Mark Gottfried

@BamaHistory @KevinScarbinsky @AlabamaMBB Painful reminder!!

Thirty-nine years later it remains one of the most painful NCAA Tournament losses for Generation X @AlabamaMBB fans. On March 19, 1987, a dream season for the Crimson Tide came crashing down as Providence stunned No. 2-seeded Alabama, 103-82, in the Sweet Sixteen. For those who lived through it, the disappointment of that night in Louisville still cuts deep, a reminder of how close Alabama came to something even greater. With veteran leadership from Terry Coner, Jim Farmer and Mark Gottfried, combined with the elite talent of Derrick McKey and the physical presence of Michael Ansley, Alabama swept the SEC regular-season and tournament championships and entered March Madness at 26-4 with championship expectations. The Tide handled business early, defeating North Carolina A&T before dominating New Orleans, coached by former Alabama assistant Benny Dees, to reach a third consecutive Sweet Sixteen. Everything appeared aligned for the Crimson Tide to break through to perhaps the program’s first Final Four appearance. But Providence had other plans. Coached by Rick Pitino and led by guards Billy Donovan and Delray Brooks, the Friars caught fire at the perfect moment. Utilizing the new three-point line, Providence buried 14 shots from deep—five each from Donovan and Brooks—and turned the game into a barrage Alabama couldn’t withstand. Alabama trailed just 49-41 at halftime, but the second half slipped away as the Friars’ hot shooting never cooled. Donovan finished with 26 points and Brooks added 23. Farmer led the Tide with 24, while Ansley and Gottfried each scored 14, Coner had 12 and McKey added 11, but it wasn’t enough to stop the surge. Providence rode the momentum to the Final Four, but for Alabama fans, the legacy of that night is something different—a painful reminder of a March run cut too short and the beginning of a lifelong dislike of any Pitino-coached team.

Memories

@Mark_Gottfried let’s go. It’s GID TIME. Todays podcast guest is Tom Crean!

@JayBilas Love this take

My reaction to James Nnaji enrolling at Baylor and making his collegiate debut:

@TimBrando @AlabamaFTBL @SEC @CFBPlayoff @NDFootball @CanesFootball Tim… you have lost sight of the main things. Concentrate on body of work. Not 1 game. Strength of Schedule, quality wins… cmon Tim. I might need to come down and whoop you on the golf course like old times!

@AlabamaFTBL got crushed. Anyone else perform that way in an @SEC Championship and there’s no way they get in the @CFBPlayoff but the PPP (Pure Playoff Privilege)is with the Tide. Saban might as well still be the Head Coach. @NDFootball & @CanesFootball should each get in, only 1 will and it’s corrupt that is the reality!

Young men: In a world where “alpha” influencers like Andrew Tate peddle masculinity—misogyny, scams, and charges of rape & trafficking (he’s called his webcam biz a “total scam”)—it’s no wonder boys are lost. But that’s not real manhood. It’s immaturity disguised as strength. A real man bridges the “identity gap” after the game (sports or life). He masters mindset: growth over ego, self-awareness to own his flaws, emotional intelligence to build real relationships, not dominate them. As “After the Game” says: “Self-care is a gift you’re giving yourself, not a punishment.” And “You always have a choice in what you do.” Stats? 97% of athletes face identity loss, leading to distress—but athletic CEOs? 17% longer tenure, 15% higher ROI. True alphas lead with integrity, discipline, and compassion. Ditch the con artists. Become a leader who thrives. Grab the book & level up. 💪📖 @Cobratate @markgottfried23 @mcuban #RealMan #Masculinity #AfterTheGame #AndrewTate #AthleteToEntrepreneur

@Racerinsider Go dodgers!

💪💪💪💪

@Mark_Gottfried Testing

@Mark_Gottfried GID!!

@Mark_Gottfried Get it Done

@Mark_Gottfried Test

@TheTimStephens @CoachAK13 A completely different model today than it was 3-5 years ago

1/ 🧵 UAB basketball’s roster is down to one. No, that's not a #WinasOne hashtag. One scholarship player remains. Let’s talk about it… and why it'll be ok with @CoachAK13 👇#marchmadness #TransferPortal #Recruiting

On this date 21 years ago, @AlabamaMBB stunned the nation when the Crimson Tide rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half to upset No. 1-seeded Stanford, 70-67, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle on March 20, 2004. Kennedy Winston scored 21 points for the No. 8-seeded Crimson Tide, which made 10 of 14 free throws in the final minutes to secure the victory in the West Regional. Led by Pac-10 Player of the Year Josh Childress, the Cardinal entered the game with an impressive 30-1 record and with 7:40 remaining in the second half had built a comfortable 53-40 lead, before Alabama mounted its incredible comeback with a 16-0 run. Earnest Shelton helped spark the Crimson Tide rally and finished with 14 points, while Chuck Davis and @AntoinePettway each had 12 points. Childress scored 12 points for the top-seeded team in the Phoenix (West) Region but fouled out with 3:18 left and watched the final minutes in dismay from the end of the Stanford bench. “They weren’t overrated. We were underrated,” read a sign in the Alabama locker room. The shocking victory earned a “Sports Illustrated” cover the following week and propelled the Crimson Tide, coached by @markgottfried23, to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1991.

Every generation of @AlabamaMBB fans has that “one” NCAA Tournament loss that resonates forever in their memories, causing nothing but heartache and endless “what ifs.” For Baby Boomers the 1976 loss to Indiana, for Millennials the 2021 overtime loss to UCLA and for Generation X when Providence upset No. 2-seeded Alabama, 103-82, in the NCAA Tournament 38 years ago on March 19, 1987. After three previous trips to the Sweet Sixteen (1982, 1985, 1986) under @wimpsanderson1, the 1986-87 Crimson Tide had the earmarks of a Final Four team. Armed with veteran leadership from seniors Terry Coner, Jim Farmer and Mark Gottfried combined with the talent of Derrick McKey and the physical presence of Michael Ansley, Alabama swept the SEC regular-season and tournament championships and rolled into the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Southeast Region with a 26-4 record. Alabama handled North Carolina A&T 88-71 in the opening round before pummeling New Orleans, coached by former Alabama assistant Benny Dees, 101-76 to earn another trip to the Sweet Sixteen. However, lurking in anonymity, No. 6-seed Providence escaped its second-round game with a 90-87 overtime victory against 13th-seeded Austin Peay. Coached by Rick Pitino and led by guards Billy Donovan and Delray Brooks, the Friars rallied from a 10-point deficit to force overtime. Utilizing the recently-introduced three-point shot, the Friars made 14 three-pointers (Donovan and Brooks each made five) in the Sweet Sixteen and shot their way past Alabama and later into the Final Four. Donovan scored 26 points, while Brooks followed with 23. Farmer led Alabama with 24 points, while Ansley and Gottfried each had 14. Coner added 12 points and McKey chipped in 11.

#MarchMadness is here—the greatest show on earth! This time of year is unmatched in excitement as college basketball takes center stage, capturing the imagination of fans across the country. Having been part of 19 #NCAA tournaments as both a player and a coach, I know firsthand the anticipation that fills every team. The questions are always the same: Where will we be seeded? What destination will we be assigned? Can we advance to the next round? I’ve been fortunate to experience the thrill of winning a national championship at #UCLA, leading #Alabama to an Elite Eight, and making multiple #Sweet16 runs. Each tournament was a journey filled with unforgettable moments, and I’m grateful for every one of them. To the teams making the field—best of luck! This is what you’ve worked for, and I can’t wait to watch the madness unfold. Let the games begin! Who do you have winning the national championship? Any upsets? I’d love to hear! #MarchMadness #CollegeBasketball #GetItDone #NCAA #NCAATournament

On this date 19 years ago, @AlabamaMBB experienced a unique NCAA Tournament first-round game in San Diego that included evacuating the arena due to a bomb concern and then Jean Felix dropping eight three-point bombs for the Crimson Tide in its 90-85 victory over Marquette. Before the San Diego Sports Arena opened to fans, a routine security sweep uncovered a suspicious package on a concession stand cart in the upper concourse about two hours before tip-off. Security cleared the facility of workers and media along with instructing fans waiting outside to leave. Both teams remained at their hotels as a bomb-detecting robot swept the facility and waited for the all-clear status that pushed the original tip-off back almost 1.5 hours. “We were minutes away from boarding the bus, so (Director of Basketball Operations) Darron Boatright rallied the managers to tell all the players and travel party about the delay,” recalled Becky Hopf, the sports information contact for men’s basketball at the time. “The pep band and cheerleaders were also at our hotel. “It's foggy now, but we may have even boarded the bus twice, both times walking through a path while the pep band played because we'd been given a green light that the arena had been searched and was deemed secure, but then were told to wait a little longer. We'd been glued to our hotel room televisions to see what was going on.” Good for Alabama that the bomb-detecting robots had already left before Felix started dropping his bombs on Marquette. In an unexpected offensive outburst, Felix made five three-pointers in the first 12.5 minutes and finished with eight and a career-high 31 points. Even with the three-point heroics from Felix, the Crimson Tide needed late free throws from Ronald Steele and Brandon Hollinger to keep the Golden Eagles at bay.

Just wrapped up an incredible conversation with #TobyBailey on The Coach Mark Gottfried Show! Toby arrived at #UCLA in 1994 as one of the nation’s top recruits and was a game-changer in our 1995 National Championship run. His impact on that team—and in life—has been remarkable. In this episode, we dive into his journey to UCLA, the championship experience, and the core values his parents instilled in him. From his days at #LoyolaHS in Los Angeles to becoming a leader on and off the court, Toby’s story is one of resilience, character, and drive. This is a must-watch! Were you there for the 1995 National Championship? Do you remember how spectacular Toby was on the biggest stage of his career? Drop your thoughts below! #Basketball #Leadership #UCLA #Coaching #Success

There’s no shortcut to success.  No hack. No magic formula.  Just relentless effort, day in and day out. Excuses? They’re everywhere.  • Afraid? Lean in. • Tired? Keep going. • No time? Make time. • Bored? Fight through it. • Unmotivated? Do it anyway. • Overwhelmed? Take one step. • Doubtful? Prove yourself wrong. Success belongs to the finishers. The ones who show up, do the work, and refuse to quit when it gets hard.  It’s about discipline, sacrifice, and being brutally honest with yourself. So, here’s your gut-check moment: → Did you push yourself to be better? → Did you actually give your best today? → Or did you just talk about what you were gonna do? The answer to that question?  That’s what will define your future.

With over 30 years of experience coaching college basketball at the highest level, I’ve gained invaluable lessons that I’m passionate about sharing. Every time I speak, my goal is to inspire and challenge individuals and organizations to dig deeper, embrace the Get It Done (GID) mentality, and fuel their journey with grit, integrity, and unwavering desire. I’ve lived both the highs and the lows, learning from every experience, and I bring those hard-earned insights to the stage. I thrive on sharing stories that ignite action, wake up potential, and drive success—no matter your age or stage in life. If you’re interested in booking me as a speaker, visit coachmarkgotfried.com.

Exactly 100 years ago today, legendary @AlabamaMBB coach Hank Crisp led the Crimson Tide to its first program victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, 24-15, with a score more suited to the gridiron than the hardwood on Feb. 5, 1925, in Tuscaloosa. Crisp became the first of only three Alabama head coaches to beat Kentucky in their first attempt. The nine-point victory was also only the second meeting between the schools. Two years earlier, Kentucky won the inaugural game, 45-35, in Lexington. The only other Alabama coaches that beat the Wildcats in their first attempt were Paul Burnam and Mark Gottfried. Filling in for Crisp during World War II, Burnam coached just one season (1942-43) and on Jan 30, 1943, he led Alabama to a 41-32 victory over Kentucky in Tuscaloosa. During his three-year playing career for the Crimson Tide, @markgottfried23 had a 2-6 record against Kentucky, but when he returned as the head coach in the 1998-99 season he led his alma mater to a stunning 62-58 victory over the No. 5-ranked Wildcats in Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 6, 1999.