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9 unusual facts about Bear Bryant


Alabama Crimson Tide football, 1950–59

However, the decade ended with the hiring of Paul "Bear" Bryant, who would rebuild Alabama football and guide it to its greatest successes.

C. M. Newton

In 1968 legendary football coach and athletic director Paul "Bear" Bryant, who had been the coach for the University of Kentucky's football team during Newton's playing days, called Rupp looking for someone to turn around the University of Alabama's basketball program.

Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts

The lawsuit arose from an article in the magazine alleging that Butts and Alabama head coach Bear Bryant had conspired to fix games.

Fedora

American college football coach Bear Bryant could be seen on national television wearing his trademark plaid and hounds-tooth fedoras.

Gay Brewer

Head coach Bear Bryant used him in practice as a holder for the kicker on field goals and extra points.

Marvin Hayes

In 1958 he was recruited by legendary coach Bear Bryant and received a football scholarship to Texas A&M University.

Needtobreathe

Named after the University of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant, brothers Bear and Nathaniel Bryant "Bo" Rinehart were born and raised in rural Possum Kingdom, South Carolina, where their father, a pastor, ran a church camp.

Paul Bryant Bridge

In January 2003, then Governor Don Siegleman ordered state transportation director Paul Bowlin to name the bridge in honor of long-time University of Alabama head football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Richard Gilliam

Gilliam began as a sportswriter and worked as a publicist to Coach Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama.


Bluegrass Bowl

The bowl organizers' first choices for the game were the University of Kentucky and the University of Alabama, which went 5-4-1 in its first season under Bear Bryant, who previously coached at UK for eight seasons.

Wallace Wade

In 2006, a bronze statue of Wade was erected outside of the University of Alabama's Bryant–Denny Stadium alongside the statues of Frank Thomas, Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings and now Nick Saban, the other head coaches who led Alabama to national championships.


see also

Edd Hargett

He directed the Aggies to the Southwest Conference championships in 1967 and a win in the Cotton Bowl over Alabama and former Texas A&M coach Bear Bryant.

Jimmy Sharpe

Sharpe, an 11-year veteran of Bear Bryant's Alabama coaching staff, was hired by the Hokies in 1974 to replace Charlie Coffey, who had been let go following a lackluster performance.

Kentucky–Louisville rivalry

It is named for Howard Schnellenberger, who played under Bear Bryant for Kentucky and coached at Louisville.

Mike DuBose

DuBose wanted to reject the job offer in hopes of working for Bear Bryant at Alabama, but Bryant told DuBose to go for one year and he'd get a call for a new job the following year (see Ivan Maisel, War In Dixie).

Pat Trammell

His eventual influence and impact would only be later acknowledged in history books, with illustrations in many non-fiction books, documentaries, news articles and movies (one being The Bear (1984), starring Gary Busey as Bear Bryant and Jon-Erik Hexum playing Trammell).