COACH: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant [Hardcover]

Keith Dunnavant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1996

A profile of charismatic college football coach Paul Bryant discusses his roles as father, drill sergeant, and preacher to the young athletes he coached and explores his notable influence on American sports. 25,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bryant (1913-1983) retired in 1982 as the winningest coach in major college football history, with 323 victories, more than either of the legends Amos Alonzo Stagg or Pop Warner. Starting in 1935 at Union College in Jackson, Tenn., Bryant then served as an assistant coach at Alabama and Vanderbilt, spent four years in the service and then coached at Maryland, Kentucky and Texas A&M before returning to Alabama in 1958, where he stayed until he retired. From a background of grinding rural poverty, he found football a means of escape and, driven himself, always favored players whose drive was their strongest attribute. Freelance journalist Dunnavant demonstrates that Bryant was revered in his adopted state because, at a time when Alabama came in for opprobrium as the home of Bull Connor, George Wallace and Bloody Sunday in Selma, he was respected throughout the country as a rugged, earthy yet disciplined and decent man. And while not in the forefront of the battle for integration, it suited him well, for many of the young African Americans who went to Tuscaloosa came from a background similar to his and he understood them. Though hagiographic, this bio makes for good reading.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Bryant, the legendary football coach for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, set a major college record of 323 wins during his storied career. In this biography, journalist Dunnavant portrays a poor Arkansas farm boy who became a hard-nosed football player and an equally tough coach. After tours at Kentucky and Texas A&M, "Bear"?whose nickname came from a bout with a live animal?came to stay as the feared but admired Crimson Tide mentor. Stressing loyalty and discipline, he did not hesitate to suspend Joe Namath and other transgressors. Updating Bryant's own Bear (Little, Brown, 1974) this account cites the subject's failings?drinking, smoking, and gambling?along with accomplishments. Recommended for public and high school libraries.?Morey Berger, St. Joseph's Hosp. Lib., Tucson, Ariz.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1St Edition edition (September 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684800411
• ISBN-13: 978-0684800417
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,741,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, June 16, 2006

By 

Paul W. Holley (Tuscaloosa, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coach: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant (Paperback)

All told, "Coach: The Life of Paul 'Bear' Bryant" is probably the best in-depth analysis of Bryant as not only a coach but as a man. Although "The Last Coach", a new Bryant biography, may eventually take this particular book's place in that regard, this is nonetheless the standard text for those seeking an in-depth look at Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Most Bryant biographies lack depth and real analysis, and mostly just repeat common knowledge such as "Mama called", etc. However, this particular book thoroughly analyzes and details Bryant as he grew up in the Moro Bottoms of rural Arkansas, and what were the influences that shaped his life. It has a great section regarding Bryant as a player, and the writing on Bryant as a coach is particularly good, dealing with Bryant's views on the psychology, philosophy and strategy of the game. Moreover, the sections of the book regarding the Bryant / Butts scandal, and the Holt / Granning incident are all particularly good.

I would recommend this to anyone looking to read about Bryant.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well written biography of Coach Bryant's Career, November 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: COACH: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant (Hardcover)

This book makes you think you knew Coach Bryant, or at least makes you wish you had. It is entertaining, as well as informative, for college football fans of all ages. For Alabama Fans it is a must. Thank you, Keith for bringing Coach Bryant's life to those of us who missed seeing him while he was alive.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-done biography, October 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: COACH: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant (Hardcover)

Mr. Dunnvant admits from the beginning that, like many Alabamians, he grew up in awe of Paul Bryant. But he has succeeded in writing a fair, balanced portrayal of a complicated man. Bryant's failings are not glossed over, nor are they treated with sensationalism. A solid biography and a good read for college football fans.