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The 25 year anniversary of Coach Bryant's death is Saturday Jan. 26th

C

Crimson Hawk

Hall of Fame
Dec 16, 2001
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Re: The Tennessean & coverage of Coach Bryant's 25th anniversary

Thanks so very much for the link Nashville Tider. Brings back a flood of memories..........good uns! Sadly, character is the one ingredient that seems to be missing from today's youth.
 
TIDE-HSV

TIDE-HSV

Senior Administrator
Staff member
Oct 13, 1999
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Huntsville, AL,USA
Re: The Tennessean & coverage of Coach Bryant's 25th anniversary

Go ahead and repost the link. I deleted it accidentally in the process of deleting the copyrighted material...
 
C

CornBiscuit

Suspended
Oct 2, 2005
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Re: The Tennessean & coverage of Coach Bryant's 25th anniversary

I tried to read through all the Bear threads and did not see this link but here is the funeral coverage from 25 years ago.

My Fox 6
 
NashvilleTider

NashvilleTider

1st Team
Dec 30, 2002
645
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Nashville, TN
Re: The Tennessean & coverage of Coach Bryant's 25th anniversary

TIDE-HSV said:
Go ahead and repost the link. I deleted it accidentally in the process of deleting the copyrighted material...
Click to expand...

Ackkk- I knew you guys wouldn't let quote something that long. Whine, whine with my cheese.

Y'all spliced up my original post and linked to the Climer column which was weak. The strong parts of the Tennesseean stuff was the fan memories that included a memory from a Marine General and all I did was post his story from a much longer part.
So here's a link to the page containing his story. You'll have to look for it, but it's about two thirds down the page of the fan memories.

Memories of Coach Bryant

Here's a shortened version...

What Coach Bryant said:

They tell me you did a good job while you were here, a matter which has no bearing at this time. You have a much bigger job now and one which is more important. You are going to have a lot of the best youngsters in the world looking to you for direction. You teach them the things they need to know to survive in combat, take care of them and their families and they will keep you alive. Remember one thing, when one of them has a problem, look at it through his eyes, not yours---that way you'll find a remedy quicker. I have always had a liking for most Marines and I am going to keep an eye on you. You have a lot of people around this area that think a lot of you, don't let them down. As my Marine, I will expect you to come back to see me when you get a chance."
Click to expand...
But I want you to know something now, you officers will make out all right but you still got to keep an eye on them little 'uns. They will still need help. You have to teach them how to handle their money, how to stay out of debt and all the things you have learned already. Another thing, you have reached a level where there is a lot of layers between you and the privates. You will find there are colonels, lieutenant colonels and even majors who don't think about the welfare of those below. Their only thoughts are how they get to where you are and beyond. God Almighty, we're proud of you and I appreciate your remembering to come by to see me."
Click to expand...
And General Glasgow said:
My purpose in submitting these comments is to let all hands know, Coach Bryant was more than a football coach. I spent 36 years in the Marine Corps, and I submit he knew more about the work of a general than I did.

He knew a lot about life and the secret to success is "taking care of the little 'uns".
Click to expand...
 
C

Crimson Surfer

News|BB|FB|REC, Super Moderator
Jul 14, 2001
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25 years after Bear Bryant's death, fans' devotion to UA coaching legend hasn't diminished
Atidy, unoccupied house sits less than 15 feet from Bill Wakefield's Springville residence. The house where his mother once lived has no velvet paintings of Jesus or a Big Mouth Billy Bass, but it is rich with one of the other icons of interior decorating in Alabama.

There's the football autographed to Wakefield by Paul "Bear" Bryant following Bryant's final game as the University of Alabama head football coach. There are paintings of Bryant and some of his most famous quotes in every room of the house. On a wall hangs an artist's rendition of Bryant on Mount Rushmore.
Click to expand...
 
C

Crimson Surfer

News|BB|FB|REC, Super Moderator
Jul 14, 2001
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Henderson, NV
25 years after his death, Bear Bryant's legacy lives on
The funeral of Paul William Bryant filled three Tuscaloosa churches, with loudspeakers set up to broadcast the service to hundreds more standing outside.

An estimated quarter of a million people lined the 55-mile stretch of interstate from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to watch the five-mile-long motorcade of 300 cars make its way to Elmwood Cemetery, where 10,000 or so other people waited to see the body laid to rest.

The faces along the way were the faces of Alabama: male and female, young and old, white and black, rich and poor, Protestant and Catholic, Northerners and Southerners.
Click to expand...
 
C

Crimson Surfer

News|BB|FB|REC, Super Moderator
Jul 14, 2001
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Henderson, NV
Remembering Bear
Jimmy Hinton, Tuscaloosa:

Hinton was a close friend and business partner of Bryant's. It was in Hinton's home that Bryant suffered his first heart attack the night before his death.

"What I regret most is that Coach Bryant never got to do the things that he wanted to do after he got out of coaching," Hinton said. "One of his dreams was to get back together with his teammates that he played high school ball with in Fordyce (Ark.) and take them quail hunting.
Click to expand...
 
T

TomBama

Scout Team
Nov 13, 2000
125
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Chapel Hill, NC
It's hard to believe that it's been a quarter of a century since we lost Coach Bryant. I was a senior at the U of A, and found out the news of his death in my apartment in Rose Towers -- my roommate's dad called to give us the news.

I attended the memorial service that was held that afternoon at Memorial Coliseum. Steadman Shealy spoke, as did a few others I can't remember.

My best friend and I stood along 10th Ave (now Bryant Drive) to watch the funeral procession head out of town on its way to Birmingham. I remember being so amazed to watch on TV the video of so many people lining up the interstate, and standing on the overpasses, as the procession headed up to B'ham.

I still clearly remember that two nights after he died, January 28, I saw Kiss in concert at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham. Right before they played a ballad called "I Still Love You", Paul Stanley (Kiss lead singer and rhythm guitarist for those of you unfamiliar) said "This is for the Bear". Pretty cool that a rock band from New York would give a shout out for our coach.

I still have a couple of copies of the January 27, 1983 Tuscaloosa News, and pulled a copy out today to read the stories. Brought back some good, and sad, memories.

I'm honored to have been at the U of A for Bear's final four years, and that his final year as coach was my final year on campus. Thanks, Bear, for showing a guy from the north how great it is to be a fan of University of Alabama football, and thanks for showing so much class throughout your career. Rest in peace.

On a side note, kind of interesting that the basketball team beat #1 ranked UCLA on the road in their first game after Coach Bryant died, and today the team kicked the snot out of Auburn. Maybe the Bear's spirit was with them today to help them route a rival and get their first SEC win!
 
N

Nash-Bama

1st Team
Dec 6, 1999
413
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Tuscaloosa, AL
myspace.com
I was in Nashville over the weekend. A friend gave us a copy of the Tennessean sports section. The coverage was amazing. There were almost 2 entire pages devoted to Coach Bryant. I'm so happy to have the copy. I lived in Nashville at the time (it's my hometown) and remember being at work and hearing it over the radio. It was talked about quite a bit around my office. There were several other Bama fans who worked with me. He was truly a legend, doesn't matter where you're from or what other school you might be a fan of, he touched everyone in some way.
 
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