Gene Stallings has seen many ups in Down

silentsam74 · January 10th, 2008, 11:01 AM

	Quote:
	It was Gene Stallings, now 72 years old and still physically robust, who won Alabama's last national championship 15 years ago in the Sugar Bowl. His perception of football changed as he cared for John Mark, and the attitude of Alabama's football team changed along with it. "I had a whole lot less tolerance for the gifted and a whole lot more tolerance for the guy that wasn't quite as gifted," Stallings said in his gravelly voice. "With Johnny, I saw him struggle to walk, struggle to kick a ball, struggle to do everything that he did. So I had a little tolerance for the guys that had to struggle. If you had talent and didn't lay it on the line, I didn't have much tolerance for you. "The less talented guy can't play on Saturdays. But he can get you ready to play on Saturdays. I wanted the guys who played on Saturday to have an appreciation for that guy who got them there."

ROTYDE · January 10th, 2008, 11:08 AM

Coach Stallings will always be nothing but class...............

Vinny · January 10th, 2008, 02:41 PM

I'll never forget the time we talked the day after he resigned. I was waiting outside Wings Sportsgrille and he was leaving. We talked a few minutes, I'll never forget shaking his hand and seeing the 92 NC ring on his finger. I wanted his autograph, but I had no paper. I had him sign my airline itinarary!

LCN · January 10th, 2008, 08:05 PM

Great pull , Sam .

Thanks , I was due for a fresh dose of Coach Stallings .

bamaga · January 10th, 2008, 09:32 PM

	Quote:	Vinny
	I'll never forget the time we talked the day after he resigned. I was waiting outside Wings Sportsgrille and he was leaving. We talked a few minutes, I'll never forget shaking his hand and seeing the 92 NC ring on his finger. I wanted his autograph, but I had no paper. I had him sign my airline itinarary!

I went to an A day game in the mid '90s, he was walking from the field to the pressbox before the game. I said 'Hey coach', and he turned and chatted with me for a few minutes, then signed my Wings 'A' day ticket. I will never forget he stopped and talked to me a few moments before the kickoff. Even though it was only a pring game, I'm sure coach had more important things to do!

rhYno · January 11th, 2008, 12:56 AM

It may be a sin to say this, but Gene Stallings will forever be my favorite Alabama coach of all time. I frequently watch old games of which he coached for us and I still to this day can't get enough. I have never met or seen the guy (in person), but I hold a high place for him in my heart and I always will.

I was only 11 years old when he resigned, but I remember that day like it was yesterday and boy was I one heartbroken kid. I got word after a church meeting from a guy who always gave me big Roll Tide's on Sunday mornings whether we lost or won.

Oh how I'd love to relive those days!

4DTIDE · January 11th, 2008, 07:26 AM

	Quote:	rhYno
	It may be a sin to say this, but Gene Stallings will forever be my favorite Alabama coach of all time. I frequently watch old games of which he coached for us and I still to this day can't get enough. I have never met or seen the guy (in person), but I hold a high place for him in my heart and I always will. I was only 11 years old when he resigned, but I remember that day like it was yesterday and boy was I one heartbroken kid. I got word after a church meeting from a guy who always gave me big Roll Tide's on Sunday mornings whether we lost or won. Oh how I'd love to relive those days!

rhYno, I know exactly how you feel...I've always had nothing but great respect for Coach Stallings and too labeled him as my all-time favorite BAMA coach. The excitement he brought to Alabama Football will always be memorable and cherished forever 'til the day I die. I remembered the day he officially retired to spend more time w/ his son. I thought it was a class-act and had the upmost respect for him not only as a legendary coach but as a man and father as well. We need alot more "Gene Stallings" in this world today! ! But I also remember I cried like a baby that day and wished time could go back so we could absorb and enjoy all the great games he coached our beloved Crimson Tide to victory and especially savor the '92 NC. I know before Bama hired CMS, I was really hoping that we could have landed Coach Stallings for just one or two more seasons. What a coach!!!!!

alatider · January 11th, 2008, 08:55 AM

	Quote:	rhYno
	It may be a sin to say this, but Gene Stallings will forever be my favorite Alabama coach of all time.

Mine too.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once at a truck stop on I20/59 outside of Tuscaloosa. This was while he was still our coach.
He gave me his autograph without hesitation. He really is a class act and a heck of a nice guy.
It was his conversation with Nick Saban that swayed him to come to Bama.

Nick4Bama · January 11th, 2008, 09:00 AM

I was 12 when Coach Bryant died so I do not have that many memories of him coaching, but Coach Stallings teams always had that quiet confidence that winning football teams should posses. The program had class and every team that played Bama then knew it was going to be 4 quarters of the toughest football they were going to play all year.

I have missed that, but from what I have heard from Coach Saban he expects Bama to be that kind of team again real soon.

Roooll Tide!!

bamanut_aj · January 11th, 2008, 09:11 AM

one my greatest memories is the random meeting of Coach Stallings at church up here in Franklin, TN right after CMS was hired. I went up to him after church and we talked for what seemed like forever. I think he was just tickled to talk to one of the "good guys" up here in the land of DOC orange.

RamJammer · January 11th, 2008, 09:18 AM

Well he is the greatest! Ya'll may know that he had knee replacement this past winter, only after taking all the grand-kids & families down to Disney World without one complaint the entire time. Ya'll may also know that aside from football, he loves motorcyling, horses, & above all else - golf. He comes to Tuscaloosa & B'Ham often - VERY often - & loves to get with his all-time favorite golf pro who is now in B'Ham. CGS is a class act all the way!

TexasTideFan · January 11th, 2008, 10:41 AM

	Quote:	RamJammer
	above all else - golf.

Played golf with him at a charity benefit several years ago. He is a really good golfer.

As for his reputation, Coach Stallings is one of the finest individuals I have had a chance to meet.

silentsam74 · January 11th, 2008, 11:41 AM

	Quote:	LCN
	Great pull , Sam . Thanks , I was due for a fresh dose of Coach Stallings .

Glad you like it. We have a few UGA fans where I work and one buys the Times Free Press regularly (Their coverage of UGA is second only to their coverage of the viles). I happened upon it by chance only while I was killing time as I don't read it on a daily basis. After reading the story though, I felt it was my duty as a Tide fan to share it with everyone.