Sept. 22, 2008

Former Bama star took road less traveled

BY ROY MITCHELL

Former University of Alabama football standout Tommy Wilcox can't stop smiling -- and for good reason.

In his playing days, Wilcox was a three-time all-Southeastern Conference defender, twice selected as an all-American. He's in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and was named to the University of Alabama's all-century team. After Tommy's pro career in the USFL was cut short by a neck injury, he unceremoniously blended into the working world.

For 19 years, he climbed the corporate ladder in pharmaceutical sales. Yet it is his most recent calling that probably grants Wilcox his biggest reason to smile. As poet Robert Frost famously suggested, Tommy Wilcox chose the road less traveled.

Well before his football and pharmaceutical pursuits commenced, Wilcox had taken frequent solace in the outdoors, hunting and fishing in his home state of Louisiana. He actively continued these hobbies through his playing days and into adulthood. In spare time during his pharmaceutical career, Tommy continued fishing and hunting with former teammates and other members of the Alabama family such as Athletics Director Mal Moore and famous booster Paul Bryant, Jr.

“That's where the idea for Tommy Wilcox Outdoors kind of came about,” he said.

With sponsorship from The Wharf, a luxury recreational resort in Orange Beach, Tommy started living his dream.

“The Wharf has a huge amphitheater,” he said. “The artists would play a concert and then I'd take them fishing for the show.”

Now Tommy makes his livelihood hunting, fishing, and intermingling with famous Southern athletes and entertainers on his TV show “Tommy Wilcox Outdoors,” which airs on SportSouth, The Sportsman Channel, and WVUA in Tuscaloosa. The former Bama star is now in his sixth season of filming.

Tommy's Southern celebrity guests include not only those accomplished on the gridiron such as Brodie Croyle, Sylvester Croom, and Ken Stabler, but also those more famous for being behind a guitar -- country stars like Rhett Akins, Jeff Cook, and Sammy Kershaw. Radio hosts Rick and Bubba, NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, and BASS champion Boyd Duckett have also shared the woods and the water with Wilcox.

“I meet so many big-named good people,” Wilcox said. “When you get them on the boat they are no different from me and you.”

Wilcox's newfound profession has sprouted him a degree of gratification, bringing the peace and conquest of the outdoors to some of the South's busiest stars. LSU coach Les Miles had never fished before Tommy took Les and his two boys. Georgia head coach Mark Richt landed his largest bass while angling with Wilcox. Wilcox was pleased to provide Alabama coach Nick Saban some time off, too.

“Saban is so intense and so into football,” Wilcox said. “It was gratifying to see him relax for a few hours and not worry about being the Alabama head coach.”

Nearly 30 years after his own college playing days, Wilcox still appreciates what Alabama football has provided him.

“It's meant everything to play at the University of Alabama,” he said. “I got my degree from there. I thought people in Louisiana loved their football, but when I came to Alabama, I found out that they really love the game there.”

He emphasizes that the Alabama-Auburn game lived up to the rivalry hype to the players of his generation.

“It's as big a game as everybody makes it out to be, “ he said. “It means recruiting and bragging rights.”

Wilcox frequently fields questions about his legendary coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant.

“It was a treat and a dream to be able to play for Coach Bryant,” Wilcox said. “He was college football at the time, back when Alabama was at its pinnacle. He taught his players so much on and off the field.”

Wilcox has nothing but praise, too, for the current Alabama football coach.

“I've been really impressed with Saban, but it's going to take some time,” Wilcox said. “He has brought in great assistant coaches, but it'll take a couple more years of good recruiting. I think he will restore Alabama back to the glory days. People need to just be patient.”

Wilcox truly took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference.