by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
For members of the Jacksonville Quarterback Club, the magic juice of football courses through their veins. It’s a passion, a calling, a way of life: high school football on Friday, college ball on Saturday and professional games on Sunday. But what about the desolate football-less hinterland between the referee’s last whistle on Sunday night and the coin toss for Monday Night Football?
How about getting together with fellow football fans to talk about their favorite game with prominent pigskin personalities as guest speakers to boot?
Since 1949, the Jacksonville Quarterback Club has done just that. Formed by Jacksonville locals Dean Boggs and John Tillman, the club is open to all who enjoy the fellowship of other football fanatics who are interested in promoting the sport in Duval County.
“It’s mainly for fun and the support of football,” said former club captain Billie Nimnicht III. “We get together and have a good time.”
The civically-minded group is the driving force, in conjunction with Ch. 30, behind publicly decorating the offensive and defensive high school football player of the week throughout the season. At the end of the year, awards are given for player of the year, coach of the year and most valuable player.
Beyond giving weekly kudos to the local talent, the Quarterback Club offers an annual scholarship to a promising college-bound athlete. Paid for by proceeds from club-organized events like golf tournaments or silent auctions, a deserving young athlete is awarded $1,000-a-year scholarship.
“One candidate is named from every Duval County School,” said Nimnicht. “It can be a football player, cheerleader or trainer and the person must show financial need. We’re not going to give it to the best football recruit who is going to get a full-ride scholarship.”
Club meetings are admittedly testosterone-filled. Women are allowed, of course, and last year’s captain Brad Rupp conceded, “We’ve had some women members in the past.”
The Quarterback Club meets Monday evening at Radisson from the beginning of the football season in mid-August through the week before the Super Bowl. For each meeting, the club lures a prominent football figure armed with a few jokes and a speech to be the centerpiece of the gathering. Each year, a host of familiar football names such as Gene Stallings, Ken Stabler, Earl Morrall, Buddy Ryan, Barry Switzer and Spike Dykes visit Jacksonville to make an appearance before the club. Last year’s lineup included University of Miami coach Larry Coker, Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier, University of Georgia coach Mark Richt, former Ohio State University coach John Cooper, record-setting field goal kicker Tom Dempsey and a host of others.
“Not only do you get to hear these speakers, they usually hang around for a while after their speech,” said alternate captain Jim White. “It’s more intimate. It’s neat when you can talk to, say Steve Spurrier, over a beer.”
The Quarterback Club’s roster ran about 185 in 2001 but club officers are shooting for 250 in the coming year and are currently recruiting football fans, particularly from the younger ranks. The annual membership fee is $275, which includes dinner and helps pay for the guest speakers, which run about $2,000 to $3,000 apiece.
“We’re trying to get the average age of the group down. Everyone thinks the average age is about 75,” joked Vincent Coyle, club captain. “We’re trying to get young professionals in. People are sure to see someone they know or meet someone with similar interests.”
While the football world is on break until late summer, Coyle says the Quarterback Club has a few off-season events scheduled, including meetings at a Jacksonville Suns game and a Jacksonville Tomcats game. Final details are still being decided.