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Article: He was a giant in the world of college football; In Alabama, Bear Bryant was as good as royalty.(FEATURES)(BOOKS)(Book Review)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- September 13, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Erik Spanberg
Even today, more than two decades after his death, the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium only after a recording of Bear Bryant's legendary growl blares throughout the stadium.
Mr. Bryant, known for his houndstooth hat and guttural rumble, strode the sidelines in Tuscaloosa for 25 years. He collected six national championships and won a then-record 323 games. In Alabama, he was royalty. More than a quarter of a million people witnessed his funeral procession in 1983.
The coach's ineffable appeal was of course intensified by geography. As Marino Casem, famed coach and administrator at black ...