Thursday, 21 November 2024

    Paul "Bear" Bryant

    • Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
    • Embed from Getty Images
    • Sport(s): Football
    • Statistics: 6 NCAA National Championships (1951, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978 & 1979)
      14 SEC Championships (1950, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979 & 1981)
      1 SWC Championship (1956)
      3 AFCA Coach of the Year Awards (1961, 1971 & 1973)
      12 SEC Coach of the Year Awards (1950, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979 & 1981)
      325-85-17 NCAA Record
      15-2-2 Bowl Record
      Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
    • Alabama football and Paul "Bear" Bryant are as synonymous as salt and pepper, but Bryant was already flirting with greatness before arriving in Tuscaloosa.

      Bryant played his college ball with the Crimson Tide (1933-35) and later served as their assistant coach (1936-40). Leaving for other coaching jobs, Bryant won his first head coaching gig at Maryland (1945) and moved on to Kentucky (1946-53) and Texas A&M (1954-57), where he led both the Wildcats and Aggies to a division title. A proven commodity, Alabama offered him the head coach and athletic director roles. Bryant couldn't say no.

      Bryant was Alabama's coach from 1957 to 1983, and what he accomplished there was nothing short of outstanding. The Crimson Tide won six National Championships, winning five Sugar Bowls, two Orange Bowls, one Cotton Bowl, and 13 conference titles. Bryant was tough on his players, but they were better for it

      Named the AFCA Coach of the Year three times, Bryant was also the SEC Coach of the Year 12 times. There are coaches who have more ticks in the win column than Bryant, but few are respected more.

      We are proud to nominate Paul “Bear” Bryant for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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