re: Why Did Bear Bryant Wait Seven Years to Integrate Bama Football?

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Wallace in his prime > Bryant in his prime.

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I don't want to disagree with you, because I'm quite sure your knowledge on Alabama history is more complete than mine.

But I find it hard to believe that anyone in that state was more powerful than Bear Bryant in his prime.

In other words, if you give Bear the power he eventually had in Alabama and align it with the height of Wallace's reign, I think the Bear wins out. Wallace led a state that ranked near dead last in several meaningful categories (literacy, public highways, etc.). He was also vilified by much of the country.

I think one reason Alabama became so proud of football is because it served as an escape from much of the national embarrassment Wallace was responsible for bringing to the state.