Crimson Tide Wiregrass alumni chapters set to meet

August marks the start of college football training camps, but it also provides alumni chapters opportunities to get together before the season.

Two University of Alabama chapters in the Wiregrass — Houston-Henry County and Dale County — have scheduled events in the next 10 days that feature Alabama legends as guest speakers.

On Thursday, the 26th annual Bama Day, hosted by the Houston-Henry County Chapter of the National Alumni Association, will be held at the new Dothan Convention Center on the Ross Clark Circle at Twitchell Road.

Former Crimson Tide standout Bobby Humphrey, a former Pro-Bowl running back who was chosen Alabama’s Offensive Player of the Decade in the 1980s, will be the keynote speaker. The event, which includes a dinner buffet, will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Live and silent auctions featuring Alabama and other sports memorabilia will be held. The grand prize is four season tickets and two hotel rooms for the 2008 Alabama home schedule, including Auburn. All tickets will be entered in the reverse raffle. You do not have to be present to win.

A ticket will admit two to the event and can be ordered by contacting Becky White at 334-836-1029. the price is $150.

On Aug. 12, Alabama athletics director Mal Moore will be the guest speaker when at the Dale County Chapter’s annual football kickoff and membership meeting at the Perry Recreation Center, 240 James Street, two blocks south of the civic center in Ozark.

The casual-dress event will begin at 7 p.m. and dinner will be served. Doors will open at 6 p.m. to register.

Fans can buy a chance to win a pair of 2008 Alabama home season tickets for a $20 donation. You don’t have to be present to win.

The cost of the event is free to Dale County Chapter members. Annual membership dues are $25 for an individual, $35 for family. Non-members will pay $25 each.

Call Dan Hale for the raffle at 334-702-2265 or chapter president Al Keller at 334-774-3501 for program information.

Both events are fund-raisers for UA scholarships for kids in Houston-Henry and Dale counties. Keller revived the Dale County chapter several years ago and it earned recognition from the national alumni association in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The Houston-Henry County association has thrived for many years. The Bama Day scholarship event has raised over $500,000 and more than 375 students from Houston and Henry counties have earned scholarship awards.

Stallings’ son passes: John Mark Stallings, son of former University of Alabama football coach Gene Stallings, died on Saturday at age 46.

John Mark was born with Down syndrome and suffered from health problems related to a congenital heart defect, according to the Associated Press.

“I’ve known John Mark Stallings his entire life,” said Alabama athletics director Mal Moore in a statement. “For someone who never played or coached a game, I think John Mark may have touched more Alabama fans than any other person ever did. I would like to thank the Stallings family for sharing their love for John Mark with all of us.”

The Alabama football equipment room has been formally dedicated as the “John Mark Stallings Equipment Room” since 2005.

John Mark had a positive impact on people his entire life, none more than his father.

Alabama issued a statement that included a piece of an interview Gene Stallings gave to a reporter in January.

“I had a whole lot less tolerance for the gifted and a whole lot more tolerance for the guy that wasn’t quite as gifted,” Gene Stallings said at that time. “With Johnny, I saw him struggle to walk, struggle to kick a ball, struggle to do everything that he did. So, I had a little tolerance for the guys that had to struggle. If you had talent and didn’t lay it on the line, I didn’t have much tolerance for you. The less talented guy can’t play on Saturdays. But he can get you ready to play on Saturdays. I wanted the guys who played on Saturday to have an appreciation for that guy who got them there.”

Funeral arrangements for John Mark Stallings are pending.

Bama Fan Day is today: Alabama will practice today at Bryant-Denny Stadium as part of its Fan Day activities.

The team is scheduled to practice at 2:30 p.m. Fans can enter the stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m. via the west side gates (6-17) and occupy the lower bowl.

The Crimson Tide has planned a two-hour workout to 4:30. Immediately following practice, players and coaches will be available for autographs on the field. Fans will enter the field through the south tunnel.

The south gate to the field will be open once the autograph session has been set up. The session is limited to 45 minutes. In an effort to accommodate as many requests as possible in that 45-minutes window, fans will be limited to one item per person for autographs, and no posed photographs will be permitted. Posters and photos of Saban will be available to all fans as they enter the stadium. Soft drinks, water and chips will be available at the stadium for $1 per item.

Tide cornerback and return specialist Javier Arenas is looking forward to the day, which represents a welcome break in the early days of training camp.

“I love to interact with fans,” Arenas said after Friday’s practice. “Especially those small kids, look up to us like that. I like making their day. Nothing better than that. Get a break, too. Chill out.”