Who is Alabama's All-Time Toughest Player

RedStar

Hall of Fame
Jan 28, 2005
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The Shoals, AL
I haven't been around forever, and I haven't gotten to see every Alabama player who has stepped on the field.

But one of my favorite players, and one of the toughest player of all time, and the one guy I respected the most on the field would have to be:

Lane Bearden.

He was the man
 
After seeing how he handled

his leg snapping I would have to put Tyrone pretty high on the list. Lane is a good choice, given how he punted most of the season with a bad plant leg.
 
yeah the dude PUNTED for a 40 yard average with a TORN ACL! Not only that he was still making tackles with a torn ACL, the man was amazing to me.
 
I do recall a story of a legendary Bama player playing a game with a broken leg.
I believe his name was Paul Bryant or something like that. ;)
 
If Pro is correct...

in thinking his leg actually broke on the fumbled punt, then we have at least two players who've played on a broken leg... :D
 
I'm only 30 so I can only remember from around the mid 80's to the present. Someone you may not think about is Freddie Kitchens. He was very tough and took a lot of big hits. Also, our present QB Brodie has to be up there too because of the separated shoulder season.
 
TIDE-HSV said:
in thinking his leg actually broke on the fumbled punt, then we have at least two players who've played on a broken leg... :D

And if I remember correctly, the last guy didn't work out so badly for us in the end.
 
I think Bully Vandegraff would have to be considered. The dude was gonna rip off part of his ear to get back in the game. Now, that's true dedication.
 
Sorry I havn't checked the board in a few days, but I saw on this thread that Pro thinks he broke his leg at the begining of the game? Where can i read about this one, I looked around but couldn't find a thread?
 
I don't care if you're 5 or 175 (I'm 39)...Paul Bryant was THE toughest. Vaughn Mancha (1944-1947) would be second. All of you young guys need to learn about our history and tradition.
 
lane is the first to come to mind. but....

2 yrs ago brodie played most of the year with a separated shoulder and broke ribs, among other injuries. spencer, finished the year that way as well last year.
 
I guess you'd really have to define your version of "tough". When I think of "the toughest", the first thing that comes to my mind is who I'd want at my back in a barroom brawl. Try as hard as I can and I can't think of anybody I'd rather have than Paul Bryant. I might not hold up my end but I'd never worry about my back!
 
I don't think a real footbal power can have a kicker be it's toughest player. No knock on Lane, but we've had too many others who had their noses right in the middle of the action all through the game, many of them on offense and defense. We can't ignore them in favor of a kicker who only participates in a handful of plays each game.
 
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