Alabama Football

College football is widely known as the sport of the South. Most southerners pledge their loyalty to college teams, rather than professional; some, because they are alumni, and some because that's just the way they were raised. Whatever reason, most college football fans choose their team at a young age. The sad part is, most fans don't even know their team's history: Where'd they come from, and what are they all about? The University of Alabama's football program; in particular, has some of the richest history in the SEC. The Alabama Crimson Tide isn't just about winning and losing a game; it's about the traditions that made the team what it is today.

W.G. Littletone introduced the sport of football to the University of Alabama in 1892. A native of Livingston, Alabama, Littletone first learned of the "new rugby," football, while attending Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He transferred to Alabama in the fall of 1892. The University of Alabama played its first official football game on November 11, 1892 at Lakeview Park. They came out of the first game with a phenomenal win of 56-0. (Alabama Crimson Tide)

The football program at Alabama grew and became a fancy of many students at Alabama, until 1896. The University of Alabama's Board of Trustees passed a rule forbidding all athletes to go off campus. The team played only one game in the 1897 season because of the ban. Football was abandoned at The University of Alabama the following year. The Board of Trustees lifted the ban in 1899, and football resumed at Alabama. (Alabama Crimson Tide) The team continued to make progress winning their first national title in 1922. (History of Alabama Football)

The team now proudly claims twelve national championships, nineteen hall of famers, 92 All American players, 53 bowl game appearances, and 30 bowl wins. Not to mention, they have won 21 SEC championships, which is more than any SEC team. (History & Tradition) This is often referred to by Alabama fans as "The Tradition." The University of Alabama football team also takes pride in the fact that they are yet to have a player when a Heisman trophy. This is because, their team works as a team and they are glad that this is how they are recognized. (Lee) Rather than being recognized because of a specific player, the team is often recognized because of their most memorable coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Paul Bryant was born on September 11, 1913 in Morro Bottom, Arkansas. He was the eleventh of 12 children in the family. Bryant grew up in a poor family, and learned at an early age that he had to work for money. (The Story of Bryant)

He is often referred to as "Bear." The story of where he got the name is much disputed. The most told story is of him wrestling a bear. A man came to town offering to pay one dollar to any man who would wrestle a bear. To Bryant one dollar was an opportunity he could not let go, so he agreed. Sure enough, he got in the ring with the bear. Not long after he was in the ring, the bear bit his ear, and Bryant ran out of the ring. The man skipped town without paying Paul his well earned money, but he did however help create a legend. (The Story of Bryant)

Bear Bryant's first encounter with football was when he was in the eighth grade. Bryant stood on the sidelines and watched his school's varsity team practice. The coach approached him asking if he knew anything about the sport. Bryant told him that it was his first time to even see football, so the coach gave him a synopsis. Bryant caught on and the following Friday he was on the starting Lineup. (The Story of Bryant)

Bear continued to play football throughout high school. He played offensive end and defensive tackle. Among his fellow team mates, Bear stood out. Some thought it was because he was big and strong, but in the end he stood out because he had a passion for the game. He also had a passion for Alabama football. He even snuck out of an all star game, during halftime, just so he could listen to the 1931 Rose Bowl, which Alabama won. (The Story of Bryant)

In 1930 Alabama assistant coach, Hank Crisp, came to Bryant's town to recruit two of his team mates. Crisp ended up being so taking by Bear Bryant that he recruited Bryant instead and offered him a full scholarship. Bryant accepted and moved to Tuscaloosa in 1931. Bryant's playing days ended when he graduated in 1935, but little did he know he would return to Alabama within a year. (The Story of Bryant)

Bryant was called to be the assistant coach at Alabama in 1936 at only twenty-three years old. He accepted and stayed with Alabama until 1940, when he was called to assistant coach at Vanderbilt. In 1958, Bryant returned to his alma mater as the head coach. He led the Alabama Crimson Tide through 25 seasons and to six national titles. Bryant retired with 323 career wins, and a record of 232-46-9 with Alabama. (Lee) Bryant died on January 26, 1983, only 37 days after he retired. (The Story of Bryant)

The University of Alabama football team is mainly referred to as "The Crimson Tide." Alabama's first moniker was "The Thin Red Line." This name stuck until 1907 when Hugh Roberts, sports editor of the Birmingham Age Herald, wrote about the Thin Red Line's most recent game. The article was titled "The Crimson Tied", referring to the 6-6 tie Alabama had with Auburn in the 1907 Iron Bowl. The name stuck. (Alabama Crimson Tide) The University of Alabama's mascot's origin is similar to the origin of the team's moniker.

Big Al, as most already know, is the mascot for The University of Alabama. What most don't know is where the idea of a five ton mascot came from. Big Al, like the football team's moniker, was derived from a