Bryant spent much of his childhood with his grandfather. In 1927, Bryant got a nickname that would stay with him for a lifetime. Like most boys, he was trying to look good in front of the girls and make some money at the same time. “He agreed to wrestle a bear for one dollar per minute. The owner of the bear left without paying Bryant.” (Solomon1) Bryant attended Fordyce High School. This is where he started his football career as an eighth grader. Defensive end and an offensive lineman were the two positions he played. While playing in high school he won all-state honors in 1931. His team won the State championship. In 1931, Bryant went to play football for the University of Alabama, where he was given a scholarship. Bryant had not completed…show more content… In 1959, Bryant made great accomplishments with the team. They beat their all-time rivalry, Auburn for the first time in six years. In 1961, Bryant took the Alabama team to an 11-0 season and won the Sugar Bowl which gave them the title of National Champions. Alabama won the Orange Bowl in 1962 and the Sugar Bowl in 1963. In 1964 and 1965, Alabama claimed the title of National Champions. The 1966 Alabama season was going strong, they were undefeated and went on to win the Sugar Bowl. The 1967 season was not as strong and lost in the Cotton Bowl. Alabama made it to the Gator Bowl in 1968, but took another lost. The seasons of 1969 and 1970 were not so good. Bryant started to receive some criticism for his losing seasons. People wondered if his age was getting the best of him. Bryant made comments about retiring. It was 1971 before the Alabama team made a comeback. This season the teams went undefeated, but ranked number two. Over the next several years, Bryant proved he still had what it took, to coach football. Over the twenty-five years that Bryant was at Alabama they won six national titles and thirteen Southeastern Conference Championships. Bryant’s all-time impressive record as coach was 323-85-17. Bryant said, “At Alabama our players do not win Heisman Trophies, our teams win national championships.” (Solomon
