Bear Bryant’s Legacy in Alabama
Posted on October 28, 2009
Alabama media and fans talk about the legacy of former football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant as the Crimson Tide prepare to take on the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Delbert Reed, Tuscaloosa Sportswriter:
- People became his followers, it was like a cult thing. Everybody in the state watched Coach Bryant on TV and what he said do, they did.
Alabama fan:
- He reminds everybody of their granddaddy. Love him and miss him.
Reed:
- George Blanda once said, "He's what I think God looks like."
- He contributed so much to this program and to uplifting the state in a difficult time. He gave us something to hang onto that we're better than anybody in this.
Bear Bryant (old TV clip):
- According to this beautiful plaque I'm holding here, the Alabama football team was national champ in 1961. With my limited vocabulary there's no way that I can adequately say how very proud that I am of the football team.
Alabama fan:
- If you grew up in Alabama and you got to see him and when we hear him talk, it's amazing. He was truly an amazing person.
Reed:
- He knew how to, I won't say manipulate people but, he knew how to charm people and get them to kind of go along with what he wanted.
Clem Gryska:
- He never would fuss at you. He'd always say something like, "Do you really think that's a good way to do it?" "Ah, you didn't really mean that, did you?" "No, you wouldn't have done that, would you?"
- In other words, you knew that you had not succeeded in making him happy, but you sure did the next time.
Capt. Mike, Tennessee fan:
- How many people have you seen with the little hats on today? I mean, the man will have been dead 27 years in January and they won't let him die.
Reed:
- Well, he's our symbol of a championship. We haven't had many since he left and that's one thing.
Chase Goodbread, Tuscaloosa News sports reporter:
- It's all about the hardware around here. Last year the team went 12-0. Fantastic record in the regular season. They didn't bring home any hardware. No SEC title. No national title and so I think for a lot of fans around here it's a little hollow.
Reed:
- You don't bury that one until you get another one and I think if we can win a couple of championships under Nick Saban, they'll start wearing the Saban hats. And that will happen. It always happens. It's a part of history.
Alabama won 6 national titles in 25 years under Paul "Bear" Bryant. The Crimson Tide have won 1 national title since his death in 1983.
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