bama alum
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Last night, the alumni association was thoroughly entertained by Eddie Conyers (95) and Linda Knowles (83). The theme was Blast from the Past, and the stories these two relayed to us! Wow! Conyers told us how he came to start working for Alabama. He had worked one practice for Coach Bryant (he was really awestruck and had just gotten through the practice). He had to go to work the following day (a Monday ?) when he was called back to practice. He told the assistant that he had to go to work, but the coach said Coach Bryant told him to get there. He did. The rest is sixty-three years of officiating.
When he was reffing a Saban practice, Saban had the team running the 1:30 and 2:00-drills. It was third and...three (?), but Ingram only ran for two. Conyers held up the fourth down sign, but Coach Saban yelled out that it was first down. That irked Conyers, so he muscled up his grit and determination to go tell Saban it was fourth down, and as long as he was reffing that practice, his calls stood. Conyers muscled up all he had, marched over to Coach Saban...and signaled first down.
Mrs. Knowles, who just retired, talked about her time with both Bryant and Coach Stallings. She was Coach Stallings' executive secretary. Once Colin Powell came to Coach Stallings' office to visit. He didn't come through the normal door where she could greet him, and she was so worried she wasn't going to get to meet him. A few minutes later, Coach Stallings took Powell to meet her. She told him that she had trained Coach Stallings to follow her every order.
Knowles also talked about Coach Bryant's funeral. How President Reagan called and wanted to attend the funeral so badly; he made every attempt to come, but his schedule never allowed it. How the five-year-olds were waving hearts on the side of the freeway.
It was a great night! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Eddie Conyers' introduction. He made some officials' calls.
@OldPlayer Sorry, I think the emcee was one of your teammates, a CB, but I cannot remember his name. There were a few guys from the 70s' teams there, including U.S. Rep Gary Palmer. I did not know he played football at UA.
Linda Knowles wearing her cap Coach Saban gave her. The lining was just like one of Coach Bryant's houndstooth hats.
When he was reffing a Saban practice, Saban had the team running the 1:30 and 2:00-drills. It was third and...three (?), but Ingram only ran for two. Conyers held up the fourth down sign, but Coach Saban yelled out that it was first down. That irked Conyers, so he muscled up his grit and determination to go tell Saban it was fourth down, and as long as he was reffing that practice, his calls stood. Conyers muscled up all he had, marched over to Coach Saban...and signaled first down.
Mrs. Knowles, who just retired, talked about her time with both Bryant and Coach Stallings. She was Coach Stallings' executive secretary. Once Colin Powell came to Coach Stallings' office to visit. He didn't come through the normal door where she could greet him, and she was so worried she wasn't going to get to meet him. A few minutes later, Coach Stallings took Powell to meet her. She told him that she had trained Coach Stallings to follow her every order.
Knowles also talked about Coach Bryant's funeral. How President Reagan called and wanted to attend the funeral so badly; he made every attempt to come, but his schedule never allowed it. How the five-year-olds were waving hearts on the side of the freeway.
It was a great night! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Eddie Conyers' introduction. He made some officials' calls.
@OldPlayer Sorry, I think the emcee was one of your teammates, a CB, but I cannot remember his name. There were a few guys from the 70s' teams there, including U.S. Rep Gary Palmer. I did not know he played football at UA.Linda Knowles wearing her cap Coach Saban gave her. The lining was just like one of Coach Bryant's houndstooth hats.
