| NEWS Bill battle has passed
- Thread starter Rsedge72
- Start date
Hate to see this, but especially during the holidays....
50+yeartidefan
Member
One of my favorite players n 60s under BEAR
Most youngsters don’t understand the root cause of our rivalry’s intensity with uT. Coach Bryant had the utmost respect for 10rc. His saying was “ole 10rc will tell us if we are men or chillin”. This changed when ut forced Bill Battle to resign in 1976. Coach Bryant never said anything publicly but he did not appreciate their poor treatment of one of his former players. He was 59-22-2 but not good enough. They had to have Johnny Majors, a ut folk hero and Heisman winner. Majors had just won the1976 NC at Pittsburgh and Battle had to be forced out. Major’s mistake at ut? Hiring Phil fulmer who would later stab him in the back and take his job….
50+yeartidefan
Member
Except going to Tennessee
Yeah I blocked that part out although he really did not do much for them as I recall which I was ok with. So it was still good for Bama.
He was 59-22-2. First 3 years 11-1, 10-2, 10-2. Forced out in 76 so they could hire Johnny Majors.
Good stuff. He was a couple years ahead of my mom’s West End class. She told my this morning that one of her best friends lived a couple of houses down from him at the time. Mom was over there a lot and got to know him since he was always outside playing ball. She said he was always super nice, something that never changed with him over the years even with the money and fame.
TerryP
Staff
Understatement.
When I consider the impact CLC has had on athletic departments at all levels the impact he made on collegiate athletics ... geez. The revenue streams he enabled for schools! (Protected may be a better word than enabled.)
Praying that his family finds comfort and peace during these difficult days.
Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Fantastic gentleman.
Fantastic gentleman.
