January 26, 1983

It was a chilly morning 25 years ago that I headed out from my apartment at the University of Alabama to Bidgood Hall to attend a couple of classes during my final semester as a college student. I was somewhat disappointed in the day as I originally had an appointment to meet with Coach Bryant that afternoon that was to be re-scheduled. Coach had gotten sick the previous night and gone to the hospital for tests. No big deal, I thought, I'd get him to sign the picture of us, the football from the Liberty Bowl and a reference letter at a later date.

It was after lunch and I was between classes standing on the top of the stairs at Bidgood watching a cameraman and reporter speak to students and professors. I didn't know what was going on so I asked a guy who had just walked by the reporter "what is going on". He replied, "Coach Bryant just died". I was a little stunned and I think I said "no way". He said it was true so I went down to hear what the people were saying and sure enough, it was true. I ran back up to the classroom where my next class was, asked the professor... well, told the professor, I had to miss class and he understood why, said "go".

I ran all the way across the quad, between a few other buildings, past the gauntlet of reporters, camera's and others into Bryant Hall. My teammates were milling around, stunned and quiet, just in total disbelief that he was gone. I decided to go to the equipment room (housed in Coleman Coliseum) , my home away from home, and be with my fellow student managers and trainers. I don't remember much else the rest of the day except extreme sadness. I didn't even give much thought until a little later that I missed my appointment, this time forever, with coach. I had just spoken to him the day before and kept wondering how could this have happened?

Many things happened over the next few days I will never forget. A memorial service, with a tribute by Steadman Shealy and the funeral, which was held in downtown Tuscaloosa. After the service we rode on team buses up to Birmingham for the burial. Looking out the window of the buses the entire ride to Birmingham were sights unlike anything I've ever seen nor will ever see again.

We saw tributes great and small from people all across the state of Alabama. Some of the unique things we saw were new cars lined up in the dealership with their lights on, people hanging banners from all of the interstate overpasses, old soldiers saluting as we drove by, tears in their eyes, people stopping on the interstate and crossing the median to put their hands over their hearts as we passed by and an entire downtown freeway system in Birmingham covered with tens of thousands of people, waiting just to pay their respects one last time.

You can see much of what I saw that day at this link. It was an honor to be included in the main service at the Methodist Church and to be called an 'honorary pall bearer' for coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Something I'll never forget.