Alabama Football in National Geographic Magazine
by kleph on Nov 17, 2011 9:00 AM CST
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In the early 1970s, National Geographic photographer Dick Durrance III traveled to Alabama to capture the essence of the Yellowhammer State for a story penned by Howard La Fay. Their story "Alabama, Dixie to a Different Tune" appeared in the October 1975 issue of the magazine (Vol. 148, No. 4) and it offered a two-page spread on Crimson Tide football and Paul W. Bryant.
Durrance's photos are now available through National Geographic's online image collection. They are after the jump with an excerpt of that portion of La Fay's 1975 story.
The 'Bear' growls, the crowd yowls, and 'Bama's Crimson Tide, under coach Paul (Bear) Bryant, rolls on to yet another season as one of the nation's top college football teams. Cheerleaders Brenda McCampbell and Chip Cornelius (left) wring mounting decibels out of a frenzied crowd as the battle rages into the evening.
His two protective state troopers as much a trademark as his hat, the coach (right) leaves the scene of another 'Coup de Tide.' The master recruiter and motivator expects, and gets, hard work, dedication, and loyalty from his players. A successful businessman as well as a coach, Bear Bryant may be only the second best-known man in Alabama. It's debatable.
One important note about this photo feature. The cheerleader, Brenda McCampbell, was the first black on the Alabama squad. Recently, she spoke at a symposium on the integration of Alabama athletics about her experience.
Although she attended the school less than a decade after federal authorities forced a defiant George Wallace to allow blacks admission, McCampbell (now Brenda Lyons) said the atmosphere concerning race had completely changed.
"There were no doors closed to us unless we closed those doors ourselves," she said.
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A successful businessman as well as a coach, Bear Bryant may be only the second best-known man in Alabama.
Who was more famous than Bryant??
God bless our Dark Lord.
Wallace Wade? No disrespect, but I'd say Bryant had eclipsed him by then.
Paul W. Bryant,
Sir Alex Ferguson,
Truly the best of both footballing worlds.
by TiderUpNorth on Nov 17, 2011 9:31 AM CST up reply actions
William Wallace. You know, Braveheart.
If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.
Notice the UA on the cheerleader's shirts
when I was in 3rd grade 77-78? I was given a Bama shirt with a UA like those. I never wore it because I thought it looked too much like the barn’s AU.
these horse doovers are good.
For me as a kid....
National Geographic sometimes was even better than the underwear section of the Sears catalog.
The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his. ~General George S. Patton~
I know, check out that three-way action on the cover!!!
God bless our Dark Lord.
by CarrotTop4 on Nov 17, 2011 10:26 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I want to know
where i can get a sweet hat like the guy in the top picture is wearing
Enter witty Sig here
by That Other Dave on Nov 17, 2011 11:20 AM CST reply actions
I have one
my mom bought it at a game back then. It’s felt & practically falling apart… I’m sure you could find one somewhere else with all the “old school” stuff coming back out
by RollTideYall on Nov 17, 2011 12:35 PM CST up reply actions
That pic of the cheerleaders is flipped 180 degrees.
The banner in front of the stands reads, " LLOR EDIT LLL-O-O-O-O-R".
I ushered in 1974 and ’75 at Denny Stadium. My parents had a subscription to Nat Geo since before I was born and they still have all issues since 1959. That particular issue is well worn. I used to read them cover-to-cover the day they arrived.
Good times!
"All I wanna do is drive around in my truck and drink Jack Daniels... and they just don't understand."- Kenny Stabler
Yeah, my parents consider it a sin to throw away a Nat Geo.
It’s going to make it really tough next month when we finally move them out of their house they’ve been in for the past 30 years.
God bless our Dark Lord.
You should find a school or library who might want those old mags.
Also, an art school would probably take them for collage work.
/or ebay.
Enter witty Sig here
by That Other Dave on Nov 18, 2011 2:08 PM CST up reply actions
I used to have that issue!
Well, actually, I was a kid and my father subscribed.
Wow! That woman has a nice pair of mammary glands. This being National Geographic, I ’ m observing her strictly from a scientific point of view. Wish I was the top orangutan.
by the thin red line on Nov 18, 2011 3:36 AM CST reply actions
My wife's grandfather
Is the state trooper on the right in the picture of Coach Bryant.
"You play fast! You play strong! You go out there and dominate the man you're playing against, and you make his ass quit! That's our trademark! That's our M.O.... as a team! That's what people know us as!" - Coach Nick Saban before the 2008 LSU game.
by 12NationalChampionships on Nov 20, 2011 12:04 AM CST reply actions
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