Bear Bryant's retirement was too short

By Dick Heller (of The Washington Times)

Fred Glasgow, the pastor of Marble City Baptist Church in Sylacauga, Ala., had not expected to meet the great man when he wrote him a letter. He was hoping perhaps to obtain an autographed picture for his son, Fred Jr., who was about to celebrate his 16th birthday.

But miracles can happen, and so it was that the Glasgows found themselves in the University of Alabama football office on Jan. 22, 1983, shaking hands with the Crimson Tide's recently retired football coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant. And the preacher chided the coach for working at 10:30 on a Saturday morning instead of enjoying his newfound leisure.

"I've really enjoyed [working long hours]," Bryant replied, according to the Decatur (Ala.) Daily News. " But you know, I'm tired. I'm really tired."

Bryant's remarks were a harbinger. Four days later, the legendary coach died of a heart attack at age 69 -- less than a month after ending his 37-year career at four colleges (Maryland in 1945, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Alabama). The Glasgows are believed to have been the last people to visit him at his office.

Bryant's 323rd victory, then a record, came against Illinois 21-15 in the Liberty Bowl at Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 29. Ironically, he went into a hospital for a checkup Jan. 25 and was pronounced in reasonably good health. But he returned the following day because of chest pains and died shortly thereafter from a massive heart attack.

The man in the houndstooth hat was gone but certainly not forgotten. His spirit and shadow loom over every subsequent coach at Alabama, where football is a religion to many. During Bryant's 25 years (1958-83) at his alma mater, the Crimson Tide won six national championships (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979), 13 SEC titles and had a gaudy record of 232-46-9 (.824).

What's more, Bryant helped a Deep South state and university free itself from the moral and legal shackles of racial prejudice. When he began coaching at Alabama, the school and football team were entirely white. When he retired, they were anything but. Click here to read more