Paul "Bear" Bryant

 

 Paul "Bear" Bryant

 Paul William Bryant, was a American high school all-state football player and later college football player.  As a teenager, Bryant  wrestled a bear in a show for a dollar a minute leaving him the nickname "Bear".  He later said he never got paid, but he did get a nickname for the feat. He was born in Kingsland,Arkansas in the year of 1913. He later began couching as head coach of the Alabama football team in 1958. He spent 25 seasons at Alabama winning 232 games while losing 46 games and trying 9. Bear Bryant retired after the 1982 season with a record of 323-85-17.  He holds the record for most major bowl games, 29, most bowl game wins, 15, and most losses, 12.  Bryant was national coach of the year three times, SEC coach of the year eight times.  He retired from the University of Alabama in 1982 and died a short time later.