This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Hugh Scott (Scoop), LCDR
to remember
Bryant, Paul, LCDR.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Paul Bryant was the 11th of 12 children born to William Monroe and Ida Kilgore Bryant, a farming family, in Moro Bottom, Arkansas, USA.
Date of Passing Jan 26, 1983
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
LCDR Bryant served in the Navy, on the USAT Uruguay, before becoming the head coach of a preflight training school football team in North Carolina.
Other Comments:
Coach Bryant became Leuteniant Commander Bryant in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed on the USAT Uruguay in North Africa. While Bryant saw no actual fighting, he did escape death when his ship was rammed in February, 1943. Many of his shipmates drowned, but Bryant luckily survived.
1958-1983, University of Alabama
FromYear 1958
ToYear 1983
College University of Alabama
Major Head Football Coach
Patch
University of Alabama Details
Contact Phone Number Not Specified
Contact Email Not Specified
Year Established
0
Address Not Specified
Website Not Specified
Last Updated:Jan 19, 2010
Personal Memories
Other Memories Sept. 27, 1958 - The Bryant Era begins in earnest when the Crimson Tide faces eventual national champion LSU at Ladd Stadium in Mobile. Despite being out manned, the Tide takes a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, prompting a standing ovation from the Bama crowd. Although the Tigers win 13-3, there is no doubt it won't be long before Alabama is back. Fred Sington, Jr., kicked the field goal for the first points.
November 28, 1959 - Alabama beats Auburn 10-0 for the first win over the Tigers since 1953 and the Tide has definitely turned. A month later Bama is back in the bowl business, losing 7-0 to Penn State in the inaugural Liberty Bowl, held in Philadelphia's Franklin Field.
1961 - After telling his new team in 1958 that if they believed in themselves and his plan they'd be national champions in 1961, Alabama does just that as Bryant becomes national coach of the year and the Tide has its first AP national title.
January 1, 1962 - Alabama caps off the '61 run with a 10-3 victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, the first ever victory for the Crimson Tide in the Crescent City Classic.
January 1, 1963 - With President John F. Kennedy looking on, the Crimson Tide beats Oklahoma and Bud Wilkinson 17-0 in the Orange Bowl. Bryant's favorite linebacker Lee Roy Jordan is credited with 31 tackles while sophomore passing sensation Joe Namath dissects the Sooner defense.
1964 - Alabama returns to the national championship throne with a November run that included a 17-9 win over unbeaten LSU at Legion Field, a 24-7 stinging of Georgia Tech in Atlanta and a 21-14 Thanksgiving feast over Auburn at Legion Field.
January 1, 1966 - Paul Bryant's Tide claims the national title for 1965 on the first day of 1966 when Alabama stuns unbeaten Nebraska 39-28 in the Orange Bowl. It was the first ever night bowl game. Steve Sloan is the MVP. Bama had entered the game No. 4 and climbed over Michigan State (losers to UCLA in the Rose), Arkansas (losers to LSU in the Cotton) and Nebraska to claim the title.
1966 - Alabama goes perfect in '66 but the polls elect Notre Dame No. 1 despite the Irish's decision to refrain from appearing in bowls. In one of the most draining games in Tide history, Paul Bryant's Tide rallies behind Kenny Stabler for an 11-10 victory over Tennessee on a rainy day in Knoxville.
1968 - Paul Bryant makes news away from the football field when he receives 1 1/2 votes for the Democratic Presidential nomination at the convention held in Chicago.
1971 - It was sink or swim, according to Paul Bryant, after his teams suffered from his standards sub par seasons from 1967-70. Visiting with Darrell Royal in Austin, Bryant decides to go to the wishbone and elicits vows of secrecy from all connected to the program.
September 10, 1971 - Alabama unveils the wishbone at the Los Angeles Coliseum on a Friday night and the Bryant Magic is back as the Tide stuns the college football world with a 17-10 victory over John McKay's Trojans. It was the 200th career win for Bryant and probably none was sweeter than this one. It returned Alabama to its rightful spot in college football and quelled the rumors of the demise of Bryant, a day before he turned 58 years old.
1975 - Bryant tells his friend Aruns Callery of the Sugar Bowl in March that he wants to play in the first ever classic in the newly built Superdome; and he wants a name opponent. On December 31, 1975, the Crimson Tide plays Penn State and beats the Lions 13-6.
1977 - Paul Bryant's Tide beats No. 1 Southern California in Los Angeles and rolls to No. 3 in the polls setting up a Sugar Bowl showdown with acclaimed Ohio State coach Woody Hayes. Alabama and the Tide beat the Buckeyes 35-6 on January 2, 1978, to finish the season 11-1 and ranked second in both major polls.
January 1, 1979 - For a game that forever became known for the goal line stand, Alabama beats Penn State 14-7 to clinch the national championship for the 1978 season. After the game, Bryant says, "There is only one team that could have stopped Penn State on the goal line and that team is Alabama."
1979 - For the final time Bryant wins the national title, his sixth, as the Crimson Tide rolls through the season with a perfect 12-0 record, including a 24-9 win over Arkansas and Lou Holtz in the Sugar Bowl.
December 15, 1982 - Paul Bryant officially announces his retirement from the University of Alabama. Including the bowl win over Illinois, Bryant finishes with a record of 232-46-9 for his 25 years at the Capstone.
December 29, 1982 - Coaching in his final game, Paul Bryant and his Crimson Tide beat Illinois 21-15 at the Liberty Bowl played in Memphis, Tenn. Jeremiah Castille, a senior cornerback, is the MVP after intercepting three Illini passes. Craig Turner scores the final TD of the Bryant Era while Peter Kim's PAT is the final point of the legendary coach's career.
January 26, 1983 - Coach Paul Bryant dies at Druid City Hospital where he had entered the night before after suffering chest pains while visiting his friend Jimmy Hinton. The Coach was 69-years-old.
January 28, 1983 - Paul William Bryant is laid to rest at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Ala. Tommy Wilcox, Paul Ott Carruth, Walter Lewis, Jerrill Sprinkle, Mike McQueen, Paul Fields, Jeremiah Castille and Darryl White serve as the pallbearers.