#66 SULLIVAN, Johnny (DT) from Nashville, Tenn., played for Alabama 1964-65-66

He was a starter for 3 years under bear bryant. He talked to me about playing with Kenny Stabler & Joe Namath. He also told me some interested stories about practice and one on one conversations with coach bryant.

One of the stories he told me was that going into his senior year that he had gained a bit of weight in the offseason. He told me that coach called him into his office. Coach Bryant said,"John, do you plan on playing here next year?" He said, "yes sir coach bryant". Bryant said, "If you don't cut weight back to 195 pounds then you wont be." He said,"yes sir coach."

He told me, keep in mind that he'd been a starter the last 2 years and he was thinking to him self, "What the hell are you talking about I'm a starter."

A game that stuck out in his mind was the UT game up in Knoxville. It was pouring the rain outside and they Bama was down 10-0 at halftime. Coach Bryant came in and told the trainer to get them dry gear and then he turned to the players and said men, "We have them just were we want them. They won the first half know where gonna win the second." They came out and eventually made it 11-10 Bama. 1966 Alabama vs Tennessee video

quote:
•The staff made a change on D after watching the Tennessee films. Stumpy Somerville became a backup O-lineman, and the bigger Johnny Sullivan replaced him at NG.

He also told me about the national championships that they had claimed and some other stuff. His father in law also played for Bear Bryant while at Kentucky. He said they had a lot in common and shared similar stories about Bryant.Pretty awesome guy. He was also decked out in Bama gear from head to toe and had one hell of a handshake.

1966 season in time: Alabama

This post was edited on 2/23/13 at 1:24 pm