I wouldn't say he was far ahead of his time, but he knew the state of Alabama fairly well. In '59, his second season at Bama, he accepted an invitation to play an integrated Penn State team in the Liberty Bowl; he received correspondence from a group of citizens protesting this and urging him not to play in the bowl (he ignored it). A former president of the school (Frank Rose) said in '63 Bryant came to him, expressing his opinion that the university should move forward with integration as soon as possible; he talked with state leaders, legislators, and prominent alumni 'bout it.

When Bear recruited Condredge Holloway, Bear told him they wanted him at Bama but not at QB. Holloway said Bryant told him that Alabama wasn't ready for a black QB yet...Holloway said he appreciated the honesty but wanted to play QB so he went to Tennessee...

Bear was no saint, but he had a pulse on the times and the people of Alabama...Sylvester Croom, a former player who knew Bryant well, commented that he didn't think Bear could've recruited black players any earlier than he did and that he did it at the right time...

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Posted by CapstoneGrad06

Little Rock

Member since Nov 2008

72183 posts

Posted on 9/15/16 at 5:28 pm to TheDude321

quote:
That was the only time in the SEC's history that one team dominated the conference--otherwise, the SEC has been amazingly equal.

Are you sure about that?

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Posted by Lige

Member since Nov 2015

1420 posts

Posted on 9/15/16 at 5:36 pm to Feral

Integration was well overdue. I do believe some credit should be given to The Bear because of his standing. If people "just wanted to win games" it may take away from the movement. But at least there was change finally.

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Posted by CrimsonCrusade