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I belong to a couple of Bama fb groups. In the less active of the two, an older poster posted a question about the two QBs. I wasn't alive yet, and my history on the early 60s, particular 1960 Bama football is weak. So, here is what this guy posted (grab a beverage; it's a long one):
Folks, I need to test the memory of some of us longtime followers of the Tide. Something is bugging me and i really don't know why. Classic Alabama football is something I'm very big on, and my issue has to do with Alabama's thrilling come-from-behind win over Georgia Tech in 1960. Digger O'Dell kicked a field goal on the last play to give Bama a 16-15 win after initially trailing 15-0.
I have read / heard accounts of that game, from Coach Bryant in his autobiography, and from Bobby Skelton, the starting Tide quarterback that day, of how Bryant benched Skelton following a turnover on a failed 4th-down play deep in Bama territory. The accounts of the two men differ both in the manner of the turnover (Bryant saying that "...(Skelton) threw it right into a Tech tackle's belly", Skelton that "....we fumbled or something..") and the reason for Skelton's benching, with Bryant blaming Skelton for calling a play other than that which was sent in, and Skelton disputing that point, saying that the plays were being sent in on little scraps of paper via the halfbacks, and that Skelton proved to one of the coaches that he had not erred in the call, producing the scrap onto which the play was scribbled, having stuffed each of the scraps down his pants during the course of the game.
But both men agree on the benching of Skelton in favor of Pat Trammell. Bryant's account being that "....I just drummed him out of the corp,....", Skelton's that "...He told me to set my little can down on the bench, that I'd never play another minute for Alabama as long as I lived..."
Now, finally, to what's bugging me. I've watched footage from that game, and it appears to me that Skelton and Trammell had alternated regularly throughout the game. Both were captains that day, and the rotation continued until Trammell got hurt in the 4th quarter and Skelton, allegedly having been "re-hired," led the Tide to the win. What I can't see from any game action is exactly what Skelton would have done to warrant the benching. Even in the "Bama's Greatest Games" footage, no play involving any kind of turnover, including loss on downs, is shown with Skelton in the game. Skelton wasn't particularly successful before giving way to Trammell, but up to that point Trammell hadn't been either. The last play shown involving Skelton before Trammell was inserted and led Bama to its first score was a 3rd-down scramble for no gain, followed by a punt.
The two men involved give pretty detailed, though differing, accounts, I say too much for there to be nothing at all to it, but beyond those accounts, I have heard nothing of it from any source and cannot determine from the films why it would have happened.
Anyone know anything that might help me out with this ?
I mentioned that in hindsight that it was the correct call, but I have nothing else to offer. Apparently, no one else does either. Can anybody here help me give him a good answer to this?
Folks, I need to test the memory of some of us longtime followers of the Tide. Something is bugging me and i really don't know why. Classic Alabama football is something I'm very big on, and my issue has to do with Alabama's thrilling come-from-behind win over Georgia Tech in 1960. Digger O'Dell kicked a field goal on the last play to give Bama a 16-15 win after initially trailing 15-0.
I have read / heard accounts of that game, from Coach Bryant in his autobiography, and from Bobby Skelton, the starting Tide quarterback that day, of how Bryant benched Skelton following a turnover on a failed 4th-down play deep in Bama territory. The accounts of the two men differ both in the manner of the turnover (Bryant saying that "...(Skelton) threw it right into a Tech tackle's belly", Skelton that "....we fumbled or something..") and the reason for Skelton's benching, with Bryant blaming Skelton for calling a play other than that which was sent in, and Skelton disputing that point, saying that the plays were being sent in on little scraps of paper via the halfbacks, and that Skelton proved to one of the coaches that he had not erred in the call, producing the scrap onto which the play was scribbled, having stuffed each of the scraps down his pants during the course of the game.
But both men agree on the benching of Skelton in favor of Pat Trammell. Bryant's account being that "....I just drummed him out of the corp,....", Skelton's that "...He told me to set my little can down on the bench, that I'd never play another minute for Alabama as long as I lived..."
Now, finally, to what's bugging me. I've watched footage from that game, and it appears to me that Skelton and Trammell had alternated regularly throughout the game. Both were captains that day, and the rotation continued until Trammell got hurt in the 4th quarter and Skelton, allegedly having been "re-hired," led the Tide to the win. What I can't see from any game action is exactly what Skelton would have done to warrant the benching. Even in the "Bama's Greatest Games" footage, no play involving any kind of turnover, including loss on downs, is shown with Skelton in the game. Skelton wasn't particularly successful before giving way to Trammell, but up to that point Trammell hadn't been either. The last play shown involving Skelton before Trammell was inserted and led Bama to its first score was a 3rd-down scramble for no gain, followed by a punt.
The two men involved give pretty detailed, though differing, accounts, I say too much for there to be nothing at all to it, but beyond those accounts, I have heard nothing of it from any source and cannot determine from the films why it would have happened.
Anyone know anything that might help me out with this ?
I mentioned that in hindsight that it was the correct call, but I have nothing else to offer. Apparently, no one else does either. Can anybody here help me give him a good answer to this?
