Coach Bryant question for the forum

[BayouTiger]

I have a question regarding Coach Bryant’s playing years at the University of Alabama. I know that he accepted a scholarship in 1931. Coach Bryant was from around the Fordyce, Arkansas area if I recall correctly, correct me if I am wrong. At the time of his scholarship, the nation was in the grip of the Depression. I am thinking, also around this time, which is the early years of college football, most players played at in state universities. No doubt, it was unlike today, with easier travel means or great knowledge of star high school players. Again, perhaps my thinking is incorrect?

Ok, now I can get to my question for the forum. Can anyone shed light on how his scholarship offer came about? I know he was an outstanding high school player, but how did it happen that he chose the University of Alabama over the instate university or some other university closer to his hometown?

Any insight is appreciated. Also, best of luck tomorrow…thanks

 

[Dallas4Bama]

According to Coach Bryant he always wanted to go to Alabama. He said he heard them on the radio and read about them in the paper and was fascinated by the Crimson Tide. There was also a man there in the area that had a pool hall where all the kids hung out that had just adopted the University of Alabama as his favorite team. Coach Bryant credited him with swaying recruit like Don Hutson and himself for example to Alabama with his shear enthusiasm. The coaches actually went to Fordyce to recruit the Jordan twins and he said he was waiting on them when they got there. That's the story according to Coach Bryant. I'm sure others can provide more details.

One more thing, that pool hall owner started recruiting for LSU after Huey P Long was elected. That is of course according to Coach's recollection.

 

[AeroEngUA07]

Not completely sure but that was right after Wallace Wade's heyday and lots of Southern Boys wanted to play for Alabama. Frank Thomas had just come from Notre Dame and folks were excited about him. Also someone from Coach Bryant's neck of the woods had just gone to Alabama the year before, but I can't remember the name. They had played against each other in high school so this guy knew Coach Bryant was a tough player. That's the best I can remember from reading his biography.

 

[BayouTiger]

Thanks for the two messages thus far. I guess that the radio answer would make sense as that was really the only form of mass communication whereby kids would have "learned" of different places. Yeah, I know the newspaper was also a big thing, but I am sure kids back then were no different kids today in actually sitting down and reading a newspaper.

 

[Dallas4Bama]

Also someone may correct me on this but I believe Coach Hank Crisp is the one actually credited with recruiting Coach and bringing him back to Tuscaloosa. He hadn't even graduated high school when he came to town and had to attend Tuscaloosa High School to become eligible to play.

Aero the guys name you can't remember was Don Hutson. He was one of several boys from the area that went to Alabama. There were actually a lot of Arkansas boys on the team during the 20's, 30's and 40's.

 

[AeroEngUA07]

Aero the guys name you can't remember was Don Hutson. He was one of several boys from the area that went to Alabama. There were actually a lot of Arkansas boys on the team during the 20's, 30's and 40's.

Yeah you posted just before me and i smacked my forehead when I read your post. I also had forgotten about the Jordan twins.

 

[IMALOYAL1]

According to Coach Bryant he always wanted to go to Alabama. He said he heard them on the radio and read about them in the paper and was fascinated by the Crimson Tide.

Back then Alabama had put Southern football on the map with it's big Rose Bowl wins. Almost every player from the South was well aware of Alabama and the Pride of the South. No other Southern team came close to what Coach Wade and Alabama had done in the Rose Bowl and every good High School player new about Alabama. There was not a lot the South could compare too with the North, East, and West Coast except Alabama Football. The South was considered 2nd rate in all things during those days. Alabama football was something to rally around for the poor hard working people in the South.

Maybe Earl could shed some light on how it was to live in that era.DT_gy:DT_old:

 

[rtr1973]

Check out The Story of Bear Bryant

By 1930, Coach Wallace Wade's Alabama teams had twice been recognized as National Champions (1925 and 1926) and had firmly established Bama as that era's Football Power of the South.

One day, University of Alabama assistant coach Hank Crisp came to town to recruit Fordyce's talented Jordan twins. Crisp didn't sign the twins but he was impressed enough with Bryant and offered him a scholarship to Alabama.

BTW - Hank Crisp (an Arkansas native) signed two great ones from the State of Arkansas to Alabama that year - Paul Bryant from Fordyce and future College/Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Hutson from Pine Bluff.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

It was indeed Coach Crisp who recruited Coach Bryant. Coach Crisp was in charge of athletic facilities when I was a freshman in 1957-1958. I lived the old converted hospital, Northington Campus at the time, and played BB there in the gym. Coach Crisp was nominally in charge and would come by to check on the gym. He had pretty much lost his battle with the bottle by that time and would probably not held a job elsewhere, but CPB stood by his friends and he never forgot that CHC had been the one to give him an exit from poverty. Coach Crisp had lost his left hand as a kid and he never tried to cover the stump. It gave him sort of a Captain Hook air. He also had a big, thin, convex nose. By coincidence, he had tried several years earlier to recruit my dad, after he had seen him playing baseball in Cullman County. My dad was a young widower, early 20s, at the time and couldn't see his way clear to take the offer. The offer included finishing HS at Tuscaloosa HS and providing child care for my older half-brother. I've posted this before, but I'm sure an LSU member wouldn't have seen it. My dad died in February, 1958, but just before he died, it was announced that Coach Bryant was returning to Bama. One of the last things he said to my mom was that Alabama was going to be all right, Coach Bryant was coming home...

 

[Spot Dailey]

Great story Earle. My older brother and I were gym rats back in the late 50s and early 60s. We used to play YMCA basketball at Foster Auditorium and hang around as much as was allowed. Played a lot at the old Northington Gym as well. That was walking distance from Loop Road. Coach Hank was always sticking his head in to make sure no one was tearing up the joint.
As kids we had the run of those old buildings at Northington. I was born at Northington when it was a hospital. I went to grammar school there and on weekends we'd find a place to break in and explore the long vacated sections of the campus. Some of the hallways sloped down and seem to go for miles. We used to have wheel chair races down those halls. I was also there the day they blew up the old smokes stacks in that Burt Reynolds movie whose name escapes me.
Anyway, Coach Crisp was alway checking in to all the facilities he "managed" during his tenure. We got to know him pretty well. He was a cool old guy as I remember. If any of us got out of hand he'd whack us across the backside with that nub and we'd straighten up quick. But he never talked down to us. We knew a lot about his legendary status even though he was a shell of his former self.
Anyway, enjoyed your story. Here's to Coach Hank.

 

[rtr1973]

I was also there the day they blew up the old smokes stacks in that Burt Reynolds movie whose name escapes me.

The movie title was Hooper

 

[Ldlane]

Our insurance man in Illinois was one of the Jordan Twins. According to him, Coach Bryant went along with them to a tryout and was asked to put on some pads and give it a go. The rest is History.

 

[Dallas4Bama]

Earl I think I read last year they were doing excavation work and found some of those buildings you went to school in. I believe they unearthed steps going down into the basement of your old dorm. They had found them while repaving I believe..

 

[eladabbub]

Heck, back then it was probably an easier trip to Tuscaloosa from Fordyce than it was to Fayetteville.

 

[Dallas4Bama]

Back then? I'm not sure its any better today. Fayettville is one of the most difficult place to get to on earth. Then of course once you get there you realize you just drove all that way to get to Fayettville. Its kind of like that comedian that talked about waking up late for a job you hate. You're late for something you hate, but you still have to go and you're late on top of it. Ugh!

 

[SirCrimson]

Did Coach Bryant have a degree?

 

[GrayTide]

Earle, Coach Crisp was still on the staff when I started at the University. I remember he had lost a hand. Do you recall how that happened, seems like it was a farm accident. We use to play intramural basketball games in Foster Auditorium and I can remember him prowling around Foster. Coach Bryant always credited Coach Crisp for getting him the scholarship to Alabama. In those days the players had to work to help with the cost of school and I think Coach Bryant bussed tables in one of the cafeterias.

 

[Squirrely]

Thanks for the cool reads in this thread....
Love reading cool stories about Bama football......

:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA:

 

[bamanut_aj]

I love threads like this one. Great stories, guys!

 

[Dallas4Bama]

I agree, you can learn more in threads like this than from reading biographies. As a man in my mid 30's I can only imagine what it must have been like to have been on campus during the Bryant era. Some of these stories actually bring out just a bit of jealousy in me that you enjoyed what was one of the greatest times to be at The University. I was fortunate enough to be at the Capstone during the Stallings year and feel bad for those who have attended in the last 10 years, not knowing "that feeling".

BTW Earle I hope you know those remarks were all in fun and I have the upmost respect for you and all of my elders.