Letter to the Editor

Sweet Home Alabama
by: Aaron S. Lee
Managing Editor American Football Monthly
© More from this issue

          
Football has always enjoyed a special relationship with the South, especially the University of Alabama. No team in the country – other than Notre Dame – has ever duplicated the Crimson Tide’s gridiron success. In fact, even the heralded Fighting Irish barely edges Alabama in the national title race with 13 trophies compared to Bama’s 12.

Former Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi summed it up best when asked how it felt to be the greatest team in the world after winning the championship in 1966. Lombardi said, “I don’t know, we haven’t played Alabama yet.”

And throughout the past five decades – including Alabama’s seven Associated Press national titles – one person has been there through it all, Linda Knowles.

Linda Knowles, who currently serves as an administrative assistant to the academic senate, retired from full-time duty after serving the University of Alabama for 36 years. Mrs. Knowles has seen more and done more to help contribute to the success of the Crimson Tide as much as anyone. In fact, not only did she know men like Paul “Bear” Bryant and Gene Stallings – she was their personal secretary.

Imagine that, getting paid to handle the professional affairs of two of the most respected and legendary coaches in college football history.

One of my highlights as a sports journalist was a morning spent in conversation with Mrs. Knowles as she shared numerous anecdotes and yarns about the time she spent at Alabama. One of the funniest stories was when Coach Bryant brought in a shaggy-haired, T-shirt wearing (with sleeves rolled up) kid with ratty jeans, and shoes with no socks.

Upon first glance, Mrs. Knowles couldn’t believe what she was seeing. After all, this was 1962 and young men still wore crew cuts and khakis.

“When I saw this kid, I thought to myself ... boy, times are really getting tough. We are scrapping the bottom of the barrel with this kid. He certainly did not look like a football player, much less a star quarterback.”

Well, that kid turned out to be both a football player and a star quarterback. In fact, the kid was none other than Joe Namath.

“You know, not only did Joe prove to be a terrific football player at both Alabama and the New York Jets, but he also proved to be a terrific man,” said Mrs. Knowles. “He still makes a point to come by and see me whenever he is on campus.”

Mrs. Knowles also shared a story about Alabama’s visit to the White House to visit President Bill Clinton after the 1992 national championship season.

“Well, Coach Stallings and the team were waiting to see the President when a gentleman came out and said that he was sorry to inform them that President Clinton would be another hour or so before he could see the team. Well, Coach Stallings said, ‘Well, that won’t do. We have an airplane waiting for us on the runway and I sure hate that we missed him, but we will just have to catch him another time.’ It wasn’t 10 minutes later that President Clinton came out to greet the team. Now that’s pretty impressive.”

Sometimes we overlook the Linda Knowleses of the world and we fail to see the rich stories and accomplishments of their lives. Mrs. Knowles was at Alabama longer than the legendary coaches and players that grace the history of Crimson Tide football.

Mrs. Knowles and the many ladies like her are a direct link to the great football teams led by even greater men.

Thank you, Mrs. Knowles, for sharing your life, your stories and your passion. Most of all, thank you for sharing – period. With people like you, the Crimson Tide will continue to “Roll.”

Respectfully,

Aaron S. Lee
Managing Editor
American Football Monthly
aslee@lcclark.com

NEW BOOK!

Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach