re: The truth about Bear Bryant

Your ignorance is truly astounding.
Georgia SUCKS

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He hated black people.

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Nah. I read a book about Bryant's life several years ago...Not the one that was written before he died, back in the 70s...one that was written in the 2000s. And in it, Bryant was trying to push for black players as far back as his years with Kentucky. He would often go to the segregated schools to watch black players and dream of what he could do if they were on his team. The political climate of the times, however, wouldn't allow it.

But he did push for it. And if he had been a losing or mediocre coach, he probably would have been fired for it.

Did he drink? Yes. Did he have a problem controlling it? Evidence suggests yes. But so did his other coaching buddies of that era...like Frank Howard and Bud Wilkinson.

Wilkinson drank like a fish and womanized often during his coaching days, but kept it well hidden with the help of the media in the state.

As far as slapping his wife around...no evidence of this exists.

This may be the worst post ever on this board, and there have been a lot.

(no message)

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His last national title was literally the year before UGA's last one. And he died over 35 years ago

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UGA is the Spain of CFB. And without Herschel they'd be Portugal.

Personally, I think Bama should hang 50+ on UGA and then go as a team to shite on Furman Bisher's grave.

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He hated black people

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In Bobby Bowdens book "Called to Coach" he recalls a story about Bryant on the recruiting trail right after being hired by Alabama. Bryant was on his way to a school somewhere in Mississippi I believe and he stopped to eat lunch in a small little shack that was clearly a popular spot for the black folk in the area. He went inside and sat at the bar and was the only white man in there. The cook told him that they probably do not have anything he would like on the menu but Bryant looked anyway and ordered some fresh chitlins. He introduced himself as the new Alabama coach and struck up a convo with the owner. He ate his meal while they had a good talk and then signed a napkin for the owner which I believe is still on the wall in that restaurant (if it is still there). Later on down the road in the 70s I believe, Bryant was trying to recruit an offensive lineman in the same area...turns out his grandfather was the owner of that restaurant...the boy wanted to go to Auburn but his granddad told him that Bryant "ate in his restaurant and was extremely friendly to me and you are going to go play for him because that is the kind of man you should play for" Needless to say the boy went to bama.

The moral of the story was to treat everyone you meet in life with respect and because you never know if you might need that persons help on down the road...an unspoken fact of the story is that Bear Bryant was not racist...if he hated black people as you say why would he stop and eat in a black establishment. I am not one to defend bama much but GTFO of here with that crap man.

Tony Nathan, early 70's, (from the movie Woodlawn) asked about Coach Bryant....

"Bear Bryant
I was curious about the role faith and religion played on his Alabama teams and asked Nathan how often legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant discussed the topics.

“He made us go to church,” Nathan recalled. “He brought around the people we needed to be around – the chaplains, the preachers. He talked about it all the time because he believed in family and he tried to create that family atmosphere.”

I was additionally interested in how Bryant diffused racial tension on his team.

“If you had a problem with someone because of the color of their skin, he did not tolerate that type of behavior and belief,” he said. “If he found anything out about that person (being prejudiced), either they changed their ways or they go home.”

Did Nathan ever experience racism as a member of the Crimson Tide?

“None whatsoever,” Nathan said without hesitation. “Not that I witnessed. Not in the locker rooms.”

Nathan said the Alabama campus at-large was accepting of him and that he never felt uncomfortable there because of his race. Considering the racial climate in Alabama at the time, I find Nathan’s account remarkable. It’s testament to the influence of Bryant, whom many believe helped — or, rather, forced – thousands of Alabama natives and Tide fans to accept integration by integrating his football team."