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Former Auburn University Athletic Director David Housel was the guest speaker at the Selma Quarterback Club on Tuesday night at YNot in Valley Grande.

Housel, who served as Auburn’s athletic director from 1991 to 2005, spoke on a variety of topics involving the Tigers.

Housel gave a mixed review of first-year Auburn head football coach Brian Harsin.

“I thought Coach Harsin missed a leadership to speak about COVID during the summer,” Housel said. “I like the way he coaches. He’s very comfortable. But for Harsin to be successful at Auburn, he must recruit at the highest level.”

Housel, who’s recovering from a stroke, said he wants the Tigers returning to national prominence.

“Auburn’s a competitive team that could end up being good,” Housel said. “But can they be great right now? No.”

Housel, 75, gives the Tigers a chance against second-ranked Georgia on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“It’s improbable, but not impossible for Auburn to beat Georgia,” Housel said. “They’ve got a tough road ahead. Auburn has a chance to beat the teams on the rest of their schedule, except Georgia and Alabama. They’ll overpower them.”

Housel also discussed his seventh book “From the Backbooth at Chappy’s: Stories of the South: Football, Politics, Religion, and More.”

Housel signed copies of his book on Tuesday night.

“You’re not supposed to talk about football, religion and politics, but I believe you can,” Housel said.

Housel also discussed former Auburn football coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan, a Selma native. Jordan was Auburn head coach from 1951 to 1975, winning a national title in 1957.

“:Shug Jordan always loved being from Selma, Queen of the Black Belt,” Housel said.

The Gordo native graduated from Auburn University in 1969. After spending two years working in the ticket office, taught journalism classes.  He was the athletic department’s sports information director from 1981-94. He returned to the athletic department, rising to assistant athletic director in 1985. He became athletic director in 1994 and retired a decade later.

“I’ll always follow Auburn,,” Housel said.

Former Alabama football player Wesley Britt will be the speaker on October 18 at the YNot.