Alabama history, Linnie Patrick and recruiting hype

[Ole Man Dan]

Billy Ray was recruited by Perkins, not Bryant, and I don't remember him having a pony tail. In fact, he looked like the All-American kid you'd see in a McDonald's commercial. Got fed up with Curry's inconsistent personnel practices (guess he recognized something there that it took a lot of us, including me, a lot longer to pick up on), and headed to Duke under Spurrier where he set all kinds of records.

I think you're remembering Steve Taneyhill and Stallings. When Taneyhill was being recruited, he did have a mullet pony tail, and he didn't want to cut it. That clearly wasn't Stallings' style, became an issue in the recuitment, and Taneyhill ended up at South Carolina. Probably best for both him and Alabama. Can't imagine the hoo-hah that would have ensued aftger the A-Club initiation ;-)

Wow... I must have been lost in another Senior moment. (I still hear the Beach Boys Music)
You are absolute right. Billy Ray did have problems fitting in with Curry.
(The Last Man Drafted in the NFL Draft) Billy Ray must have been ahead of the curve.
It was CGS and the Pony Tail Boy.

 

[Mongo4Bama]

Linnie Patrick was really good to say the least he was an I tailback not wishbone plus he was not not properly used while at UA.
Overly hyped no way.

 

[Alabama22]

I remember Vince Sutton out of LaGrange GA, although he did have that amazing comeback win in 88? against UK up there.
I think as a whole Bama has fewer "busts" than alot of schools- especially UGA

I have to agree on Vince Sutton as the biggest bust. This guy was "Mr. Football" in the state of Georgia before signing with Alabama, and he was perhaps the worst QB I've ever seen at UA. The comeback against UK was nothing to write home about. He got lucky with a lame duck bomb to a receiver who happened to make a nice catch late in the game. The pass was terrible. He should have never shared playing time with Mike Shula.

This also reminds me of something else. I always thought that Ray Perkins and Bill Curry were not very good at evaluating the talent they had on the team. I remember Curry starting Jeff Dunn and Murray Legg ahead of Gary Hollingsworth and Siran Stacy until Dunn and Legg both got hurt...I think this was in 1989. When Hollingsworth and Stacy became starters, the differences in our running game and passing game were phenomenal.