For The Defense; It didn't happen!

[Crimson Surfer]

For The Defense

There is a myth that has been developed in the Los Angeles area, perhaps in hopes of big book sales or a motion picture deal.This piece of fiction being passed off as fact is the ridiculous story that Coach Bryant went to the Southern Cal dressing room following the game and took Cunningham over to the Alabama lockerroom. “This is what a football player looks like,” Coach Bryant is alleged to have told the likes of John Hannah and Johnny Musso.

No one questions that Cunningham had a very fine game that night. And it is likely that Coach Bryant went to the Southern Cal dressing room. He was wont to do that when a team had an exceptional game against Bama, and particularly if the opposing head coach was a Bryant friend, as was John McKay. It would not be a surprise if Coach Bryant gave personal congratulations to Cunningham.

A point of the alleged story is that Cunningham’s performance was the catalyst for desegregation of Alabama’s football team. Actually, Bama had already begun signing black football players. Wilbur Jackson was on scholarship, though as a freshman not eligible to participate. (The story as presented to me also failed to note that the next year in Los Angeles, Alabama–then with two black players, Jackson and John Mitchell–defeated number one-ranked Southern Cal, 17-10).

 

[TommyMac]

I've always been skeptical of that story. I just cannot imagine Coach Bryant parading a player in front of his kids and suggesting to them that they weren't "real football players." That was the 1st game of the year and he would have likely lost that team with a statement like that. Coach Bryant was waaaay too smart in the psychology of football players to pull a stunt like that.

 

[Blanda's Shoes]

Like many stories associated with Bama football, and Coach Bryant in particular, the Sam 'Bam Bam' Cunningham story is one of those things that becomes 'true' even though it's not factual. It's a story so good that only it actually happening could make it better.

I've known it to be hogwash for years, but catch me on the right barstool and you may hear it told again before last call.

 

[Capstoner]

Where in the world did this far reaching lie start? It is complete b.s. and yet most people believe it actually happened.

If you tell something enough, it becomes real.

 

[bama peach]

If you read the whole article

you will notice that Ed Hines was quoted as saying that he thought Johnny Musso was a better back than Sam the Bam. After all, Ed Hines (as def. end) had to scrimmage against Musso as well as playing against Cunningham. Bye the way, I happen to know Ed Hines well as we both claim LaFayette,Al as our hometown. Also, his whole family went to the same church that my family attended. Ed is one fine young gentleman.