re: Could a major college football coach survive Bear Bryant's 1969 and 1970?

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BHMKyle

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es, I think even someone with Bear Bryant's pedigree would be politely asked to step down if this were to occur in this day and age.

Heck, look at Les Miles.

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Bryant had won 3 NCs and 3 SEC titles followed by an unblemished and uncrowned season. The 4 seasons that immediately followed, to which you are referring, were 8-2-1, 8-3, 6-5, 6-5-1. That's obviously not good, but no one is going to fire that coach. It was not like the last NC was 10 or 15 years prior. Only highly unusual circumstances would dictate a firing. There was definitely mumbling and complaining but no thought of firing, nor IMO, would there be today.

Absolutely. We knew we had just hit a rough spot. The dolphins had been weighing heavily on Bryants mind too as he had accepted the job but backed out and that cost him some recruits but nobody thought Bryant should be fired. That's goofy.
He unveiled the wishbone in 71 and went back to fundamental defense. As was stated in an earlier post, the Bama defenses, particularly in 77-79 were jaw dropping to watch. They were the best sec group I've ever seen. Offensively, he signed a qb in 71 out of mobile named Richard Todd. He was 6-3 215 and ran a 4.6. bama was off and running. Todd was the best wishbone qb to ever play. Went on and was a first round pick of the jets.

The game had passed him by..couldn't relate to the hippie generation