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Brandon Marcello |
The famous suit purchased in Dothan by two Auburn fans and business partners in July as an inside joke will hit the auction block at the Super Bowl.
Bear Bryant's suit is on the market.
The famous suit purchased in Dothan by two Auburn fans and business partners in July as an inside joke will hit the auction block at the Super Bowl.
Adam Thomas David Sconyers used the score of the 1972 Iron Bowl – better known as "Punt 'Bama Punt" – for their winning bid at an estate sale: $1,716.
Their poke at Alabama fans should not be interpreted as a devious plan, however. Thomas and Sconyers are avid collectors and their acquisition quickly turned into a scavenger hunt and appreciation of Alabama history. What they uncovered included letters from Bryant to an avid Alabama booster and a rare peek inside the Tide's football program.
"I'm an Auburn guy, he's an Auburn guy, but we know the value of coach Bryant's contribution," Sconyers told AL.com. "I've often said if there was a Mount Rushmore of college football there would be three images of Bear Bryant and some other guy. That's how I feel about it."
Sconyers owns several Alabama collectibles and is married to an Alabama fan. He joked to friends and family he wanted to be buried in Bryant's custom-made suit, but has since relented and said the suit belongs in the hands of an Alabama fan.
The history behind the suit jacket and two pairs of pants worn by the man who led Alabama to 13 SEC titles and six national championships in 25 seasons meant more than the initial jolt of excitement they felt when they submitted the Iron Bowl-inspired bid as an inside joke. Sconyers and Thomas were protective of the suit, which was tailored by Butch Baldone of Birmingham in 1972, and as their story spread across the country this fall, former Alabama players and fans reached out.
"Not one Alabama fan has said anything controversial about it," Thomas said. "We've shown it to a lot of friends. Some players who played at Alabama would come by, they'd look at it and tell us a story or two about it."
How crafty Auburn fans obtained Bear Bryant's suit
A pair of Auburn fans attained the suit with a bid reflecting the score of the 1972 Iron Bowl at an estate auction. Their moment of rivalry-infused fun soon turned into an inquisitive journey about the history of the summer suit and the man who once owned it: Paul "Bear" Bryant.
The stories and the history have meant more to the business partners than the suit itself.
Hunt Auctions now possesses the suit and a binder of documents pertaining to the its history, including correspondences among Bryant, Alabama assistants and the suit's previous owner, Danny Coleman. Bryant gifted the suit to the former Dothan business owner during a visit to Tuscaloosa. The legendary coach handed it to him as a show of appreciation for the fishing trips he hosted for Alabama assistant coaches over the years.
"Whoever gets the suit will get the complete story of the suit," Thomas said.
Bids for the suit are being accepted on the Hunt Auctions website until Feb. 5, two days before Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. The suit will be placed in a live auction Feb. 6 at the NFL Experience event inside the Moscone Center beginning at 12 p.m. PT.
Sconyers and Thomas believe the suit will be an attractive item following Alabama's 45-40 victory against Clemson in the national championship this week, the Tide's fourth national championship in the last seven years. More importantly, they believe the suit will land in the hands of a proper collector and/or Alabama fan.
"We think so," Thomas said. "A Bear Bryant suit doesn't come up for sale all that often. You don't get many opportunities. ... With [Alabama] being on top of the world, it should get some attention. That's if they haven't forgotten about poor 'ol Bear. Nick Saban has got a machine going now."
Continue reading...
Bear Bryant's suit is on the market.
The famous suit purchased in Dothan by two Auburn fans and business partners in July as an inside joke will hit the auction block at the Super Bowl.
Adam Thomas David Sconyers used the score of the 1972 Iron Bowl – better known as "Punt 'Bama Punt" – for their winning bid at an estate sale: $1,716.
Their poke at Alabama fans should not be interpreted as a devious plan, however. Thomas and Sconyers are avid collectors and their acquisition quickly turned into a scavenger hunt and appreciation of Alabama history. What they uncovered included letters from Bryant to an avid Alabama booster and a rare peek inside the Tide's football program.
"I'm an Auburn guy, he's an Auburn guy, but we know the value of coach Bryant's contribution," Sconyers told AL.com. "I've often said if there was a Mount Rushmore of college football there would be three images of Bear Bryant and some other guy. That's how I feel about it."
Sconyers owns several Alabama collectibles and is married to an Alabama fan. He joked to friends and family he wanted to be buried in Bryant's custom-made suit, but has since relented and said the suit belongs in the hands of an Alabama fan.
The history behind the suit jacket and two pairs of pants worn by the man who led Alabama to 13 SEC titles and six national championships in 25 seasons meant more than the initial jolt of excitement they felt when they submitted the Iron Bowl-inspired bid as an inside joke. Sconyers and Thomas were protective of the suit, which was tailored by Butch Baldone of Birmingham in 1972, and as their story spread across the country this fall, former Alabama players and fans reached out.
"Not one Alabama fan has said anything controversial about it," Thomas said. "We've shown it to a lot of friends. Some players who played at Alabama would come by, they'd look at it and tell us a story or two about it."
How crafty Auburn fans obtained Bear Bryant's suit
A pair of Auburn fans attained the suit with a bid reflecting the score of the 1972 Iron Bowl at an estate auction. Their moment of rivalry-infused fun soon turned into an inquisitive journey about the history of the summer suit and the man who once owned it: Paul "Bear" Bryant.
The stories and the history have meant more to the business partners than the suit itself.
Hunt Auctions now possesses the suit and a binder of documents pertaining to the its history, including correspondences among Bryant, Alabama assistants and the suit's previous owner, Danny Coleman. Bryant gifted the suit to the former Dothan business owner during a visit to Tuscaloosa. The legendary coach handed it to him as a show of appreciation for the fishing trips he hosted for Alabama assistant coaches over the years.
"Whoever gets the suit will get the complete story of the suit," Thomas said.
Bids for the suit are being accepted on the Hunt Auctions website until Feb. 5, two days before Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. The suit will be placed in a live auction Feb. 6 at the NFL Experience event inside the Moscone Center beginning at 12 p.m. PT.
Sconyers and Thomas believe the suit will be an attractive item following Alabama's 45-40 victory against Clemson in the national championship this week, the Tide's fourth national championship in the last seven years. More importantly, they believe the suit will land in the hands of a proper collector and/or Alabama fan.
"We think so," Thomas said. "A Bear Bryant suit doesn't come up for sale all that often. You don't get many opportunities. ... With [Alabama] being on top of the world, it should get some attention. That's if they haven't forgotten about poor 'ol Bear. Nick Saban has got a machine going now."
Continue reading...
