Scott Stallings and Gene Stallings are two American sports personalities who have achieved success in their respective fields. Scott Stallings is a professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour, while Gene Stallings is a former football player and coach who led the University of Alabama to a national championship in 1992. But are they related by blood or just by name? This article will explore the backgrounds and careers of both men and reveal the truth behind their last name.
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Who is Scott Stallings?
Scott Robert Stallings was born on March 25, 1985, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he was an all-state golfer and a four-year member of the Dean’s List. He then went to Tennessee Tech, where he was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, winning seven tournaments and being named an All-American in 2006.
Stallings turned professional in 2007 and played on the Tarheel Tour and the NGA Hooters Tour. In 2009, he narrowly missed earning his PGA Tour card by one stroke at the Qualifying School. He settled for a Nationwide Tour card instead and finished 53rd on the money list in 2010. He returned to Q School that year and secured his PGA Tour card for 2011.
Stallings struggled at the beginning of his rookie season, missing his first five cuts. However, he bounced back with a third-place finish at the Transitions Championship, thanks to a sponsor exemption from his practice partner Kenny Perry. He then won his first PGA Tour title at the Greenbrier Classic in July 2011, beating Bob Estes and Bill Haas in a playoff. The win moved him from 88th to 26th in the FedEx Cup standings and from 224th to 119th in the world rankings. It also qualified him for several prestigious events, such as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the PGA Championship, the Masters Tournament, and the Players Championship.
Stallings won his second PGA Tour title at the True South Classic in 2012. He could not defend his title in 2013 because he earned a spot in the Open Championship after Phil Mickelson won the Scottish Open. He won his third PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2014, edging out five players by one stroke. He has not won since then, but he has recorded several top-10 finishes, including a tie for fourth at the Players Championship in 2018.
Stallings is married to Jennifer White and has two children, Finn and Millie. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is known for his fitness regimen and his charitable work. He founded the Scott Stallings Kids Play Free program, which provides free golf access to children under 18 at several courses in Tennessee. He also supports various causes related to Down syndrome awareness, as his son Finn has Down syndrome.
Who is Gene Stallings?
Eugene Clifton Stallings Jr. was born on March 2, 1935, in Paris, Texas. He attended Paris High School, where he played end alongside future NFL star Raymond Berry. He was also the captain of the basketball and golf teams. He was recruited to Texas A&M University by head coach Raymond George.
At Texas A&M, Stallings was a member of the famed Junction Boys under head coach Bear Bryant. In 1956, he helped the team finish 9-0-1 and win its first Southwest Conference championship since 1939. He graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in physical education in 1957.
Stallings joined Bryant’s staff at Alabama as a defensive assistant in 1958. He was part of two national championship teams in 1961 and 1964. In 1965, he became the head coach of his alma mater, Texas A&M, at the age of 29. He coached there for seven seasons, compiling a record of 27-45-1. His best season was in 1967, when he led the Aggies to a 7-4 record and a victory over Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.
Stallings left Texas A&M in 1972 to join Tom Landry’s staff with the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive backs coach. He spent 14 seasons with the Cowboys, winning Super Bowl XII in 1978 and coaching several Pro Bowl players, such as Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Everson Walls, and Michael Downs.
In 1986, Stallings became the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals (later Phoenix Cardinals) of the NFL. He coached there for four seasons, posting a record of 23-34-1. His best season was in 1988, when he led the Cardinals to a 7-9 record and their first non-losing season since 1984.
Stallings returned to college football in 1990, when he was hired as the head coach of Alabama. He coached there for seven seasons, leading the Crimson Tide to a 70-16-1 record, four SEC titles, and one national championship. His 1992 team went 13-0 and defeated Miami in the Sugar Bowl to claim the consensus national title. He won several coach of the year awards that season, including the AFCA, Eddie Robinson, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Walter Camp, and George Munger awards. He also won the SEC Coach of the Year award twice, in 1992 and 1994.
Stallings retired from coaching after the 1996 season, citing health reasons. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2011. He was also a member of the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System from 1995 to 2007.
Stallings is married to Ruth Ann Stallings and has five children, John Mark, Steve, Jackie, Laurie, and Johnny. He lives in Paris, Texas. He is an advocate for people with special needs, as his son Johnny had Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect. He founded the Rise School of Tuscaloosa, which provides early childhood education for children with and without disabilities. He also supports various organizations related to Down syndrome research and awareness.
Are Scott Stallings and Gene Stallings Related?
Despite sharing the same last name and being involved in sports, Scott Stallings and Gene Stallings are not related in any way. They have different origins, backgrounds, and careers. They also have no known family ties or connections.
According to Ancestry.com, the name Stallings is of English origin and means “dweller at or near a cattle shed”. It is a common surname in the United States, especially in the South. There are over 35,000 people with the name Stallings in the US, making it unlikely that Scott Stallings and Gene Stallings are related by blood or by name.
Therefore, the answer to the question “is Scott Stallings related to Gene Stallings?” is no. They are two distinct individuals who happen to have the same surname but have nothing else in common.
