Re: Is Calling Coach Bryant 'The Bear" ok with Everyone?
I have noticed a few recent threads that make reference to "The Bear". I thought that I read somewhere that he didn't particularly care for the nickname. Because of that I have always referred to the man as "Coach Bryant" or "Coach Paul Bryant". I know that no one on this site would ever intentionally show disrespect for the man. Could someone set me straight on this?
I'm a
Coach Bryant or
Coach Paul Bryant man. Give The Man a little
RESPECT!
Growing up in Alabama I respected him as a man, probably, more than anyone else, except Billy Graham. I sorta considered him a father figure. I think he was a great
down-to-earth philosopher. He disseminated a lot of Wisdom, maybe not as much as Solomon in Proverbs, but still a lot for a man of his Coaching position and humble Arkansas background. His "momma" did a good job in raising that man.
It's like if he was talking, you needed to be listening. Those Sunday shows at 4:00 p.m. were awesome. Everyone in my home was totally attentive when he talked. Sometimes, it was hard to understand him as he growled so you had to be attentive in listening to him.
Coaches today want all the glory. He ALWAYS gave credit to his assistant coaches and his players. It was NOT I, I, I did this or that or me, me, me! He gave credit to others when we won and he took credit for those losses. Why wouldn't anyone want to play for someone like that.
He was an awesome leader and motivator.
Sometimes we even had Coke and Golden Flake to snack on while he was on the air! "Bingo!" When you heard that you knew someone was getting some praise for a job well done. I can still picture that Billboard near a certain highway that said "Great Pair says the _ _ _ _!" Oh well, he's still Coach Bryant or Coach Paul Bryant to me.
Now I wish he had left those Chesterfields on the store shelves. We may have had him as a Coach for a couple of more years. I think Aretha sang it right: "
Respect". I highly respected him as a Man and as a Coach of the Crimson Tide.
After I get passed St. Peter at that certain gate, I want to see family, then Coach Paul Bryant among many more.