Stories about Coach Bryant on WJOX
On WJOX this morning with John Ed Willoughby and Doug Layton (sp?) there were some great stories told about Coach Bryant. As their guest they had "Brother" Bill Oliver, who told most of the stories. For those of you who couldn't listen, I'll relate a few:
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Prior to the football season, Coach Bryant and UA would host most of the media members at a country club for an overnight stay, including a dinner and a round of golf. Coach Oliver said that he, Wimp Sanderson, and two other fellows had a set foursome at this gathering and all enjoyed golf. On one occasion, they decided that after everyone else had retired after 9 holes to shower and get ready for the dinner at which Bryant would speak, they would take in another 9. They did so quickly with the course empty and rushed to take showers in the locker room. Of course, everyone else at the place had taken a shower there as well, and towels were short. Wimp was the last to get finished with his shower and was left without a towel. He yelled out to them to get him a towel, and they said that all the towels were used. He yelled to them to go to the next room to get a towel, and they replied that the next room was Coach Bryant's and those were his towels. After a pause, his reply came: "Nevermind....I'll just dry off with toilet paper." They all fell to their knees laughing, as he did just that.
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Coach Oliver related something that I did not know. At away games, after the pre-game meal and prior to leaving for the stadium, Coach Bryant would place a pillow about 1-2 feet down from the headboard in the center of his bed. He would then lie face down into the pillow for 20-30 minutes contemplating all the scenarios he could imagine happening during the game. Not a great story, but interesting.
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At some point during his career, Bryant's teams began playing earlier and earlier in the season. The weather was very hot and he changed the dress code from coats and ties to short sleeve polo shirts and slacks. One particular big road game (Coach Oliver didn't say which), just after the change in dress code was made, all the players and coaches made their way to the dining room where they were eating pre-game in the new attire. Coach Bryant looked up from his newspaper, made a face, and said "I want every one of you to turn around and go change. Every one should be back here in 15 minutes with a tie. You guys look awful." Coach Oliver reports everyone scrambling from the room, desperately searching for a tie. Players were borrowing ties from coaches, other players and random guests at the hotel. They were ripping ties in half and making bow ties from whatever they could (because not many of them thought to bring a tie with the new dress code). Everyone scrambled back to the dining hall and made it in time, with various degrees of ties. Coach Bryant folded his newspaper and put it down and looked out across the room...and began to laugh hysterically. He knew his team was too uptight for the game and this was his way of loosening them up.
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There were a few more stories that I can't remember well enough to tell them, but those were the ones I thought were the best. Hope you enjoyed.