Bear Bryant Research Papers

Bear Bryant

Paul William “Bear” Bryant is considered to be one of the greatest and most successful football coaches in the history of the sport. Bryant coached at many different colleges including Maryland, Kentucky, and Texas A & M, but he felt at home at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Puma). Bryant served as head football coach of Alabama’s “Crimson Tide” for almost 25 years leading the team to a 193-32-5 record in the 1960s and 70’s and six national championships (Puma). He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 (Bio). Many people refer to Bear Bryant as “simply the best there ever was” (Puma). On September 11, 1913, Paul Bryant was born and became the 8th of 9 surviving children (three died at birth) to Monroe and Ida Bryant (Arkansas). He was a part of a poor farming family that lived in a rural area of Arkansas known as Moro Bottom

The Crimson Tide went 5-4-1 the first season with Bryant as head coach (World Biography). The next year, Bryant led his team to the Liberty Bowl which started a streak of 24 consecutive bowl games (World Biography). In the 1960s, Alabama went on to win three national championships in ‘61, ‘64, and ‘65 (Puma). In 1962, an article was written against Bryant saying that he “promoted unsportsmanlike conduct” against Georgia Tech when an Alabama player broke a Georgia Tech player’s jaw (World Biography). Bryant was then attacked again by an article saying that Bryant had rigged a game in where Alabama beat Georgia 35-0 (World Biography). Also during this time, Bryant received his famous houndstooth hat from the owner of the New York Jets when trying to recruit one of Bryant’s players for the American Football League (AFL) (Lettermen). After the 1969 season, Bryant was offered a position as head coach for the Miami Dolphins but he declined the offer and stayed at Alabama