📡 Bill battle has passed

[Rsedge72]

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Hate to see this, but especially during the holidays....

 

[50+yeartidefan]

One of my favorite players n 60s under BEAR

 

[mando]

RIP Mr Battle... Appreciate all you did for Bama athletics.

 

[64Tide]

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]

RIP Mr Battle... Appreciate all you did for Bama athletics.

Except going to Tennessee

 

[mando]

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.

 

[bama alum]

My mother had a health class with Bill Battle. They were CPR partners in whatever CPR looked like back in '60 or so. She and my dad were already good, but...I think she smiled a bit when Bill Battle became UA's AD back in '13.

Battle was good for UA. Good man indeed. RIP.

 

[64Tide]

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.

 

[64Tide]

His first 5 losses? 3 to *aU and 2 to UA. He was undefeated in “49” states…

 

[rick4bama]

RIP

 

[UAgrad93]

RIP Coach Battle.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

My mother had a health class with Bill Battle. They were CPR partners in whatever CPR looked like back in '60 or so. She and my dad were already good, but...I think she smiled a bit when Bill Battle became UA's AD back in '13.

Battle was good for UA. Good man indeed. RIP.

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]

something that never changed with him over the years even with the money and fame.

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.)

 

[alabama mike]

Praying that his family finds comfort and peace during these difficult days.

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Fantastic gentleman.