"Quick, the game’s starting!” Ever since I was a little girl, I was always on the couch on Saturday mornings eager to watch football. My dad would come in and out of the room watching the highlights of the game, but I was glued to my seat. Even at the age of 5, I understood the basics of the game and followed all the plays. My dream was, and still is, to go to a college in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), or the Big 12. My early interest comes naturally since multiple family members went to college in the South, including my aunt, uncle, dad, grandfather, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-grandfather, 2 great-aunts, and 2 great uncles. I am following the family tradition because my great-grandfather had the same passion; he would spend Saturdays tied to the radio when he was a boy listening to games. His name was John Mason Williams, and he was able to experience and participate in the start of the University of Alabama’s football legacy. During my great-grandfather’s time playing in the early 1960s, he was coached by one of the best college football coaches in history, Bear Bryant. My love for college football and all its pageantry started well before I was born at the start of a prestigious and legendary dynasty in Alabama with my great-grandfather and Coach Bear Bryant.
(Me visiting the Alabama football stadium where my great grandpa played) Photo credit: My dad
Overall, Alabama football has won 18 national championships and 29 SEC conference championships, arguably representing the greatest success in college football history. Many players want to attend Alabama not only because of its historical success but because of the remarkable culture around player development. The program creates a culture where many players expect to play in the NFL after their college career.
(Bryce Young is receiving his Heisman trophy) Photo credit: Houston Chronicle
Most recently, in 2021, Bryce Young, a quarterback, was selected for the Heisman Trophy which is the most prestigious award in college football. You do not expect anything less from Alabama when it comes to winning trophies. That is why eight Alabama players have been finalists and 4 have won Heisman Trophies. It is truly inspiring to watch the teams every year be so successful at Alabama and also to see their passion for excellence. Growing up watching excellence every weekend and knowing it was part of my family legacy, I have a strong desire to continue that legacy by playing soccer at the highest collegiate level and maybe even following in my great-grandpa's footsteps at Alabama.
Alabama football is one of the most storied programs in history, and it contributed to the college football we know today. Early on in the twentieth century, the Alabama football program set a high standard of excellence in many ways. The game culture is unmatched with the traditions before and during games. Alabama fans love to cheer and sing their fight song, cheering on their mascot Big AL or repping in their Crimson Tide gear. Bear Bryant himself wore a houndstooth hat at each game, as seen in the picture below.
The coach that initially helped the program evolve was Coach Wallace who put Alabama on the map and made the school known to the West Coast. In 1923, he led Alabama to their first-ever Rose Bowl, beating Stanford. But the coach that really started the Alabama legacy was Bear Bryant when he became head coach in 1958. During his time there, he had 232 overall wins and won 6 national championships. That is the second most national championships a coach has ever achieved during their coaching career. Nick Saban, who retired this year, won 7 national championships at Alabama eclipsing Coach Bryant’s record! Wow!
Photo credit: Forbes
(Bear Bryant's statue at Alabama's stadium)
Photo credit: Hopkins
Bear Bryant was one of the best coaches in college football history, but he also changed history in another way by transforming people's stereotypes and changing people’s views about football in the 1950's. He was not afraid of what the world would think of him; he knew he wanted to make a difference at Alabama and in college football. Today, Bear Bryant is known for his legacy of inspiring athletes to address issues that need to be heard and to use their voice to make a difference. During a time of incredible racial tension, Coach Bryant recruited the first black assistant coach named Johnny Mitchell who now coaches in the NFL. Furthermore, Bryant shaped how people look at Black athletes. He observed how the University of Southern California built their football culture around their Black athletes' success, and this inspired Bear Bryant to make a difference also.
Assumptions might arise due to how successful Bryant's career was. For example, regarding his promotion of Black players, “You could argue that Coach Bryant just wanted to win more football games, but no matter his reasoning, his decision reshaped the history of college sports (Yaeger).” Sports are more than just a game, and they are an important part of life outside of the game. Without this life-changing decision to increase the diversity of his football team, Alabama would not be such an amazing program and such a successful part of the SEC.
(Coach Mitchell, Steelers' assistant coach)
Photo credit: Pittsburg Post Gazette
Following Traditions
In conclusion, the history of Coach Bear Bryant, Alabama football, and my great-grandpa has shaped who I am today. It is truly inspiring to watch the teams every year be so successful at Alabama and also to see their passion for excellence. Growing up watching their talent every weekend and knowing it was part of my family legacy, I have a strong desire to continue that legacy. There has never been a moment where I am not trying to be the best or not wanting to work hard. I know my family has a history of Division 1 athletes playing at the highest level of competition within the SEC. I have a strong desire to continue that tradition with my soccer career and maybe even follow in my great-grandpa's footsteps at Alabama.
Photo credit: Made by me on canva (my infographic)
Photo credit: Wikimedia commons
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