Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Perkins, Bryant's successor at Alabama, dies

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Wednesday, 09 December 2020 10:01

Former Alabama football coach Ray Perkins, who played under Paul "Bear" Bryant and later succeeded him as head coach, died Wednesday. He was 79.

"Our condolences to Ray Perkins' family and friends," Alabama coach Nick Saban said during the SEC teleconference. "He served the University of Alabama with great class and integrity. He was a great coach and he had a tremendous impact on the game, and he was a really good person and a really good friend."

Perkins grew up in Mississippi and played at Alabama, where he was an All-American wide receiver and part of Bryant's 1964 and 1965 championship teams.

He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the NFL and appeared in two Super Bowls before working his way up in the coaching profession. He coached the New York Giants from 1979 to 1982 before leaving to take over for the retired Bryant at his alma mater.

Living up to the legendary Bryant proved to be a Herculean task, as many of Perkins' moves were heavily scrutinized, whether it was taking down Bryant's famed tower overlooking the practice field, moving away from the wishbone offense or letting go of his popular assistant coaches.

Perkins, who also served as athletic director, struggled out of the gate, winning eight games his first season and five the next. But he turned things around and won 19 games over the next two seasons before surprising many and leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Perkins," Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in a statement. "Just a year ago we were celebrating him as our SEC Football Legend in Atlanta, an honor he was truly deserving of. Coach Perkins served in every possible capacity of Alabama Athletics as an All-American football player, head coach and athletics director, and he will certainly be missed."

Years after his time at Alabama, Perkins would tell ESPN that the criticism of him trying to wipe out Bryant's memory was ridiculous. Other than his wedding band, a letterman's ring he got from Bryant was the only piece of jewelry he wore.

When Perkins took over as head coach at Jones County Junior College in 2012, he did so driving a sedan with a Crimson Tide vanity license plate.

"I'm still a Roll Tider," he said.

Perkins' other stops included one season as head coach at Arkansas State and time spent on staffs with the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns.

Read 388 times

Soccer

Free agent Ebobisse signs 3-year deal with LAFC

Free agent Ebobisse signs 3-year deal with LAFC

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLAFC signed striker Jeremy Ebobisse to a three-year contract with a...

Five sentenced after Ajax, Maccabi fan clash

Five sentenced after Ajax, Maccabi fan clash

EmailPrintAn Amsterdam District Court Tuesday sentenced five men to up to six months in prison on Tu...

Pep: City must use struggling Haaland better

Pep: City must use struggling Haaland better

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended star striker Erl...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Heat's Smith has torn Achilles tendon

Sources: Heat's Smith has torn Achilles tendon

EmailPrintMiami Heat guard Dru Smith has suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, sources told...

Zion eyeing return to full practice next week

Zion eyeing return to full practice next week

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsZion Williamson has begun the conditioning phase of his rehab from...

Baseball

Trading for a superstar -- and then dealing away an MVP? What to make of Cubs' confusing offseason

Trading for a superstar -- and then dealing away an MVP? What to make of Cubs' confusing offseason

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- For consecutive offseasons, the Chicago Cubs have given...

MLB, umpires reach tentative deal for new CBA

MLB, umpires reach tentative deal for new CBA

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMajor League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Umpires Associa...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated