Only knew him when he played for Alabama. I will just say he was not real approachable or humble.
exiledNms, how can someone living in Hattiesburg, capital of the Hospitality State, flunk Hospitality 101? Just do as the hired help does at Waffle House or as the did regulars in the old sitcom Cheers, i.e., say, "Hello Coach. Roll Bobcats!So, I'm sitting in a coffee shop in H'burg this a.m. (along with all the other hipster wannabes ), and in walks Ray Perkins & his Mrs. As one who knew who he was on the 1966 team when I was a kid, and when he played in the NFL, and when he coached the Giants, and--of course--when he succeeded Coach Bryant @ UA--I had to battle my groupie tendencies mightily. Luckily, they left after only a short stay. Thus, I didn't do any embarrassing fawning. My oh-so-tattered mancards are still intact. :biggrin2:
Note: he is now HC of a jr. college team nearby.
Further note: anyone else tired of off-season type posts--like, say, this one--already? :biggrin:
Whenever someone mentions Perkins I always think of his awkwardness on his weekly radio show while at Alabama.I recently read Keith Dunnavant's book about the 1966 team and gained a new perspective on him. He almost died from injuries he suffered at practice but was able to make it back. He was also a bit older (I think) than the other players and that made him a bit of a loner and could explain his personalty issues.
I am too young to remember his playing days, not a fan of his when he coached here. He won, but I agree he was a jerk to take the money and run.
On the plus side, he did not get us on probation, did not pass out drunk in a strip club and did not date his secretary.
Didn't he have platinum placed in his skull after an injury? Seems like I recall a newspaper article by Benny Marshall or someone in the 1960's regarding that.He was a great receiver for us and the Colts. He was my choice to succeed Bear (confession: I also thought Fran was the right choice - oh well...). I thought he was a good coach with the Giants and TOUGH enough to succeed Bear. Yeah tough all right. He makes CNS seem like Dale Carnegie. If he was a good coach at the college level I guess I'll never know. I view him now as a jerk and a mercenary for the way he took the money and left us. When I read something about his opinions about us, the program, coaches, etc., it falls on my deaf ears. I'll always remember him fondly as a player; as someone who put Bama first, not so much. Jackie Sherrill without the probation? Jackie would've crawled to T-town on his hands and knees. Yeah, he would've probably gotten us on probation, but he would've been more loyal to Bama and Bear.
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I don't know any details about his injury but I remember it being brought up during his playing days that he had a metal plate in his head.Didn't he have platinum placed in his skull after an injury? Seems like I recall a newspaper article by Benny Marshall or someone in the 1960's regarding that.
He probably had to make sure he did not play golf while lightning was near by.
So, I'm sitting in a coffee shop in H'burg this a.m. (along with all the other hipster wannabes ), and in walks Ray Perkins & his Mrs. As one who knew who he was on the 1966 team when I was a kid, and when he played in the NFL, and when he coached the Giants, and--of course--when he succeeded Coach Bryant @ UA--I had to battle my groupie tendencies mightily. Luckily, they left after only a short stay. Thus, I didn't do any embarrassing fawning. My oh-so-tattered mancards are still intact. :biggrin2:
Note: he is now HC of a jr. college team nearby.
Further note: anyone else tired of off-season type posts--like, say, this one--already? :biggrin:
he was a biggun alright.I recall the players name. It was BIG John Hand
...he had a metal plate in his head.
He did marry a much younger woman. Some thought that she was marrying him for money because she is very attractive and younger. Truth is, she is from the Del Champs family and has probably more money than he. See my post earlier as to how I know.I've never met him, but from what I've seen of recent interviews and on TV, Ray seems to have mellowed out quite a bit with age. Didn't he divorce and then remarry a much younger woman and even have another child by her? If so, that might explain a lot of it.