News Article: Coach "Brother" Bill Oliver passes away

[cdub55]

Rest in Heaven coach.

Legendary Alabama football coach, winner of 5 national championship rings, dead at 85

Bill 'Brother' Oliver was the architect of Alabama’s historic 1992 defense.

www.al.com

 

[mlh]

He was a good one.

 

[CoolBreeze]

RIP Coach.

 

[CB72]

Godspeed coach Oliver.
That 92 defense was something very special.

 

[BamaMoon]

Godspeed coach Oliver.
That 92 defense was something very special.

Gino Terretta is still having nightmares about the Sugar Bowl.

Other than the 2009 and 2017 NC games, this game is probably my favorite. For those that don't remember or were alive or old enough, Miami was supposed to kill us with their high powered offense, but Brother Oliver had something for them they didn't see coming.

Although we dominated the game, I never felt comfortable until it was over because Miami was so potent and could score on any play.

But they had no chance because of Bama's defensive gameplan!

 

[BamaDMD]

Gino Terretta is still having nightmares about the Sugar Bowl.

Other than the 2009 and 2017 NC games, this game is probably my favorite. For those that don't remember or were alive or old enough, Miami was supposed to kill us with their high powered offense, but Brother Oliver had something for them they didn't see coming.

Although we dominated the game, I never felt comfortable until it was over because Miami was so potent and could score on any play.

But they had no chance because of Bama's defensive gameplan!

Amen. I sat on the edge of the couch the entire game. That team could score in 25 seconds. The game was a masterclass of defense.

 

[bamadwain]

Probably the best game plan and execution ever in a college football game, RIP

 

[Bama9001]

RIP coach. I remember this game so distinctly because I was in Wuerzburg, Germany at the time. The game came on around 2:00 AM and I was cooking breakfast late in the 4th quarter.

The game was supposed to be a rout but CBO had a plan. Pretty sure it was a California paper that had their pregame analysis and pick titled "Tide Awaits Execution". That or something very similar. Searched for that article a while back but couldn't find it.

 

[BhamToTexas]

I used to work with a guy that was good friends with Brother. He told me he called him before that 92 game because he was thinking about betting on Bama. Brother told him to bet the house, they can't score on us.

 

[dtgreg]

Don't forget 1979 DC at Alabama and a few years prior. Thanks CPB. And thanks to Hootie for bringing in that awesome Danny Ford Clemson staff!

 

[GboyBama]

Some years after the '92 NC, I ran into an longtime assistant of Dennis Erickson's in the Senior Bowl parking lot in Mobile. I think Erickson and his staff had just been fired in Seattle, so I believe the guy was between jobs and was just in Mobile to get some facetime with NFL coaches, do some scouting or whatever.

I couldn't resist asking him about "that night" and his change in demeanor spoke volumes. He adjusted his ball cap and shrugged saying he'd never seen a squad outcoach them like happened in New Orleans. He said that in real time, they were all shellshocked and were asking each other, "What the heck are they doing??" It became clear none of them had figured it out still, to that day.

Funny thing I remember was that he credited the strategy totally to Stallings by name. I suggested that folks around our parts generally credited Bill Oliver with coming up with the plan, but he was adamant that it wasn't the case. I'll never know for sure what was going on with that. Could he have had insider knowledge of some kind? Could Bebes have had a major hand in the strategy, but was happy for Oliver to get all the credit? Or, maybe most likely, Erickson and his staff were so disinterested in Bama, thinking they'd easily dominate us and that we were a relic of the past, that they didn't even bother knowing who they were coaching against?

Either way, bless Brother Oliver. He was a great one and the DC I measure all others by.

 

[TideMan09]

Defenses were always top notch under Brother Bill..Just like offenses under Homer Smith..

They both transcended the game.of football..

RIP Brother Bill & Coach Smith!!!!

 

[dtgreg]

Some years after the '92 NC, I ran into an longtime assistant of Dennis Erickson's in the Senior Bowl parking lot in Mobile. I think Erickson and his staff had just been fired in Seattle, so I believe the guy was between jobs and was just in Mobile to get some facetime with NFL coaches, do some scouting or whatever.

I couldn't resist asking him about "that night" and his change in demeanor spoke volumes. He adjusted his ball cap and shrugged saying he'd never seen a squad outcoach them like happened in New Orleans. He said that in real time, they were all shellshocked and were asking each other, "What the heck are they doing??" It became clear none of them had figured it out still, to that day.

Funny thing I remember was that he credited the strategy totally to Stallings by name. I suggested that folks around our parts generally credited Bill Oliver with coming up with the plan, but he was adamant that it wasn't the case. I'll never know for sure what was going on with that. Could he have had insider knowledge of some kind? Could Bebes have had a major hand in the strategy, but was happy for Oliver to get all the credit? Or, maybe most likely, Erickson and his staff were so disinterested in Bama, thinking they'd easily dominate us and that we were a relic of the past, that they didn't even bother knowing who they were coaching against?

Either way, bless Brother Oliver. He was a great one and the DC I measure all others by.

Stallings was an awesome DC for the Cowboys during their glory years under Tom Landry. I've often wondered how much input he had in that plan.

 

[Superdad]

Great defensive coach!
I'll never forgive him for reading the Auburn creed, though.