Where were you the day Paul "Bear" Bryant died? How did it affect you?

What other memories do you have of the legendary coach?

Check out our online special section honoring Paul "Bear" Bryant and the 25th Anniversary of his passing: http://www.tidesports.com/section/bryant_25

I was in college at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN. I have been an Alabama fan all my life (Raise in Florida). One of my co-workers hollered at me that morning and related that coach Bryant was in the hospital with chest pains. It was about 3-4 hours later that he died. I cried, because he was my idol growing up. That night on TV all the local channels carried the story, and all of the local broadcasters (sports anchors) were crying. It was a dark day for Alabama athletics. He will always be missed!

RTR

Steve Coleman
Lakeland, FL

I was coming home from a friends house when I heard the news. What happened when I got home shows the impact of The Bear on Alabamians.

My Mom was never a football fan. Every Sunday as I watched The Bear Bryant Show my Mom would fuss about Coach Bryant's gravelly voice. "Good Lord he sounds like a bumble bee in a gourd" she would exclaim. She always made sure she was out of ear shot of the show.

I got home from my friends house rushed in and turned on the TV to see the news of Coach Bryants death. In a few minutes I heard crying coming from the kitchen. It was my Mom. I ran in to see what was wrong, no boy wants to hear his Mom cry, and said "What's wrong mama?" I thought she had cut herself or something. She said "I'm just crying about that old Bear." I said "I thought you didn't like him." She said "He got on my nerves talking but He was an awfully good man and I am sorry for all the folks he meant so much to."

Thats my memory of Bears death. In the kitchen comforting my Mom, a non-football fan, who grasped the greatness of a man called The Bear.

Dewayne - Birmingham, Alabama

I was working in a paper mill for Union Camp in Savannah, GA. I came in from the mill to my desk and one of the guys told me that Coach had died. All day long these Ga, FL and SC fans came by my desk and told me they were sorry to hear the news. Everyone respected Coach Bryant.

John Carter
Nashville, TN
MMI 76
Bama 79

I was visiting my in-laws in North Carolina. My husband heard about Bear's death on the news and came out into the front yard to tell me. I immediatly broke down into tears as I felt that I had lost a dear family member. My sister in laws pulled up and asked what in the world had happened. I explained to them that Bear had died. They thought I was speaking of my doberman pincher who I had affectionatly named afte my hero, Bear. They were concerned he had been hit by a car. I told them, no Coach Bryant had died of a heart attck. They of course did not understand my grief, nor could I have expected them to. It was a sad, dark day for Bama fans across the nation. I tear up thinking about it even now, all these years later. We miss you Coach.

TJ
Wilmington, North Carolina

I was in high school at the time and had stayed home from school sick that day. I had collected a number of newsclipings and press guides over the years and that day my mom came home from work with a crimson scrapbook. I collected the clippings from the next few days and put them all in the scrapbook. I still pull it down from time to time. I even have the Sports Illustrated cover from the goal line stand in that book. That is my memory of the day the Bear died.

I was in the middle of having a son born when the man died, so the memory of when and where I was has faded.

Thinking back though, knowing what I know now and having seen others, the man was dying before our eyes, but we did not want to see that and have to confront that inevitability.

Please pardon our selfishness, but Tide fans knew there would never be another for possibly our lifetime.

Bear Bryant will not really die until the last Alabama fan leaves this earth.

I was a Captain, stationed at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, a KC-135 Tanker Navigator, and a scheduler for my Squadron. Because I was sitting alert, I was just coming into the family visitation center with the rest of my crew. I walked in the door and was immediately asked if I had heard the news. The television was on and I got to see the news report as it came in.

I went numb. It didn't seem real. I kept thinking it just wasn't true. It was a short 1 or 2 minute news report and when it was over, it dawned on me the entire room was silent. No one spoke a word. Then everyone began to come over to talk to me. It was no secret I graduated from Alabama and was proud of it. So, it was like they were comforting me over the loss of a member of my family...and they were correct.

Shortly I needed to go by my office at Scheduling. My boss was from Auburn, so you can imagine the razzing the two of us would give each other. When I walked in, he got up from behind his desk, walked over, smiled, and asked me how I was "holding up." I was still in a daze, and I think he was having a hard time coming to grips with the news as well.

That night, I called my folks in Birmingham. It was a sad, tough phone call. That is when I broke down and cried...talking to my folks...they were crying also.

While we talked, I found out something I didn't know. The previous year, Coach Bryant had mentioned in an interview he needed to replace his hat, but was having a tough time finding one. My dad found out about the interview and it turned out, he had a houndstooth hat he had been saving for years. So, they both took off work and drove to the Athletic Department in Tuscaloosa, with hat in hand. They meant to just drop it off with the secretary, but the next thing they knew, they were sitting down talking to Coach Bryant himself. My dad said Coach Bryant seemed embarrassed that anyone would drive all that way just to bring him a hat. Turns out the hat was just a bit too small, but he wanted to personally thank them for their kindness in thinking about him.

Even after all there years, I still miss not having Coach Bryant around. He was someone you grew to trust, grew to respect, and grew to love. He became a member of your family. He was a one-of-a-kind individual and we were blessed to have had him as a part of our lives.


Ed - Jonesboro, Georgia

"What goes around, comes around."

I was in the 8th grade, the teacher announced it in the middle of class. I remember a kid giggled when she announced it and my teacher snapped at her and told her it was nothing to laugh at. I watched every game with my dad and I knew he was going to be very upset.

Jeff
Mobile,Al

I was at work the day I heard about it.I worked in a chemical plant in Atlanta,and a co-worker came by and told me.I really didn't(couldn't,wouldn't)believe him until I heard it on the radio.I left work,because I didn't want them see me cry.He had more influence on more people than almost any person I can remember.RIP Coach.
Marvin Reese / Clyde,N.C.

I don't remember the exact place, but I remember my state of mind. I was a stupid kid, less than a year out of high school, acting like a stupid kid just out of high school. I learned of mortality at an earlier age than most stupid kids. If the Bear could die, then so could I. Like many, I felt like a member of my family had passed.

oh..
Phillip, Jacksonville, Al. Lifelong Tide fan, may we roll into the future.

I was in the corps, most of the guys around me didnt really understand why I was so quiet(not meand down. I grave them a little history and how a grown man, marine would shed a tear at some old coach dieing. I dont think they really ever understood. Doesnt matter,he was a great man and coach.
I met coach several times, my best friend's dad was close to the team and they lived just around the block. My best memory was having a tomato sandwich with my friend at their house with Mrs Bryant and in walked coach, he joined us aned chatted for about 20 minutes(AWESOME
I spent some bama games on the side lines while in high school(T-high)and he would come over and say hi sometimes. What a amazing man and coach.
I miss him still
ROLL TIDE ROLL! SEMPER FI!

Mullen, you are gonna finally have me reveal my real name.

Todd Whisenhunt, Hueytown AL.

I was a Sophomore at Hueytown High School. I was a football player and we were out on the practice field running and doing "dips" on the dip bars. It was 3:00 and time for school to end. One of the Senior players came out of the field house and told me that Coach Bryant had died. I was crushed. I had a picture of him in my locker behind my helmet, and it was my dream to play for him. His retirement ended my dream, but his death finalized it and gave me new goals.

I remember it as if it were yesterday. Scott Short (who played and started for 4 years at Southern Miss) walked out and told me. I dont' remember if I cried, but I should have.

I WAS IN HOUSTON TX THE DAY COACH BRYANT LEFT US. I CAME HOME FROM WORK AND MY WIFE AND A VERY GOOD FRIEND WAS WAITING OUT IN THE FRONT YARD FOR ME. I KNEW INSTANTLY BY THE LOOK ON THIER FACES SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT SOME OF MY CLOSE FAMILY HAD DIED, THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT COACH WAS GONE. ALTHOUGH I HAD NEVER MET THE MAN IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE I FELT WHEN MY LOVED ONES HAD PASSED AWAY! I SAW HIM ONCE, HE CAME TO MY HIGH SCHOOL IN ROSSVILLE, GA. TO RECRUIT A YOUNG MAN. THE SCHOOL HAD DISMISSED US EARLY THAT DAY AND WE WERE INSTRUCTED NOT TO BE ON THE SCHOOL YARD AFTER 2:00 PM. SO I STOOD ACROSS THE STREET AND WATCHED COACH ENTER AND EVENTUALLY LEAVE.MY FRIENDS THOUGHT I WAS NUTS, I TOLD THEM I HAD RATHER SEE COACH BRYANT THAN SHAKE HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA. YOU SEE, MY FATHER SIT MY BROTHER AND ME DOWN ABOUT 1962 IN FRONT OF OUR TV TO WATCH THE ALABAMA VS TENNESSE FOOTBALL GAME. I'LL NEVER FORGET HIM TELLING US IF WE WERE GONNA WATCH FOOTBALL WE MIGHT AS WELL WATCH THE BEST! HE SAID THE SEC WAS BY FAR THE BEST CONFERENCE AND THAT COACH BRYANT AND ALABAMA WAS THE BEST TEAM IN AMERICA! WELL THE REST IS HISTORY. MY LOVE FOR EVERYTHING ALABAMA WILL NEVER DIE! MY GOD I LOVE THE WAY HIS TEAMS PLAYED! WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW THEY ALWAYS MADE ME PROUD! SO WHAT DID I DO THE DAY COACH LEFT US? THE SAME THING MILLIONS DID! I SAT DOWN IN THE FLOOR AND I CRIED UNTIL I COULDN'T CRY ANYMORE! I MISS HIM AS MUCH TODAY AS I DID ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. I DON'T KNOW HOW A MAN I NEVER MET COULD MEAN AS MUCH AS HE DOES BUT I MISS HIM ALMOST AS MUCH AS MY MOM AND DAD WHO ARE NOW ALSO GONE! I AM GRATEFUL TO MY DAD FOR INTRODUCING ME TO SOMETHING I COULD LOVE ALL MY LIFE, AND ETERENALLY GRATEFUL TO COACH BRYANT AND ALL HIS BOYS FOR THE YEARS OF INSPIRATION AND PRIDE THEY GAVE ME. I'M SORRY IF I'VE WRITTEN A BOOK. BUT I ASSURE YOU I COULD WRITE ABOUT COACH BRYANT FOREVER! LET ME BORROW A LINE FROM THE MOVIE TROY, I'M PROUD TO HAVE LIVED IN THE TIME OF PAUL BRYANT, THE GREATEST COACH WHO EVER LIVED!!!! GIL FARMER LAPORTE, TX.