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Top TigerNet [29953]
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Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
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Oct 24, 2023, 10:45 AM
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I'm old. Real old. All the discussion about Dabo and the future of Clemson football jogged my memory. It happened way back when I was just graduating from high school, 1969. I was fuzzy on the details. Heck, I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning. I sure don't remember details from 50+ years ago.
So, I looked up some stats to refresh my memory.
From 1959 though 1967, with Bear coaching, Bama finished in the top 10 every year and won 3 national championships.
The next three years Bama went 8-3, 6-5, 6-5. (One loss was an embarrassing blowout by Southern Cal in Birmingham where Sam Cunningham scored 5 TDs against Bama.)
Fans were saying Bear was too old, too stubborn, the game had passed him by, etc. The glory years of Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler were gone never to return.
In 1971, Bear installed the Wishbone offense at Bama. They finished 11-1 and 4th in the nation. They continued to be a top 10 team annually. But, they didn't win a national championship until 1978. (They won another in 79.)
I'm not predicting that Dabo will have the same level of turnaround. Just pointing out the similarities. And, if the disgruntled fans got their way in 1970, Bama may have never had a 9 year run in the 70s where they won two national championships along with a 95-11 record
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Top TigerNet [30602]
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Should we adopt the Veer ? Worked for Marshall when they had
Oct 24, 2023, 11:29 AM
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depleted talent on the roster.
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Paw Warrior [4951]
TigerPulse: 100%
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No..the single wing
Oct 24, 2023, 11:32 AM
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let’s make Jess Neely and “the bashful baron proud!”
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National Champion [7989]
TigerPulse: 97%
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changing now is pointless. Clemson Football is in year 3 of this***
Oct 24, 2023, 11:38 AM
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Standout [242]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
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Oct 24, 2023, 11:53 AM
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Bret, I am very old, as well. A similar thing happened with Woody Hayes at Ohio State. He won 3 national championships in the late 1950s and early in the 1960s. Then he went 7 or 8 years without a championship and then won 2 more national championships. I think the lesson here is these great coaches had to adjust their approach, make changes and that lead to excellent results.
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National Champion [7167]
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
Oct 24, 2023, 12:00 PM
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What usually happens is once a coach slides down mountain, he never returns to top.
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National Champion [7625]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
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Oct 24, 2023, 12:01 PM
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Excellent poast Bret! Key thought being "Willingness to Change"....... The Bear could do it. Saban did it. Will Dabo?????
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National Champion [7564]
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
Oct 24, 2023, 12:02 PM
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I think the disgruntled fans that want Dabo gone are much less than 1.5%.
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National Champion [7167]
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
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Oct 24, 2023, 12:05 PM
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I don't think anyone but lunatic fringe wants Dabo gone. A lot of us, probably 50% want Dabo to eat his pride and do some much needed firing.
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National Champion [7167]
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
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Oct 24, 2023, 12:03 PM
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In addition to installing the Wishbone, the main change Bear made was recruiting black athletes.
I have a friend who was on the team when Bear brought in his first black players. I won't tell any of what he relayed to me because it's so ridiculously racist, even for the time it happened in.
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Trainer [34]
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Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson.
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Oct 24, 2023, 12:44 PM
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Thank you for completing the history lesson. Integration is main reason for the changes.
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Top TigerNet [29953]
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Sam Cunningham was the catalyst.
Oct 24, 2023, 12:50 PM
[ in reply to Re: Bear Bryant - History Lesson. ] |
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Sam was African-American. He scored 5 TD's against Bama. One guy said, "Sam Cunningham did more to integrate football in the south than MLK ever did."
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All-TigerNet [5643]
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Ahhh the wisdom of age
Oct 24, 2023, 12:46 PM
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…sadly the youth will not value it, but I do, thanks.
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Varsity [104]
TigerPulse: 92%
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***"So youre tellin' me there's a chance!"***
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Oct 24, 2023, 12:48 PM
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