🏈 Where were you 34 years ago today?

[PhillyGirl]

via the Paul W. Bryant Museum's Facebook page:

 

[sean]

i was in grammar school.

and i still remember it very well.

 

[footballer]

At work

 

[bamachine]

Was 11 years old and we all watched coverage on a TV in the classroom, many of us with tears in our eyes. It was right before the end of the school day, quietest bus ride home I can recall. We also watched coverage of his funeral, two days later.

 

[BamaFan334]

I wasn't even thought of yet.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I wasn't even thought of yet.

Lol, ditto. I was born in 1990. I think I'm one of the youngest in here!

But, my dad remembers the day very well. He always tells me he heard it on the radio, and he cried.

 

[alabama mike]

College

 

[planomateo]

Elementary school.

 

[UAgrad93]

6th grade! I grew up watching the Coach Bryant Show and I dreamed of playing for him when I got to UA. His retirement hurt me, but his death crushed me like losing my grandfather!!

 

[OldPlayer]

Attending the funeral

 

[252BAMA]

Funeral was 01/28

 

[#80]

I was living in a house two blocks from BDS enrolled at the UA. That was a very sad time.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Attending the funeral

Was it open to all? What was it like?

 

[OldPlayer]

Was it open to all? What was it like?

Technically it was open, but there was limited seating in the church. A big crowd waited outside. It was a long caravan from Tuscaloosa up to Birmingham and I couldn't tell you how the police limited cars from joining the procession. There were several busses for players/former players and it was very quiet on the ride to Birmingham. It seemed like there were people on every overpass and all along the route that pulled over to watch the hearse. At the gravesite, there was a big crowd waiting for the hearse. I remember Joe Namath greeting the car with Mrs. Bryant and opening the door to help her out. Players and former players were moved up front for the graveside service.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Technically it was open, but there was limited seating in the church. A big crowd waited outside. It was a long caravan from Tuscaloosa up to Birmingham and I couldn't tell you how the police limited cars from joining the procession. There were several busses for players/former players and it was very quiet on the ride to Birmingham. It seemed like there were people on every overpass and all along the route that pulled over to watch the hearse. At the gravesite, there was a big crowd waiting for the hearse. I remember Joe Namath greeting the car with Mrs. Bryant and opening the door to help her out. Players and former players were moved up front for the graveside service.

Thank you very much for sharing.

 

[bamachine]

Oldplayer, then you were likely there, at the funeral, with my brother. He was playing for Bryant then(and his final year was under Perkins).

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

In Mississippi, 6 years old, not knowing who the hell Bear Bryant was.

 

[bamaledge]

Was 19 years old and watched it on tv. Crying my eyes out. Not ashamed to say it because my daddy was right there with me.

 

[OriginalBamachris]

I was at work at the Piggly Wiggly on Greensboro Avenue. Had to work the day of the funeral too. We did not have one customer the day of the funeral until late in the day.

 

[Rolling Tide]

I was 8 years old.