As I continued my research on Coach Bryant, I found some interesting newspaper articles from when Bryant was coaching. One article that caught my eye said, “Bryant Is Signed To 10-Year-Pact. Under that was a subtitle that read, “Alabama Football Coach and Athletic Director Will Get $17,500 Annually.
The article read, Houston, Dec, 3 – “Paul (Bear) Bryant today signed a ten-year contract as head football coach and athletic director at the University of Alabama. In Lexington, Ky., Dr. Frank rose, the president-elect of Alabama, said Bryant would receive $17,500 a year. Bryant, 44, will succeed J.B (Ears) Whitworth as head coach and will replace Hank Crisp as athletic director. In returning to his alma mater Bryant received permission yesterday from Texas A&M officials to be relieved of seven years remaining on a 10-year contract there. Bryant said he was elated to return to his home state. “I am happy to come home, and will give my dead-level best to help build a well-rounded athletic program at the university,” he said. Ernest Williams, a member of the Alabama board of trustees, said Bryant would have a free hand in selecting his staff. Bryant will assume his new duties at Tuscaloosa on Jan. 1. “I have nothing to announce at this time about my assistants,” Bryant said. “However, I will submet recommendations in the very near future.” The selection of Bryant was the first official act for Rose, who will become president of the university on Jan. 1”(Bryant Is Signed To 10-Year Pact).
Another interesting article I noticed was written in the McClatchy – Tribune News in Dec 9, 2008. It was about a basketball coach, English, that quit his job to make artistic molds, one of which was of Coach Bryant.
“His mouth was very difficult to do. As everyone ages, you lose the fat in your lips,” English said of a life-sized sculpture he created of the coach. “He had characteristics of what I call a snarl. Probably that snarl came from years of smoking Chesterfields, or looking at players and saying that kid is not tackling right.” English told reporters he grew up wanting to be a coach like Bryant. He said Coach Bryant is one of many sculptures he has designed.
“I grew up like most kids in the south,” he said. “Being a Bama fan, I would huddle around that radio every week to listen to the game. I remember every Sunday that Bear Bryant Show would come on TV and I’d watch that.” English accomplished his goal of being a coach but also had a love for tools. He said he always liked wood works, Civil War artifacts, and old machinery.
English first tried to sculpt Bryant in 1981. He was a coach at New Hope Junior High in Alabama. English said it ended up being a plaque and supposedly Bryant had it hanging on his wall. “I thought the knowledge of anatomy would get me ready as a coach to treat injuries, but that knowledge has been quite a help in doing sculptures,” English said. He used a toothbrush, homemade tools, and old knife, scissors, and old dentist instruments. He finally finished his sculpture, which are 18 inches tall and 15 inches wide. English. He also has small statues of Bryant leaning on a goal post. Prices range from $50 to $500 depending on the type of sculpture.
Staff Reporter, Jack Walsh, wrote an article in 1958 for the Washington Post. The Headliner read “Bama Behind in Building Says Bryant.” The articles stated that Bryant was talking about his football return to Alabama, his alma mater.
“Here on a social visit with his teen-age son, Paul Jr,. the Bryants were guest in the steam-heated box of George Preston Marshall. Even early when Washington had a 2-0 lead over the Yankees, the talk naturally had to turn to football. Bryant, who had nine years to go on a Kentucky contract when he left for Texas A&M, and then left a seven-year contract there last December when his old school called, admitted he went back to Alabama with deep reluctance” (Jack Walsh).
Bryant said, “I’ll tell you one thing – it’s the only place I’d have gone. I’m getting a little tired of this rebuilding business. Not many people my age, I’m 44 now, like to start all over.” Bryant said the loyalty to Alabama was the biggest reason he wanted to come back to coach. “Right now I’m at a standstill.” Bryant said. “I got there too late to try to help with the recruiting program and won’t be able to do anything in that line until next year.” Walsh wrote that Tuscaloosa would have no worries about Bryant not being heard from as their coach and athletic director. Bryant said that he wanted Alabama to play in Washington. He said he wanted to talk with athletic directors at both Maryland and George Washington to talk about a possible series before he leaves town. Walsh also said that Bryant would possibly be taking a beat down while trying to rebuild the Alabama team (Jack Walsh).
I’m going to save the best article for last. Arthur Daley wrote an article on June 26, 1958 for The New York Times. It was titled “Slightly Disobedient.” Daley said Coach Bryant was one of the most uncompromising task-masters in college football. He said his success was because of the discipline he gave his players.
Daley was writing about a one-point game lead. Daley said, “They were driving hard downfield but the Bear wasn’t greedy. He was satisfied with his slight advantage but he was afraid that some trigger-happy quarterback would throw away the victory before it was locked in the safe.” “Go in there at quarterback,” Bryant ordered.” “If you throw a pass, I’ll kill you myself. Just call for wide plays and try to run out the clock.” “Yessir,” said the quarterback.” He was the slowest runner on the field. The quarterback made his call, which was a pass. The opposing team intercepted the ball. The problem was the other guy that caught it was the fastest guy on the opposing team (Daley).
The quarterback reacted as if Bryant had given him a hot-foot, “Daley wrote.” Daley said he tore straight across the football field, the slowest man on one team, chasing to the fastest man on the other. Nobody knew what was going to happen. The slow quarterback came flying on top of interceptor right in front of Bryant’s feet. The coach just stared at the both of them. “How did you catch me?” asked the Hare of the Tortoise of a quarterback? Bryant interrupted and said, “You were running for 6 points but my man was running for his life” (Daley).
Coach Paul Bear Bryant passed away over 25 years ago, but his legend still lives as the years go by. His influence grows with each year that passes by. He was college football’s winningest coach with 323 victories. He won 6 national championships and 13 Southeastern Conference titles with the Crimson Tide team. Coach Bryant once said, “I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don’t mean put your dukes and get in a fistfight over something. I’m talking about facing adversity in your life. There is not a person alive who isn’t going to have some awfully bad days in their lives. I tell my players that what I mean by fighting is when your house burns down, and your wife runs off with the drummer, and you’ve lost your job and all the odds are against you. What are you going to do? Most people just lie down and quit. Well, I want my people to fight back” (Paul Bear Bryant). This quote, to me, proves why Coach Bryant was simply one of the best coaches of all time. Coach Bryant got his wish because everyone remembers him as a winner, because he ain’t nothing but a winner.
The article read, Houston, Dec, 3 – “Paul (Bear) Bryant today signed a ten-year contract as head football coach and athletic director at the University of Alabama. In Lexington, Ky., Dr. Frank rose, the president-elect of Alabama, said Bryant would receive $17,500 a year. Bryant, 44, will succeed J.B (Ears) Whitworth as head coach and will replace Hank Crisp as athletic director. In returning to his alma mater Bryant received permission yesterday from Texas A&M officials to be relieved of seven years remaining on a 10-year contract there. Bryant said he was elated to return to his home state. “I am happy to come home, and will give my dead-level best to help build a well-rounded athletic program at the university,” he said. Ernest Williams, a member of the Alabama board of trustees, said Bryant would have a free hand in selecting his staff. Bryant will assume his new duties at Tuscaloosa on Jan. 1. “I have nothing to announce at this time about my assistants,” Bryant said. “However, I will submet recommendations in the very near future.” The selection of Bryant was the first official act for Rose, who will become president of the university on Jan. 1”(Bryant Is Signed To 10-Year Pact).
Another interesting article I noticed was written in the McClatchy – Tribune News in Dec 9, 2008. It was about a basketball coach, English, that quit his job to make artistic molds, one of which was of Coach Bryant.
“His mouth was very difficult to do. As everyone ages, you lose the fat in your lips,” English said of a life-sized sculpture he created of the coach. “He had characteristics of what I call a snarl. Probably that snarl came from years of smoking Chesterfields, or looking at players and saying that kid is not tackling right.” English told reporters he grew up wanting to be a coach like Bryant. He said Coach Bryant is one of many sculptures he has designed.
“I grew up like most kids in the south,” he said. “Being a Bama fan, I would huddle around that radio every week to listen to the game. I remember every Sunday that Bear Bryant Show would come on TV and I’d watch that.” English accomplished his goal of being a coach but also had a love for tools. He said he always liked wood works, Civil War artifacts, and old machinery.
English first tried to sculpt Bryant in 1981. He was a coach at New Hope Junior High in Alabama. English said it ended up being a plaque and supposedly Bryant had it hanging on his wall. “I thought the knowledge of anatomy would get me ready as a coach to treat injuries, but that knowledge has been quite a help in doing sculptures,” English said. He used a toothbrush, homemade tools, and old knife, scissors, and old dentist instruments. He finally finished his sculpture, which are 18 inches tall and 15 inches wide. English. He also has small statues of Bryant leaning on a goal post. Prices range from $50 to $500 depending on the type of sculpture.
Staff Reporter, Jack Walsh, wrote an article in 1958 for the Washington Post. The Headliner read “Bama Behind in Building Says Bryant.” The articles stated that Bryant was talking about his football return to Alabama, his alma mater.
“Here on a social visit with his teen-age son, Paul Jr,. the Bryants were guest in the steam-heated box of George Preston Marshall. Even early when Washington had a 2-0 lead over the Yankees, the talk naturally had to turn to football. Bryant, who had nine years to go on a Kentucky contract when he left for Texas A&M, and then left a seven-year contract there last December when his old school called, admitted he went back to Alabama with deep reluctance” (Jack Walsh).
Bryant said, “I’ll tell you one thing – it’s the only place I’d have gone. I’m getting a little tired of this rebuilding business. Not many people my age, I’m 44 now, like to start all over.” Bryant said the loyalty to Alabama was the biggest reason he wanted to come back to coach. “Right now I’m at a standstill.” Bryant said. “I got there too late to try to help with the recruiting program and won’t be able to do anything in that line until next year.” Walsh wrote that Tuscaloosa would have no worries about Bryant not being heard from as their coach and athletic director. Bryant said that he wanted Alabama to play in Washington. He said he wanted to talk with athletic directors at both Maryland and George Washington to talk about a possible series before he leaves town. Walsh also said that Bryant would possibly be taking a beat down while trying to rebuild the Alabama team (Jack Walsh).
I’m going to save the best article for last. Arthur Daley wrote an article on June 26, 1958 for The New York Times. It was titled “Slightly Disobedient.” Daley said Coach Bryant was one of the most uncompromising task-masters in college football. He said his success was because of the discipline he gave his players.
Daley was writing about a one-point game lead. Daley said, “They were driving hard downfield but the Bear wasn’t greedy. He was satisfied with his slight advantage but he was afraid that some trigger-happy quarterback would throw away the victory before it was locked in the safe.” “Go in there at quarterback,” Bryant ordered.” “If you throw a pass, I’ll kill you myself. Just call for wide plays and try to run out the clock.” “Yessir,” said the quarterback.” He was the slowest runner on the field. The quarterback made his call, which was a pass. The opposing team intercepted the ball. The problem was the other guy that caught it was the fastest guy on the opposing team (Daley).
The quarterback reacted as if Bryant had given him a hot-foot, “Daley wrote.” Daley said he tore straight across the football field, the slowest man on one team, chasing to the fastest man on the other. Nobody knew what was going to happen. The slow quarterback came flying on top of interceptor right in front of Bryant’s feet. The coach just stared at the both of them. “How did you catch me?” asked the Hare of the Tortoise of a quarterback? Bryant interrupted and said, “You were running for 6 points but my man was running for his life” (Daley).
Coach Paul Bear Bryant passed away over 25 years ago, but his legend still lives as the years go by. His influence grows with each year that passes by. He was college football’s winningest coach with 323 victories. He won 6 national championships and 13 Southeastern Conference titles with the Crimson Tide team. Coach Bryant once said, “I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don’t mean put your dukes and get in a fistfight over something. I’m talking about facing adversity in your life. There is not a person alive who isn’t going to have some awfully bad days in their lives. I tell my players that what I mean by fighting is when your house burns down, and your wife runs off with the drummer, and you’ve lost your job and all the odds are against you. What are you going to do? Most people just lie down and quit. Well, I want my people to fight back” (Paul Bear Bryant). This quote, to me, proves why Coach Bryant was simply one of the best coaches of all time. Coach Bryant got his wish because everyone remembers him as a winner, because he ain’t nothing but a winner.
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