re: Who still thinks Bear Bryant was all that great?

Bryant did get in some trouble at Texas A&M and they paid for it in 1956.

However,when he came to Alabama in 1958 , he was regarded as a very good coach,but he was arguably in the top 10-15 at the time,and not top or top 5 . Point being what he did in Tuscaloosa wasn't done with funny business or at least not with anything other schools weren't able to take advantage of. Throw in that his National Titles in 1961, 1964 and 1965 were accomplished in the midst of some less than flattering moments for the entire South. Had Bryant been up to no good, he would have been an extremely easy target. He also won a lawsuit along with Wally Butts of Georgia fame against the Saturday Evening Post for running and standing by an insane allegation of point shaving.

Bear Bryant was and remains a great coach.