Excerpt from a article a couple of years ago.
A look back at Alabama-Texas history
By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
ccarlton@dallasnews.com
Published: 03 January 2010 01:03 AM
Bryant, Royal and the Wishbone
Sometimes, even legends need a little help - something Bear Bryant discovered as the 1970s arrived.
Alabama had gone a combined 12-10-1 in 1969-70, and fans were a little restless. Bryant finally convinced the school's movers and shakers that he needed to recruit black players.
He also decided that Alabama needed an offensive makeover and turned to his old friend, Darrell Royal.
Bryant visited Texas before the 1971 season and learned the Wishbone option offense from Royal and his offensive coordinator, Emory Bellard. Royal was more than accommodating to Bryant.
"Bear and I were great friends, and I appreciated the competitor that he was and the friend that he was," Royal, 85, said in a statement supplied by Texas. "We were able to share a lot of thoughts about the game as well as about life."
Bryant, who won two national titles with the Wishbone in the 1970s, went 11-1 in 1971. That first year, he still relied on his friend, as Royal's wife, Edith, recalled.
"I remember that Bear would call every Sunday after he and his staff had come to Austin to talk with Emory and Darrell about the Wishbone," Edith said. "He was so excited about the way things were going.
"We were remodeling our house, and Bear wanted to build us a room attached to the house because of how much he appreciated what Darrell had done for him."
Darrell Royal Quotes
You've got to think lucky. If you fall into a mudhole, check your back pocket - you might have caught a fish.
Breaks balance out. The sun don't shine on the same ol' dog's rear end every day.
He's not very fast, but maybe Elizabeth Taylor can't sing.
I don't count on the boy who waits till October, when it's cool and fun, then decides he wants to play.
I learned this about coaching: You don't have to explain victory and you can't explain defeat.
Football doesn’t build character. It eliminates the weak ones..
Condolences go out to the family.....