Former University of Alabama football players named Christmas parade grand marshals

The 47^th annual West Alabama Christmas Parade will feature more than a hint of Crimson Tide football.

Grand marshals for the parade will be two former University of Alabama football players, Cecil "Hootie" Ingram and Kareem McNeal.

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"Both individuals are not only beloved former Alabama Crimson Tide football stars, but longtime Tuscaloosa residents and hometown heroes who have greatly contributed to and inspired our community," said Heather Shipley, a parade spokeswoman, in a news release from the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority.

The grand marshals were selected based on significant community contributions, lifetime achievements with a lasting community impact and career accomplishments.

The 90-year-old Ingram played football at UA from 1952-54, served as Clemson University's head coach in 1970-71 and Florida State University's athletic director from 1988-89. Ingram returned to UA as director of athletics from 1989 to 1995.

McNeal played on the offensive line for coach Gene Stallings at UA, but a 1995 automobile accident left him paralyzed from the waist down and ended his dream of playing in the NFL.  McNeal earned a degree at UA and now serves as a full-time faculty member in UA’s College of Human Environmental Sciences.

The parade, billed as the largest of its kind in Alabama, will be held Dec. 4 in downtown Tuscaloosa. A tree-lighting ceremony will begin at 5:15 p.m. in front of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, 714 Greensboro Ave., with the parade following at 6:30 p.m.

The 2023 parade theme is “A Hometown Christmas.” The parade will feature dozens of floats, decorated vehicles and marching bands.

Here's more about this year's parade grand marshals:

"Hootie" Ingram

Ingram graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and went on to earn letters in football and baseball as a student-athlete at UA. He made the All-SEC team as a defensive back in 1952.

After his playing days, Ingram coached on the high school level and then worked as an assistant football coach at several universities, including Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia and Arkansas.

Clemson hired him as their head football coach and he is credited with introducing the Tigers' iconic tiger paw logo.

Ingram then moved into athletics administration, serving with the Southeastern Conference office and then as Florida State's athletic director.

When he moved back to UA, he hired Stallings, who guided the Crimson Tide to the 1992 college football championship.

After his time in administration, he served as a consultant and helped Florida Atlantic and Florida International universities start their own football programs.

In 1991, Ingram was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. In 1992, he was named to UA's "Team of the Century" as the second team defensive back.

In 2007, he was presented with the University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award, recognizing athletes whose accomplishments since leaving the university are “outstanding based on character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service."

Kareem McNeal

After a car accident cut his athletic career short, McNeal earned two degrees from UA: a bachelor of science degree in human performance in 1996 and a master’s in health education in 1999.

At the urging of Stallings, his college coach, McNeal worked at the Rise School, which led to a 20-year career as a wellness instructor at Shelton State Community College.

In the fall of 2021, McNeal returned to UA as an adviser in UA's College of Human Environmental Sciences, where he has also taught courses in stress management.

McNeal is married and the father of two sets of twins. He is also a cook and his cheesecakes are on the menu at the River restaurant and the Cravings store in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 'Hootie' Ingram, Kareem McNeal will lead annual Christmas parade