Former Auburn University standout Jackie Burkett served as the guest speaker for Monday night’s Selma Quarterback Club meeting at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

Burkett played center and linebacker for the Tigers and was a member of the 1957 national championship team, which was honored at Jordan Hare Stadium Saturday before the Tigers’ game against Mississippi State.

“We went two years there without losing a ball game, ’57 and ’58,” Burkett said. “In 57’, we gave up three defensive touchdowns all year. I think that’s still a record.”

He played high school football in Fort Walton, Florida and was moved to quarterback due to his athleticism. Burkett said quarterback was never a good fit for him.

“I played quarterback about how Charles Barkley plays golf,” he said with a laugh.

Both Alabama and Auburn recruited him, Burkett said. He said Alabama wanted him to play quarterback but Auburn head coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan wanted to move him to linebacker and center.

After nearly signing with Alabama, Burkett decided to take a trip to Auburn and came away impressed enough that he decided to join the Tigers.

Looking back, he said that was probably the best move.

Alabama was struggling under coach Jennings B. Whitworth at the time. Legendary head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant took over in 1958, which would’ve been Burkett’s junior season.

“Bear came in and ran off about half the team,” Burkett said. “He probably would’ve run me off because as I understood it he ran guys until their tongues come out. He tried to find out who was the toughest and who was able to stay around.”

At Auburn, Burkett played basketball, baseball and track, but football is where he left his mark. During his senior season, he was named team captain.

After graduating from Auburn, Burkett was drafted in the first round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.

He played with the Colts until 1966 when he joined the nearly formed New Orleans Saints, an expansion team playing their first season in the league.

In 1968, Burkett was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, where he participated in several playoff games before returning to New Orleans to finish his career. He retired in 1970 after primarily serving as a center during his final year.

He said the Saints struggled with long snapping during 1971 and asked him to come back but he declined.

“Back in those days they didn’t have the same rules they have now,” Burkett said.

“Now you can’t hit the center on a field goal or a punt. You can’t hit the center until he comes out of his stance. If they had that rule back when I played, I’d still be playing.”

Burkett snapped the ball for one of the most historic plays in NFL history — Tom Dempsey’s record breaking 63-yard field goal in 1970. Dempsey’s record was tied many times over the years, but was not broken until 2013.

“I’ve told Tom every time I saw him ‘Tom, if I hadn’t made that perfect snap for you, nobody would know what your name was,” Burkett said with a grin.

Burkett owned a restaurant in New Orleans for years and owns an engineering degree from Auburn.

The Selma Quarterback Club’s next meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 8 when Leigh Ann Tuohy speaks.

Tuohy is the legal guardian of Michael Oher, whose story inspired the movie the “The Blindside.”