🏈 Hazed at Alabama: slideshow of a cover up 62 years in the making

[Joseph Goodman |]

They beat Bart Starr with a wooden paddle until his back resembled a piece of raw meat. The quarterback was never the same again. For more than 60 years, Bart Starr and his wife, Cherry, have kept a dark secret...

Continue reading...

 

[psychojoe]

I had never seen this information before. I remember that as late as the early seventies 'A' Club initiation was reputed to be really brutal. A story making the rounds during John Hannah's day was that he refused to undergo the hazing after the varsity's loss to Vanderbilt in 1969. His words were supposedly 'No one who loses to Vanderbilt is going to do that to me'.

 

[OldPlayer]

I had never seen this information before. I remember that as late as the early seventies 'A' Club initiation was reputed to be really brutal. A story making the rounds during John Hannah's day was that he refused to undergo the hazing after the varsity's loss to Vanderbilt in 1969. His words were supposedly 'No one who loses to Vanderbilt is going to do that to me'.

A Club initiation was usually held in January so there might be a grain of truth in the story, but it wasn't right after the Vanderbilt loss.

 

[UAgrad93]

We held "initiations" for our letterman club when I was in HS. We had a kid go through it after signing his parent's name to a permission form. He went into hypothermic shock and we had to call paramedics. We had 6, 13, and 42 there for the next 3-4 days interviewing us. Luckily for our coach, he had some leverage with the permission forms or he would have lost his job. What we went through and then did to our teammates was nothing short of abuse. At the time, we considered it a right of passage.

 

[94 Grad]

We held "initiations" for our letterman club when I was in HS. We had a kid go through it after signing his parent's name to a permission form. He went into hypothermic shock and we had to call paramedics. We had 6, 13, and 42 there for the next 3-4 days interviewing us. Luckily for our coach, he had some leverage with the permission forms or he would have lost his job. What we went through and then did to our teammates was nothing short of abuse. At the time, we considered it a right of passage.

I've never understood that crap and why people wanted to that kinda stuff to another person or way a person would take that kind of punishment.

 

[planomateo]

I've never understood that crap and why people wanted to that kinda stuff to another person or way a person would take that kind of punishment.

If I had to guess, it was because it was done to them. Wanting to belong to something bigger. People do all kinda weird things to feed that need.

 

[BamaFan334]

We had our head's shaved, big freaking whoop. While pledging a fraternity we had to "hold the wall up", "knees and elbows", and had our ass burned by putting a candle under our seat as we took pledge tests. Nothing terribly crazy. I will never understand the rape and homosexual activities some of these idiots force their pledges or players, and that the pledges actually do. I'd send a few folks to the hospital before I ever touched another human being that I didn't want to touch.

 

[T&B]

Any man that lets other "men" haze them or paddle them or any other goofy azz "hazing tradition" deserves what they get.

 

[JoshB]

We had our head's shaved, big freaking whoop. While pledging a fraternity we had to "hold the wall up", "knees and elbows", and had our ass burned by putting a candle under our seat as we took pledge tests. Nothing terribly crazy. I will never understand the rape and homosexual activities some of these idiots force their pledges or players, and that the pledges actually do. I'd send a few folks to the hospital before I ever touched another human being that I didn't want to touch.

Simple hazing like you mentioned is fine, stupid and sophomoric, but doesnt hurt anyone... but like you said the other shit I just dont get. Like what benefit do you get for literally sticking a paddle up someone's ass? People have issues and part of that stuff is why I never wanted to be a frat.

 

[PhillyGirl]

A friend of mine, her boyfriend is currently involved in a trial through Baruch College for a hazing incident in which the student was killed. He was not one of the guys who actually did it (he is an alum now), but he was in the frat house while it was happening or something, so he is still going to have to go to court and may be charged. He knew it was happening and had done it to others in the past.

A kid at Syracuse almost died last year too .. A sketchy frat down the road from my office. He lost fingers and toes due to hypothermia from the incident.

I just don't get why people think this is how to get friends ..

 

[UAgrad93]

Let me expound on the things that took place during my school's initiation. We would pick the coldest night of the year to start. Pledges wore a jockstrap, shorts, t shirt, tennis shoes, and a blindfold. We started with a 200 yard bear crawl up and down the field and then a run to the gym. We would then hold relay races with vinyl records strategically placed on their butts. Only way to pass the record was via "cheek to cheek". After the relays, we headed back to the football field for some deer hunting. Pledges were divided into deer and dogs. All members were standers and their ammo were eggs, some hard boiled. Deer were blindfolded and were chased by the dogs. After 10 minutes they swapped. Then on to the initiation meal! Blindfolds were used for them all. They would be fed anything from sardines, chocolate, raw eggs, to exlax! Afterwards was the initiation bath were they would be dunked into a freezing ice bath.
Sophomoric and stupid for sure!

 

[Vertical]

While an interesting read, I guess I don't see anything in the way of proof one way or the other. And why the hell would anyone beat our star QB so badly that it crippled him? If that were true, wouldn't whoever did that get taken out back and shot?

 

[bamafan9201]

He was also put on super double secret probation for a period of no less than 62 years.

 

[TerryP]

While an interesting read, I guess I don't see anything in the way of proof one way or the other.

The timing is a little odd to me, but I have to weigh that against the road they traveled these last few years with his stroke/health issues. But, the story isn't one concocted—there are players in his era who have told/confirmed his story for several years now.

At the time, we considered it a right of passage.

AT the time ... key phrase there.

While this was going on at UA, several hundred miles to the West there where more than a handful of players being run off of a team in one Junction, TX. AT that time, and for a few decades after that, no one thought a thing of it—some, to this day, consider it to be character building.

 

[Rolltide24]

I, for one, believe that the class and integrity that Mr. Starr has shown over his NFL and post-NFL career gives this story complete credibility. From all accounts, he's a true gentleman and class act. The fact that he kept quiet on this and didn't sue or complain speaks volumes about his loyalty, at least to me. His wife must have harbored untold grief and possibly resentment for what was done to him. She could have even felt she was to blame for some of it, only speculating. I sure can't blame her for getting it off her chest before he passes. She had to take care of him after the beating, in the hospital and rehab. She kept his secret for a long time. I Can't blame her one bit for speaking out.

 

[94 Grad]

While this was going on at UA, several hundred miles to the West there where more than a handful of players being run off of a team in one Junction, TX. AT that time, and for a few decades after that, no one thought a thing of it—some, to this day, consider it to be character building.

And I think Bryant also later regretted doing that...

 

[T&B]

"some, to this day, consider it to be character building."

Those would be the people that need to be castrated before they can procreate.

 

[TerryP]

And I think Bryant also later regretted doing that...

Hence, at that time.

"some, to this day, consider it to be character building."

Those would be the people that need to be castrated before they can procreate.

Say that to Coach Stallings. John Mark; one hell of a person.

 

[UAgrad93]

People were tougher and a helluva lot more was tolerated. Bryant did regret how Junction went down, but those guys playing for him became physically and mentally tougher. I'm sure if you asked those guys that went through that with Starr and even those participating in the hazing will tell you that they thought it was normal but now regret it ever taking place.