Alabama Football Tales: More than a Century of Crimson Tide Glory

by Lewis Bowling

Overview

The Crimson Tide's winning history is packed with fascinating stories of players and coaches who made the program the envy of every school in the nation. Now, author and sports historian Lewis Bowling presents a collection of tales that span the entirety of Alabama's history of hard-won glory. Blending humor, drama and historical accuracy, Bowling shares stories every Bama fan will love. Discover the Alabama team that pioneered innovations in forward passing, learn about Bear Bryant's stint as an assistant coach, relive the year that World War II forced Alabama to put its football season on hold and read the story of the soldier who credited his experience on the football field for his survival in battle. These stories, and many more, make Alabama Football Tales required reading for every fan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609497224
Publisher:	History Press, The
Publication date:	08/28/2012
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	451,569
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 6.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Lewis Bowling is the author of Wallace Wade: Championship Years at Alabama and Duke. His work has appeared in Bama Magazine, Alabama Alumni Magazine, and Alabama Encyclopedia Online.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 7

1 "We Therefore Got Rid of Him" 9

2 Bully and the Dangling Ear Episode 16

3 "That Cow College on the Other Side of the State" 21

4 110-0 24

5 "Southern Eleven Hand Penn First Defeat of Year" 26

6 There Was a Bear in Tuscaloosa before Bear Bryant 28

7 "Dixie Acclaims Her Heroes" 32

8 "Boys, We're Going to Win the Damn Championship This Year": Alabama 271, Opponents 13 39

9 Johnny Mack and Pooley 49

10 Football Freddy 51

11 Johnny Cain and the Baron of Barlow Bend 54

12 "Coach Wade's Teams Got the Ball Rolling Around Here 55

13 Frank Thomas: "He Played Football Under Rockne at Notre Dame" 62

14 Dixie and the Alabama Antelope 66

15 Assistant Coach Bear Bryant 70

16 A Year Without Football in Tuscaloosa 74

17 "My Football Training Saved Me from Sure Death" 78

18 Coach Thomas Gets Sick 80

19 "We Just Beat the Hell Out of Those Boys" 83

20 Coach Homer "Red" Drew 86

21 Hootie 90

22 "Mama" Called" 93

23 The Bear Is Back in Tuscaloosa 95

24 Glory Years for the Tide: 1960s and 1970s 97

25 "Nobody, I Mean Nobody, Ever Climbed the Tower 'Except Coach Bryant" 105

26 "These Little Ole Skinny Things": 1965 109

27 The Tide Rises Again: 1971 111

28 Alabama and Duke Through the Years 114

29 A Southern Belle 117

30 Coach Gryska 120

31 "Too Much Bama in Me" 123

About the Author 127