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Paul ‘bear’ Bryant was a football coach
Sport(s) Football
Biographical
details
Born September 11, 1913
Fordyce,
Arkansas
Died January 26, 1983 (aged 69)
Tuscaloosa,
Alabama
Paul
William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and
coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama
football team. Bryant's record in 38 years at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M
and Alabama was 323-85-17 (.780). He took 29 teams to bowl games and led 15 to
conference championships. In the 1960s and 1970s, no school won more games than
Alabama (193-32-5). Bryant's football career began as an eighth-grader playing for
Fordyce High School. He had never seen a game when he played in his first, as
an offensive end and defensive lineman. Considered a fierce hitter, Bryant
earned All-State honors as a senior and led Fordyce to a state championship.
Despite failing
to graduate with his class, Bryant accepted an athletic scholarship to Alabama.
Upon arriving in Tuscaloosa in 1931, he enrolled in high school for the fall
semester to earn his degree while practicing with the Crimson Tide.
Considered
the other end to future Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson, Bryant helped Alabama
go 23-3-2 from 1933 to 1935. He was a second-team All-SEC selection in 1934 and
a third-team pick in 1935.
In
June 1935, Bryant secretly married Mary Harmon. Their first of two children,
Mae Martin, was born nine months later. Paul Jr. was born in 1944.After
graduating in 1936; Bryant was an assistant coach with Alabama for four years
and Vanderbilt for two. Just when it appeared as if he might become Arkansas'
head coach, the U.S. entered World War II. Bryant served in the Navy, on the
U.S.S. Uruguay, before becoming the head coach of a preflight training school football
team in North Carolina. When the war ended, Bryant was named head coach at Maryland.
The Terrapins went 6-2-1 in 1945, but Bryant resigned after the season because
he deemed the school's president as meddlesome. Hired by Kentucky, Bryant
immediately revived a dormant program, leading the Wildcats to a 7-3 mark in
1946.In eight seasons; Bryant's Wildcats went 60-23-5 and earned four bowl
berths. The highlight was an SEC championship in 1950 and a 13-7 upset of No. 1
Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. After the 1953 season, Bryant signed a 12-year
contract extension at Kentucky, with hopes of making football the school's
primary sport. Within weeks, however, he realized popular basketball coach
Adolph Rupp was also ready to receive an extension. Bryant had earlier been
told by the school's president thatRupp would be fired for rules violations.
Feeling as if he had been duped, Bryant quit.
Bear
Bryant
Bryant
took Alabama to bowl games in his final 24 seasons.
That
led him to Texas A&M, where he was given the job of athletic director as
well as coach. Bryant's six-year contract was for $25,000 per season plus it
called for him to receive an unprecedented one percent of the gate.
Bryant
wasted no time trying to reshape the Aggies. His first preseason camp (many
referred to it as boot camp) was held in Junction, Tex., in the 100-degree
heat. Bryant started camp with 111 players, but all except 35 quit within 10
days. Among Bryant's tests of toughness was banning water breaks for his
players.
The
Aggies went 1-9 in 1954, the only losing season of Bryant's career. Two years
later, though, they went 9-0-1 and won the Southwest Conference championship.
However, Texas A&M didn't get invited to the Cotton Bowl because of a
two-year bowl ban imposed by the NCAA the previous year for widespread rules
violations, including players receiving money.
After
leading the Aggies to an 8-3 record in 1957, Bryant was asked to return to his
alma mater. Bryant said it was if he had "heard mama calling" and
signed a 10-year contract to become Alabama's head coach and athletic director.
Bryant
revived a floundering program, leading the Crimson Tide to a 5-4-1 record his
first season, one more victory than the school had in the three previous years
combined. Alabama went 7-2-2 and a No. 10 ranking in 1959, starting a string of
24 straight postseason appearances under Bryant.
In
the 1960s, Alabama ruled college football, winning national championships in
1961, 1964 and 1965. But even Bryant's top players weren't exempt from the
coach's wrath. Joe Namath was suspended for the final two games of the 1963
season for violating Bryant's no-alcohol policy and Ken Stabler was booted from
the team in 1967 for cutting class and partying. Both eventually got second
chances.
After
the 1969 season, Bryant mulled a $1.7-million offer for five seasons to coach
the Miami Dolphins. The money tempted Bryant, but he remained, saying he was
secure financially and would never leave Alabama just for financial reasons.
For years, Bryant defended charges of racism by saying the social climate
didn't allow him to go after black players. In 1970, Bryant recruited Wilbur
Jackson asAlabama's first African-American scholarship player. The following
season, junioRupp would be fired for rules violations. Feeling as if he had
been duped, Bryant quit.
Bear
Bryant
Bryant
took Alabama to bowl games in his final 24 seasons.
That
led him to Texas A&M, where he was given the job of athletic director as
well as coach. Bryant's six-year contract was for $25,000 per season plus it
called for him to receive an unprecedented one percent of the gate.
Bryant
wasted no time trying to reshape the Aggies. His first preseason camp (many
referred to it as boot camp) was held in Junction, Tex., in the 100-degree heat.
Bryant started camp with 111 players, but all except 35 quit within 10 days.
Among Bryant's tests of toughness was banning water breaks for his players.
The
Aggies went 1-9 in 1954, the only losing season of Bryant's career. Two years
later, though, they went 9-0-1 and won the Southwest Conference championship.
However, Texas A&M didn't get invited to the Cotton Bowl because of a
two-year bowl ban imposed by the NCAA the previous year for widespread rules
violations, including players receiving money.
After
leading the Aggies to an 8-3 record in 1957, Bryant was asked to return to his
alma mater. Bryant said it was if he had "heard mama calling" and
signed a 10-year contract to become Alabama's head coach and athletic director.
Bryant
revived a floundering program, leading the Crimson Tide to a 5-4-1 record his
first season, one more victory than the school had in the three previous years
combined. Alabama went 7-2-2 and a No. 10 ranking in 1959, starting a string of
24 straight postseason appearances under Bryant.
In
the 1960s, Alabama ruled college football, winning national championships in
1961, 1964 and 1965. But even Bryant's top players weren't exempt from the
coach's wrath. Joe Namath was suspended for the final two games of the 1963
season for violating Bryant's no-alcohol policy and Ken Stabler was booted from
the team in 1967 for cutting class and partying. Both eventually got second
chances.
After
the 1969 season, Bryant mulled a $1.7-million offer for five seasons to coach
the Miami Dolphins. The money tempted Bryant, but he remained, saying he was
secure financially and would never leave Alabama just for financial reasons.
For
years, Bryant defended charges of racism by saying the social climate didn't
allow him to go after black players. In 1970, Bryant recruited Wilbur Jackson
as Alabama's first African-American scholarship player. The following season,
junior-college transfer John Mitchell became the first black to play for
Alabama. By 1973, one-third of the team's starters were African-American. The
Crimson Tide were 11-0 and ranked No. 1 in 1973 before losing 24-23 to Notre
Dame in the Sugar Bowl. A heavy drinker, Bryant secretly checked himself into
alcohol rehab in the spring of 1978. He stayed a month and later resumed
drinking.
Alabama's
final national championships under Bryant came in the 1978 and 1979 seasons
when it went 23-1.
In
November 1981, a 28-17 win over Auburn was Bryant's 315th career victory,
enabling him to pass Amos Alonzo Stagg's all-time record. (Later, Pop Warner
was recognized with 319 victories.) Following an 8-4 season in 1982, Bryant
retired. On Jan. 26, 1983, he died from heart failure. Bear Bryant was 69. "He
wasn't just a coach," former USC coach John McKay said. "He was the
coach."
r-college
transfer John Mitchell became the first black to play for Alabama. By 1973,
one-third of the team's starters were African-American.
The
Crimson Tide was 11-0 and ranked No. 1 in 1973 before losing 24-23 to Notre
Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
A
heavy drinker, Bryant secretly checked himself into alcohol rehab in the spring
of 1978. He stayed a month and later resumed drinking.
Alabama's
final national championships under Bryant came in the 1978 and 1979 seasons
when it went 23-1.
enabling
him to pass Amos Alonzo Stagg's all-time record. (Later, Pop Warner was recognized
with 319 victories.) Following an 8-4 season in 1982, Bryant retired. On Jan.
26, 1983, he died from heart failure. Bear Bryant was 69.
"He
wasn't just a coach," former USC coach John McKay said. "He was the
coach."
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