Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant is a true legend at the University of Alabama.
In his 38 seasons as a head coach, Bryant had 37 winning seasons and participated in a total of 29 postseason bowl games, including 24 consecutively at Alabama. He won 15 bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls. Bryant still holds the records as the youngest college football head coach to win 300 games and compile 30 winning seasons. (Wiki)
He was best known as the head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships (the most in modern college football history) and thirteen conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for most wins as head coach in collegiate football history with 323 wins. (Wiki)
Coach Bryant made black/white hounds-tooth famous in Alabama. Anywhere you look at a Bama game, you will see this famous trademark. You can see it in my cape in the above picture.
Coach Bryant has many famous word of wisdom that he embarked on his team and the public in general.
One of my favorites is, "I have tried to teach them to show class, to have pride, and to display character. I think football, winning games, takes care of itself if you do that.” He was tough on his teams as evidenced by "The Junction Boys" at Texas A&M. So tough and legendary was this, it was made into a major motion picture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junction_Boys
Another of my favorite Coach Bryant quotes - "When you get into the end-zone, act like you've been there before." This piece of wisdom is something many American football players could use today. Scoring a touchdown should be common-place, you shouldn't dance all over the field, spike the ball and act like it is your first time there. Coach Bryant wanted his teams to act with class and humility. Act like being in the end-zone is just doing your job. Nothing more, nothing less. Business as usual.
Coach Bryant coached teams to 6 National (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979) Championships and 14 SEC (1950, 1961, 1964–1966, 1971–1975, 1977–1979, 1981) Championships.
Three times he won AFCA (American Football Coach's Association) Coach of the Year (1961, 1971, 1973)
Twelve times he was named SEC Coach of the Year (1950, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977–1979, 1981)
Coach Bryant died of a heart attack on January 26, 1983. It was only one month after coaching his final game, on January 26, 1983. The State of Alabama and most of the nation mourned the loss of this man. One of the greats. Coach, teacher, mentor, motivator...
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