Words of Wisdom

Gene Stallings
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Just the mention of Alabama football conjures images of hound’s-tooth hats and championship trophies; images of football past, present and future; images of great players led by even greater men.

Paul “Bear” Bryant immediately comes to mind when referring to the University of Alabama. But without question, former Crimson Tide head coach Gene Stallings is a close second.

Although, Stallings won just one SEC championship and one national title during his run at the helm of Alabama, he revived a legendary program back to glory of decades past.

Stallings, a native of Paris, Texas, actually played for Bryant at Texas A & M from 1954-56 and was named All-Southwest Conference. Stallings was a captain on the 1956 Aggie squad that finished undefeated (9-0-1). In fact, Stallings was a member of the infamous “Junction City” training camp that Bryant orchestrated to weed out any player not willing to pay the price.

After spending four years as the head coach of the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals, Stallings was hired by Alabama to be the head coach in 1990. Two years later Stallings won National Coach of the Year honors as he guided the Crimson Tide to a perfect 13-0 season and their 12th national championship.

Stallings retired after the 1996 campaign with a total record of 70-16-1 at Alabama. He became the first coach in the Alabama-Auburn series to win his final game against his archrival since the series resumed in 1948.

The Crimson Tide has always been a cornerstone in the world of college football and Gene Stallings is a perfect example of the spirit that is Alabama football.

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“The expectation level is high at the University of Alabama and it should be. What’s wrong with people expecting excellence.”

“You don’t have to flaunt your success, but you don’t have to apologize for it, either.”

“I know that I picked up a great deal of things during my association with Coach Bryant. I know he influenced me as a coach by teaching me to never give up on your talent. And he told me there was no substitution for work. He convinced his people. And when players and coaches are convinced they can win, they’re going to win.”

“You play 50 or 60 plays a game for the privilege of making three or four that make the difference.”

“One of the greatest things Coach Bryant used to do was pass along the credit.”

“Alabama fans love Bryant, they tolerate the rest of us.”

“We weren’t there weeks, it was just days. Ten days. Been any longer and there wouldn’t have been anybody left.” - Stallings on Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first practices at Texas A & M

“All I know is that we went out there in two buses and came back in one.” - Stallings on Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first practices at Texas A & M


“It was a third down situation, but Coach Bryant thought it was a fourth down. At that time the rules were that if you sent a player into the game, he had to play one down. Coach Bryant sent his punter in – I knew that he was confused.
Nevertheless, he sent his punter in, so I sent in a safety that could only field punts – he wasn’t a football player, but he could field punts pretty well. Then I saw the Alabama coaching staff talking to Coach Bryant over on the sidelines, and finally he sent another player in and the punter came out. So I sent my safety in so my other guy could come out, and the official over on the sidelines says, ‘Whoa! You can’t do that – he’s got to stay in one play.’
So I said, ‘Now wait a minute, fellow. I’m sitting right here watching Coach Bryant send his punter in, and then Coach Bryant took him out!’
He looked at me and said, ‘You ain’t Coach Bryant!’” - Gene Stallings talking about the 1967 Cotton Bowl when Alabama was playing Texas A & M.

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