A Bear arrived on campus to coach the Alabama Crimson Tide 100 years ago

No. Not Bear Bryant.

Wallace Wade was his name.



Behind his back, the players would call him "Bear" but they would never say it to his face out of fear.

Wade was a 30-year-old assistant coach at Vanderbilt when President Denny plucked him out of Nashville and placed him in Tuscaloosa. The man lived and breathed football, the only other hobby he indulged in being golf. From 1923-1930, Wallace Wade would accrue a 61-13-3 record. This included four Southern Conference titles and three national titles. Unfortunately he and Denny cultivated a turbulent relationship during his tenure at Alabama which eventually made Wade call it quits and leave the Capstone for Duke. As a parting gift, however, Wade recommended to Denny that his successor be a young backfield coach then working at Georgia named Frank Thomas.

And thus it can truly be said that the first dynasty of Alabama Football began 100 years ago this year.