Happy Birthday, Bear

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The Tide Machine@TideMachine
On this date 112 years ago in tiny Moro Bottom, Ark., Paul William Bryant entered the world and years later @AlabamaFTBL would never be the same.

Born Sept. 11, 1913, an adventurous 13-year-old Bryant wrestled a bear at a carnival promotion and the nickname “Bear” stuck with him the rest of his life. He later developed into a strapping offensive lineman and defensive end for Fordyce High School.

During his senior year, Bryant helped lead Fordyce to the 1930 Arkansas state football championship and later accepted a scholarship to continue his playing career for The University of Alabama in 1931.

Championships continued for Bryant, as the Crimson Tide won the 1934 national title and he became known as the “other end” playing opposite of Don Hutson, who went on to an NFL Hall of Fame career.

After graduating from Alabama, Bryant began a nine-year tour of duty as an assistant coach at five different schools before Maryland offered him its head coaching position in 1945.

One season at Maryland led to an eight-year stint at Kentucky and then four years at Texas A&M, before the cries of help from his alma mater brought him back to Tuscaloosa. Bryant left College Station, Texas, and became the Crimson Tide’s head coach in 1958 and over the next 25 years won six national championships and 13 SEC championships.

Bryant retired as the sports winningest coach with a record of 323-85-17 in 1982. Sadly he never enjoyed his retirement after passing away at the age of 69 on Jan. 26, 1983, from a massive heart attack.

Even 42 years after his death, Bryant’s presence remains with Bryant-Denny Stadium, Bryant Drive, The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Bryant Hall and of course fans still coming to games in the fall adorned in houndstooth.

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