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From Tate High To Alabama And Clemson: Atmore’s Woody McCorvey Named ‘Legend’ Of Camellia Bowl
December 24, 2021
Woody McCorvey of Atmore, a longtime college football coach that began his career at Tate High School, has been named the 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl Alabama Football Legend.
McCorvey, who was the Alabama State University Hornets’ quarterback from 1968-71, earned his bachelor’s degree from ASU in 1972.
McCorvey began his coaching career with a six-year stint (1972-77) at Tate High School.
The Camellia Bowl “Legend” Award is “given annually to a person who has made a significant contribution to college football in the state of Alabama”. he award was presented during a luncheon in Montgomery Thursday.
McCorvey has had a stellar career of more than 40 years as a football coach or administrator for college championship teams at the University of Alabama and Clemson University where he now serves as the chief of football administration under head coach Dabo Swinney. McCorvey has also coached at North Carolina Central, Alabama A&M, South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi State.
McCorvey’s outstanding record of accomplishments has earned him a number of laudable awards, including his induction into the Atmore Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Past recipients of the Camellia Bowl award include Bobby Bowden, Pat Dye, Woodrow Lowe, Gene Stallings, Johnny Davis and Larry Blakeney.
“I am elated to be associated with all of the previous winners for this award, especially Coach (Gene) Stallings,” McCorvey said. “I worked for him for seven years at Alabama, and we have continued that relationship over the years. Pat Dye meant a lot to me and was instrumental in my career. Larry Blakeney, Woodrow Lowe and Bobby Bowden all had influences. It’s a great honor to be this year’s recipient.”
The 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl, pitting the Ball State Cardinals against Georgia State Panthers will be played at 1:30 p.m. Christmas day in Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. The game will be aired on ESPN.
Comments
20 Responses to “From Tate High To Alabama And Clemson: Atmore’s Woody McCorvey Named ‘Legend’ Of Camellia Bowl”
CONGRATULATIONS to you Woodrow. You were always a classy person.
Congratulations Coach McCorvey!! You were one incredible coach at Tate High School You deserved this award without a doubt!!
Congratulations coach McCorvey I was on his ninth grade football team he also was our DB coach throughout my HS career coach McCorvey was a great coach never will forget Me and coach McCorvey and Coach Taylor going fishing in our family lake I believe it was 1975 he caught a 5 lb bass that day pretty sure it was his first bass ever. Great memories with a great coach very proud to have played for you.
Woodrow Mccorvey is absolutely one of the best coaches I have ever been around. I played on his 9th grade football team & I had nothing but great memories of this special coach! I never will forget his personality & love for football! I credit Coach Mccorvey for being a huge factor in my life. Congrats to coach Mccorvey! I am proud to say that I know you & had the good fortune to be a part of your life! Oh yeah, thanks for giving me my nickname “head- quarters”.
Congratulations Coach McCorvey! As deserving as they come. Remarkable career. Had the good fortune of learning from coach while a student-athlete at Tate the better part of three years. Caught many a pass from coach while prepping his defensive secondaries for our next opponent. He could spin it is an understatement. Followed his career far and wide. Have exchanged some texts and emails with him in recent months for different reasons. Always cordial and considerate. The consummate professional. Educators or administrators like him don’t come along often. Just good people. I think many would agree. Congrats again Coach!
I have known Woodrow all of my life. We were classmates and good friends. I am peacock proud of his accomplishments and his stellar career. He has made his family, his Escambia County High School, class of 1968, and the City of Atmore so happy for him.
I am working toward declaring a Woodrow McCovey Day in Atmore, Alabama. Parade and all! Congratulations Woodrow for your Camelia Award and the great company you have joined!
Woodrow and I were classmates and great friends. I am peacock proud of his accomplishments and awards. He has been steadfast and unmoveable in his career! I regret not seeing him in Montgomery on Christmas at the Camellia Bowl.
You have made your family, your classmates, and the City of Atmore so proud!
Awesome!
I knew his dad well and obviously he learned a lot from his father. Mr. McCorvey was a great man who helped a lot of people and was always proud of Woody. The fruit definitely didn’t fall far from the tree in this case, because the son has and still continues to help shape the lives of many young men.
Congratulations, Coach McCorvey!
Congratulations Coach McCorvey, a well deserved award! You along with Neal Summerford were my 9th grade coach in 74 at Tate. I really enjoyed playing for the both of you. Coach McCorvey congratulations on an outstanding career!
Woody is one of the finest men I know.
Congratulations to Coach McCorvey well deserved.Had privilege to play on one of his first teams as a freshman at Tate High. We went undefeated and city champs ,just beginning of great things to come.Not only a great football coach but an even greater human being. Great role model for all. God bless Woodrow McCorvey
I met Coach McCorvey at Tate High School. I helped Coach Adams some with the basketball team as a volunteer. I was finishing my degree at UWF at the time. Can’t remember if Coach Gandy was there then. Coach McCorvey was assistant basketball coach, coaching the JV and assisting with the varsity. He was as fine a person as I have ever met and a great coach. Coach Adams was high strung and Coach McCorvey was low key. I was mostly in the way. I last saw him after Tennessee won the Championship and he showed me his ring. He was with his father at the time. Ive kept up with his career. Congratulations Coach. Couldn’t help as often as I would have liked since I had classes during the week.
Coach McCorvey was a blessing to me as a teacher of playing football,he was abig part of Tate winning the only state championship in the history of the school, along with coach Adams,coach Taylor,and coachs Summerford,Gilmore,Wright ,Jackson,and the one that put all of this together coach MADISON,
If I’m not mistaken, Coach McCorvey was my 9th grade PE coach.
Back in the football powerhouse days when PE classes would rake the yard lines on the football field, or pull grass/weeds from the baseball diamond…
I remember you very well in 1972.
You were so young you looked like a student.
All the best Coach!
I coached with Woodrow at Tate for six years. We have remained friends over the years. This honor is well deserved. Congratulations, Woody!
Well deserved. A great man. Congratulations.
Congratulations Coach McCorvey. You Sir are a great example of what a Coach should be. You changed the game of football for the betterment of the team, the players and any/every one around you…much respect Coach to you.
Congratulations Coach McCorvey! You have always been one of my favorite Coaches for what you stand for!
A good guy, postsitive memories of Coach McCorvey.