Former University of Alabama football player, Roman Harper, stood 6’1 as I stood up to shake his hand. He looked as if he could crush me with his bare hands. Roman now plays pro-football for the New Orleans’s Saints. He said he may live in Louisiana, but Alabama will always be his home. Roman claimed he owes his football career to Coach Bryant for being the first college football coach that let African-Americans play on his team. He proudly wore a crimson colored, Alabama football jersey. As he sat down in the chair, he had a big smile on his face. He was excited to talk about football!
I asked him to tell me about when he first started playing football. I wanted to know who taught him and who inspired him as a child. “I first started playing football around 7 or 8 in the backyard with my brothers. They took no pity on me even though I was a young kid. There were times where I would be all bloody from playing with them, but they definitely made me tougher. I then went on to play little league, then in school and so on so on. My role model was my father; he was a hard working man who had a short career in the NFL because of knee injuries. He played his college football at Alabama State University. Now the ultimate role model of any Southern football player would be the Bear. That was a great man right there.”
I asked Roman why he chose to play for the University of Alabama. “I chose Alabama over South Carolina. Lou Holtz was the coach for South Carolina at the time. There is no doubt that Coach Holtz made my decision very hard, but at the end of the day, the family atmosphere at Alabama was the deciding factor for me. The first time I came up on my recruiting visit, they played a video on the jumbotron. I saw Coach Bryant and it sent chills throughout my body, even though I could not understand what the heck he was saying.”
I knew exactly what Roman was talking about. There is a video of Coach Bryant that plays right before each football game. When that video plays, everyone is as silent as a mouse. The video reminds you of the pride and honor the University has. Roman sit back for a second and put his chin on his hand. He was in deep thought as he was remembering the football days.
I asked Roman how he felt when the University of Alabama wanted him to play for their team. “I felt that the hard work paid off that I had put my entire life into. I mean, how many people can say they played for the University of Alabama? For me, it was just a dream come true. I was able to accomplish my dream. This school has so much tradition, a lot because of Coach Bryant, and I was glad to be a part of it. I like to think I was a part of keeping the tradition alive. I mean, when you look around and you see very successful programs, it is more than just football. They have good athletics all the way around. Hiring Nick Saban has paid off, the gymnastics team has always been good, the softball team is top 10 right now, and the hiring of Anthony Grant seems to be a good hire so far for basketball. I think the Athletic Program is on the right track, but still has a long way to go. To be honest, I am a big basketball fan. My friend Tim and I always talk basketball because he was the basketball guy within my circle of friends. I knew football was the sport I was the best in. I was an average basketball player so it was really by default. My father being my role model also helped me. I wanted to be just like him and he loved football, so naturally it was in my blood.”
Roman starred off in a distance for a few seconds and then suddenly looked directly at me. “You really want to know what motivates me?” he said. “I want to be the best. I want to be very successful in life. I think I’m on the right path but I have a long way to go. I want to be in a position to give back in some kind of way and playing football has allowed me to do that. When I die I want people to say that I have made a difference in people’s lives. I want to be like Coach Bryant. Look at the influence he had over people. If it weren’t for Coach Bryant, I wouldn’t be here. He integrated Alabama football when he recruited African American’s to play for him. So for me, it helped ease the road for not only myself, but people like me as well. I remember when I first got to campus and I would hear all of the older people talk about how Coach Bryant played University of South Carolina just to show the people in the South that we need to recruit African Americans. He knew USC would beat the hell out of us and he knew they had a black running back. I think the “family” mentality he preached was amazing also. He always said it is how you win football that matters. He wanted to win with class. Now he did have the best players in the south when he was winning and they were six deep at every position. He had good coaches around him also to which definitely helped him out, but his techniques to the game were unmatched at the time. I mean, he must have been doing something right because he still lives in Tuscaloosa today.”
Roman talking about Coach Bryant was like a fire was set off inside of him. He spoke with passion when he talked about the coach. “I mean he is God around here.” Roman said. “You see all the houndstooth hats and shirts. I know people that use to cry when they would play the pre-game video of Coach Bryant. He means everything to the University and the state. I mean what are we talking about in this interview? ...Exactly…he still lives to this day.”
I asked Roman if he had ever been to the Bryant Museum. “I have been a few times, but not a lot. I should have gone more when I actually lived here, but I’ll put that on my “to do” list for the future. You know, that museum gives people a chance to learn a little bit more about the University and Coach Bryant. It also helps keep his legacy alive.”
I wanted to know what Roman’s thoughts were about Alabama’s football organization and if he thought Coach Bryant would be pleased with how it is ran. “I think he would say that it is on the right track. I mean, ever since Gene Stallings retired, the program has had its ups and downs. I do think he would be pleased with the way Coach Saban has handled Alabama the past few years. However, I do not think he would have been too happy with the past 10 years or so. It has been brutal around here, but that is the past and we now just have to look forward to the future.
I asked Roman what he thought Coach Bryant’s biggest accomplishments in coaching were. “I think the championships. I mean we have 12 national titles. I think if we had 0 national titles, a lot of things he did would not be as big as they are. I’m sure there was another school that had to break the barrier and recruit a black player. However, since Coach Bryant did it and actually won, it helps out his legacy. I think anytime you win a huge number of games and championships, people are going to want one every year after that, well Coach Bryant started that. He started a tradition. He was a winner. I just feel bad for every coach that has to follow in his shoes.”
I asked him to tell me about when he first started playing football. I wanted to know who taught him and who inspired him as a child. “I first started playing football around 7 or 8 in the backyard with my brothers. They took no pity on me even though I was a young kid. There were times where I would be all bloody from playing with them, but they definitely made me tougher. I then went on to play little league, then in school and so on so on. My role model was my father; he was a hard working man who had a short career in the NFL because of knee injuries. He played his college football at Alabama State University. Now the ultimate role model of any Southern football player would be the Bear. That was a great man right there.”
I asked Roman why he chose to play for the University of Alabama. “I chose Alabama over South Carolina. Lou Holtz was the coach for South Carolina at the time. There is no doubt that Coach Holtz made my decision very hard, but at the end of the day, the family atmosphere at Alabama was the deciding factor for me. The first time I came up on my recruiting visit, they played a video on the jumbotron. I saw Coach Bryant and it sent chills throughout my body, even though I could not understand what the heck he was saying.”
I knew exactly what Roman was talking about. There is a video of Coach Bryant that plays right before each football game. When that video plays, everyone is as silent as a mouse. The video reminds you of the pride and honor the University has. Roman sit back for a second and put his chin on his hand. He was in deep thought as he was remembering the football days.
I asked Roman how he felt when the University of Alabama wanted him to play for their team. “I felt that the hard work paid off that I had put my entire life into. I mean, how many people can say they played for the University of Alabama? For me, it was just a dream come true. I was able to accomplish my dream. This school has so much tradition, a lot because of Coach Bryant, and I was glad to be a part of it. I like to think I was a part of keeping the tradition alive. I mean, when you look around and you see very successful programs, it is more than just football. They have good athletics all the way around. Hiring Nick Saban has paid off, the gymnastics team has always been good, the softball team is top 10 right now, and the hiring of Anthony Grant seems to be a good hire so far for basketball. I think the Athletic Program is on the right track, but still has a long way to go. To be honest, I am a big basketball fan. My friend Tim and I always talk basketball because he was the basketball guy within my circle of friends. I knew football was the sport I was the best in. I was an average basketball player so it was really by default. My father being my role model also helped me. I wanted to be just like him and he loved football, so naturally it was in my blood.”
Roman starred off in a distance for a few seconds and then suddenly looked directly at me. “You really want to know what motivates me?” he said. “I want to be the best. I want to be very successful in life. I think I’m on the right path but I have a long way to go. I want to be in a position to give back in some kind of way and playing football has allowed me to do that. When I die I want people to say that I have made a difference in people’s lives. I want to be like Coach Bryant. Look at the influence he had over people. If it weren’t for Coach Bryant, I wouldn’t be here. He integrated Alabama football when he recruited African American’s to play for him. So for me, it helped ease the road for not only myself, but people like me as well. I remember when I first got to campus and I would hear all of the older people talk about how Coach Bryant played University of South Carolina just to show the people in the South that we need to recruit African Americans. He knew USC would beat the hell out of us and he knew they had a black running back. I think the “family” mentality he preached was amazing also. He always said it is how you win football that matters. He wanted to win with class. Now he did have the best players in the south when he was winning and they were six deep at every position. He had good coaches around him also to which definitely helped him out, but his techniques to the game were unmatched at the time. I mean, he must have been doing something right because he still lives in Tuscaloosa today.”
Roman talking about Coach Bryant was like a fire was set off inside of him. He spoke with passion when he talked about the coach. “I mean he is God around here.” Roman said. “You see all the houndstooth hats and shirts. I know people that use to cry when they would play the pre-game video of Coach Bryant. He means everything to the University and the state. I mean what are we talking about in this interview? ...Exactly…he still lives to this day.”
I asked Roman if he had ever been to the Bryant Museum. “I have been a few times, but not a lot. I should have gone more when I actually lived here, but I’ll put that on my “to do” list for the future. You know, that museum gives people a chance to learn a little bit more about the University and Coach Bryant. It also helps keep his legacy alive.”
I wanted to know what Roman’s thoughts were about Alabama’s football organization and if he thought Coach Bryant would be pleased with how it is ran. “I think he would say that it is on the right track. I mean, ever since Gene Stallings retired, the program has had its ups and downs. I do think he would be pleased with the way Coach Saban has handled Alabama the past few years. However, I do not think he would have been too happy with the past 10 years or so. It has been brutal around here, but that is the past and we now just have to look forward to the future.
I asked Roman what he thought Coach Bryant’s biggest accomplishments in coaching were. “I think the championships. I mean we have 12 national titles. I think if we had 0 national titles, a lot of things he did would not be as big as they are. I’m sure there was another school that had to break the barrier and recruit a black player. However, since Coach Bryant did it and actually won, it helps out his legacy. I think anytime you win a huge number of games and championships, people are going to want one every year after that, well Coach Bryant started that. He started a tradition. He was a winner. I just feel bad for every coach that has to follow in his shoes.”
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