Pickwick Belle to Offer New Football-Themed Cruise

The Pickwick Belle is offering a football-themed cruise on Thursday, September 26, 2013, featuring former football player and coach Curley Hallman. Departing from Ingalls Harbor, the authentic 90-foot paddle wheel riverboat will take passengers down the Tennessee River on a two-hour tour where football fans will be treated to dinner and entertained with stories from a former SEC coach.  

Following a dinner of barbeque ribs, potato salad, baked beans, Mexican cornbread and banana pudding, guest speaker Curley Hallman will share the excitement of his coaching career including coaching with legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Hallman played defensive back for the Texas A&M Aggies under head coach Gene Stallings where in 1967 the team garnered a Southwest Conference Championship and a Cotton Bowl Classic win against the University of Alabama, intercepting two passes by Alabama quarterback, Ken Stabler, in that game. He coached four seasons under Coach Bear Bryant where he worked with the defensive backs, running backs and quarterbacks. He served as the defensive coordinator, defensive secondary coach and linebacker coach at Clemson University under head coach Danny Ford, and from 1982 to 1987, he served as defensive secondary coach under Jackie Sherrill at Texas A&M where he helped establish and coordinate the famous “12^th Man” kickoff coverage team. In 1987, he became the head coach at Southern Miss where he coached future Pro Football Hall of Famer, Brett Farve.

While at Southern Miss, Hallman was named the Metro Conference Coach of the Year, the Mississippi Sports Writers Football Coach of the year, the IBA Coach of the Year and the Kodak Regional Coach of the Year. In 1991, he left Southern Miss to become head coach at LSU where he served for four seasons. As a coach and a player, he has participated in 13 bowl games and has won 8 conference championship games and two National Championship games – one while coaching under Coach Bryant at the University of Alabama in 1973 and the other while coaching at Clemson University in 1981.

Passenger boarding begins at 6 p.m. with cruise time set for 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Cost is $49.99 + tax and gratuity per person and reservations may be secured with a debit or credit card by calling 877.936.2355. Cash bar will be available. Passengers are encouraged to wear their favorite team colors.   

For more information on the riverboat and a complete list of cruises offered, visit www.PickwickBelle.com or call 877.936.2355.