Nicholas Lou “Nick” Saban, Jr. ( born October 31, 1951) is an American college football coach, and the current head football coach of the University of Alabama, a position he has held since the 2007 season. Saban previously served as head coach of the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins and three other universities: Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Toledo. His eight-year contract totaling US$32 million made him one of the highest paid football coaches, professional or college, in the United States at the time. He appeared on the September 1, 2008, cover of Forbes magazine as “The Most Powerful Coach in Sports”. Saban’s career record as a college head coach is 177–59–1

Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003 and the Alabama Crimson Tide to BCS and AP national championships in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons, making him the first coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. Saban and Bear Bryant are the only coaches to win an SEC championship at two different schools. In May 2013, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Jacob Tamme

Born in Lexington, KY

Attended Boyle Co. HS

College-Kentucky

Professional Team: Indianapolis Colts & Denver Broncos & Atlanta Falcons (2008-present)

Position: Tight end

Jacob Tamme started 37-of-48 games played at the University of Kentucky and finished his career ranked first in school history as Kentucky’s all-time top pass-catching tight end and 2nd in the history of all SEC tight ends with 133 receptions for 1,417 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection following his final two seasons for the Wildcats to become the first tight end in school history to earn the honor twice in his career.

As a senior, he had 56 receptions for 619 yards and six touchdowns. For the second year in a row, he earned first-team All-SEC honors from both the Associated Press (unanimous decision) and coaches polls.  Tamme finished his career as Kentucky’s all-time top pass-catching tight end and 2nd in the history of all SEC tight ends with 133 catches for 1,417 yards.

Jacob was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He later joined the Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent (Indianapolis) on March 29, 2012. He is a seventh-year tight end who has totaled 178 receptions for 1,703 yards (9.6 avg.) with ten touchdowns in 107 career games with Indianapolis (2008-11) and Denver (2012-14). He was ranked third on the Broncos in both catches (52) and receiving yards (555) in his first year with the club in 2012. He recorded a career-high 67 catches for 631 yards (9.4 avg.) and four scores in 2010—all in the last 10 games after starting tight end Dallas Clark was placed on injured reserve—with his reception total leading the NFL during that stretch. Jacob owns 29 career special-teams tackles, including a career-best 13 stops in 2009 that ranked fourth on the Colts.

Aaron Jones

Born in Orlando, FL

Attended Apopka HS (FL)

College-EKU

Professional Team: Pittsburg Steelers, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins 1988-1996 (9 years)

Position: Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, Linebacker

Inducted into EKU Athletics Hall of Fame 2007.

Aaron Jones was drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1st Round of the ’88 Draft-the 18th overall pick as a Defensive End (DE). He played 5 years in Pittsburgh: 4 years under Chuck Knoll and 1 year Bill Cowher. Mean Joe Greene was his Defensive Line Coach who said of Jones ”I saw 10 films on Aaron Jones. I begged for this guy. He can play for us right away.” Tony Dungy was his Defensive Coordinator. After his 5th year in Pittsburgh he became a free agent and Bill Parcells signed him with the Patriots in ’93 and he played for Parcells for 3 years before moving on to the Miami Dolphins in ’96 under Coach Jimmy Johnson for one year before suffering a knee injury.

He retired after 9 long years. Since retiring, he started a commercial HVAC company called Gold Mechanical Services, Inc. He is the President and Commissioner of South Central Athletic Association, which is a Pop Warner Football and Cheer Organization. He is also President of Excel Speed & Fitness Training, LLC.

Doug Buffone

Born in Yatesboro, PA

Attended Shannon Valley HS (PA)

College-Louisville

Professional Team: Chicago Bears 1966-1979 (14 years)

Position: Linebacker

Following his collegiate career, Buffone was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL Draft and the eighth round of the American Football League Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Buffone went on to play 15 seasons at linebacker for the Bears, retiring in 1980 as the all-time leader in games played for the legendary organization.

In his professional career, Buffone gathered more than 1,200 tackles, going over the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons. He also had the honor of serving as defensive captain for eight seasons, beginning in 1972. Buffone retired with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bear linebackers. The first two pickoffs of his career came off future Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. His retirement from football also signaled the end of an era for the Bears as he was the last active Bear to have played for George Halas.

• Played 186 games as a Bear, the third most among Bears.
• Had a career-high 158 tackles in 1972
• Had 11 solo tackles vs. New Orleans (10/6/74)
• Holds the Bears record for most career interceptions at linebacker (24)
• Holds the Bears record for most sacks in a season (18 in 1968)
• Was voted into the Louisville Hall of Fame with Johnny Unitas in 1979

Gil Mains (deceased)

Born in Mt. Carmel, IL

Attended Mt. Carmel HS in Illinois

College-Murray State

Professional Team: Detroit Lions 1953-1961 (9 years)

Position: Defensive end, Defensive tackle, Tackle

Gil Mains played four outstanding seasons (1948-51) with the Murray State University Thoroughbreds in Kentucky and was named to the Ohio Valley Conference Team in 1950 and as their captain in 1951. Mains is a member of the Murray State Athletic Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the Lions in 1951 out of Murray State University but he had to fulfill a two-year obligation in the U.S. Army where he served during the Korean War before joining the Lions. He was a Detroit Lion player from 1953-1961, with two World Championships in1953 and 1957 and a Division Championship in 1954. He holds the record for the largest Super bowl/Championship ring past or present-a size 22-which a quarter will drop through the center. Mains played nine seasons as a defensive tackle and special teams member with the Lions. When he joined the Lion’s in 1953, Gil would jump feet first into the wedge on kickoff off returns and is still known today as one of the greatest legends in NFL history for special teams plays. In nine seasons with the NFL Gil never missed a kickoff. Art Donovan regarded him as one of the most feared and aggressive players in the NFL on the field and one of the most respected and well-mannered off the field. John Madden was quoted as saying, “he was the greatest wedge breaker of all time”. As he jumped feet first into the wedge and took out all four players the announcers said, “that is Gil Mains a Murray State Thoroughbred” and the other announcer said, “no that’s a “Wild Hoss”. Pay in the NFL being what it was in those days and to stay in shape in the off season, Mains spent two off-seasons as a professional wrestler, winning all but three of 193 matches against the likes of Gorgeous George, Lord Layton and Whipper Billy Watson.

Gil was also known for his generosity and keeping local Detroit charities functional. The Wayne State University football program would be non-existent without Gil’s fundraising and he helped found the Tartar Gridiron Club. He was also a member of the Wayne State University Hall of Fame. Gil Mains was inducted into the Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 as a contributor/builder for his lifetime efforts in support of Tartar Football. Mains was a founder of the Tartar Gridiron Club in the late 1980s. The club’s sole purpose is the survival of Tartar football. Among it’s fund raising efforts each year is the Annual Golf Outing that Mains helped spearhead. The Golf Outing is still held annually, and Mains was among its top supporters. Besides the Gridiron Club, Mains also assisted WSU’s Gas House Gang, its original varsity lettermen’s club, in its charity events. Mains was also a member of The Tartar 100, an organization of community leaders who support Tartar football. In 1994, the City of Detroit and Mayor Dennis Archer recognized Mains’ outstanding contributions to Wayne State University and Tartar Athletics. Citing his tenacity to rejuvenating the Wayne State football program. Archer remarked “but not for (Gil) Wayne State would not have a football team today and hundreds of young men would be looking to the streets instead of the field.”

Mains’ charity efforts do not stop at Wayne State. A long-time supporter of Detroit, he was a member and leader in the “Hands That Care” organization that each year makes up packages that are distributed to hundreds of senior citizens at nursing homes in the city and metropolitan area. In 1994, the Michigan House of Representatives bestowed its “Big Hearted American” Award to Mains for his leadership of “Hands That Care.” Speaker of the House Rep. Curtis Hertel noted in the tribute that Mains is a “role model looked to as a successful individual who has worked hard and has earned the admirations of his peers and others” and commended him “for improving the quality of life” in Michigan.

Mains was also a driving force in creating the Detroit Lions NFL Alumni organization. He served in several leadership roles with that organization, including as its president. Mains was chairman of his own business, RMF Global, Inc., that is located in Toledo. Among its operations are industrial contracting, commercial and industrial construction management, industrial services, and site remediation. Mains and his wife, Doloris, resided in Sylvania, Ohio, and are parents of four children, Gilbert Jr., Michael, Melissa Gremm, and William Arthur.