Word: alabama
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Bryant's early years at Alabama were stormy. There were no recruiting violations. But the reputation for brutality persisted, although it took a different form. This time the charge was that Bryant coached his teams to play too rough. He taught gang tackling; "pursuit" is the euphemism, and mayhem is occasionally the result, when swarms of tacklers bang into the ball carrier. In 1962 the Saturday Evening Post printed a story accusing him of teaching "dirty football," and later ran an article claiming that he and Wally Butts, the University of Georgia athletic director, had conspired...
Bryant was settling down and building an athletic empire at his alma mater. Last year Alabama spent some $5 million on sports, and its athletic budget was still comfortably in the black. A $5 million fieldhouse, a $2 million track stadium and a new $2.4 million swimming and diving center were financed by football profits. Acres of tennis courts and other recreational facilities for students have been constructed from the vast haul of television royalties and bowl-appearance money earned by Bryant's teams...
...have chickens," says Bryant, "before you can make chicken salad." He now leaves most of the barnstorming to ten assistants, but in his time he was a courtly and soft-spoken charmer who persuaded parents in order to win over their strong and swift sons.* To sell Alabama, his staff tells prospects, with veracity, that they will have a chance to play on a national championship team if they come with the Bear. Rival coaches try to turn Bryant's reputation to their advantage. Says Auburn Coach Doug Barfield: "We have to sell the concept of having a chance...
...Alabama Trainer Jim Goosetree, who has watched Bryant refine his approach in the past 22 years, puts it more precisely. Says he: "There is a degree of fear motivation still present in his personality. It's the fear of failing to live up to his expectations. He has recognized that the values of young people are different from what they were at one time; but in a fatherly way, he still demands a degree of discipline that is high...
...notice before each game. He leads his team in a street-clothes tour of the stadium before retiring to the locker room. Following their coach's example, the players peer at the sun, test the wind, check the footing on the field. The message to rivals is clear: Alabama is checking things out; Alabama will be ready...