little ball around a field.