How Bear Bryant And The 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football

They say that history repeats itself, and in the case of Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide, it seems to hold true.

In 1966, the Alabama Crimson Tide, led by legendary coach Bear Bryant, showcased an incredibly talented team that seemed destined for greatness. They displayed outstanding performance throughout the season, leaving their opponents awestruck game after game. With Bryant at the helm, the team had become a force to be reckoned with, dominating on both offense and defense.

As the season progressed, the Alabama Crimson Tide continued to improve, winning one game after another in impressive fashion. Their relentless drive and unwavering determination to succeed made them a formidable contender for the College Football National Championship.

The Missing Ring: How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize

by Keith Dunnavant(Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3133 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	429 pages
Item Weight	:	7.7 ounces
Dimensions	:	4.96 x 0.79 x 7.68 inches

FREE

However, as fate would have it, this dream was soon shattered. Despite their undefeated status and undeniable talent, the Crimson Tide were denied the opportunity to compete for the national title. A controversial decision by the College Football Playoff committee left Alabama out of the championship race, much to the disappointment of the team, its fans, and the football community as a whole.

Many argued that the decision was unjust, citing biased judgments and political motives as factors that influenced the committee's choice. Others believed that the committee simply overlooked the undeniable prowess of the Alabama Crimson Tide, failing to recognize their unbeatable talent and remarkable achievements.

Bear Bryant, renowned for his resilience and indomitable spirit, could not accept defeat without a fight. He publicly voiced his discontent, questioning the committee's decision-making process and demanding a fair assessment of his team's worthiness to compete for the national title.

The controversy surrounding the exclusion of the Alabama Crimson Tide from the championship race sparked widespread debates and discussions across the nation. Football enthusiasts, sports analysts, and even casual fans eagerly joined the conversation, expressing their opinions and sharing their disappointment.

The legacy of Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide lives on, as a constant reminder of the injustices that can occur in the world of college football. Their story serves as a testament to the importance of fairness, transparency, and integrity in determining the true champions of the game.

While they may have been denied the opportunity to compete for the national title, the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide will forever hold a special place in the hearts of their dedicated fans. They proved that greatness extends beyond silverware and titles, leaving a lasting impact on the sport they loved.

The Missing Ring: How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize

by Keith Dunnavant(Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3133 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	429 pages
Item Weight	:	7.7 ounces
Dimensions	:	4.96 x 0.79 x 7.68 inches

FREE

"Keith Dunnavant's triumph is that he takes us into the heart of Alabama, into the darkness and the light, and there we see Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, Ray Perkins, and their band of brothers play football for Bear Bryant the way life should be lived, at full throttle, indomitably."
---Dave Kindred, author of Sound and Fury: Two Powerful Lives, One Fateful Friendship

The Missing Ring is more than a football book. It is both a story of a changing era and of an extraordinary team on a championship quest.

Very few institutions in American sports can match the enduring excellence of the University of Alabama football program. Across a wide swath of the last century, the tradition-rich Crimson Tide has claimed twelve national championships, captured twenty-five conference titles, finished thirty-four times among the country's top ten, and played in fifty-three bowl games.

Especially dominant during the era of the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant, the larger-than-life figure who towered over the landscape like no man before or since, Alabama entered the 1966 season with the chance to become the first college football team to win three consecutive national championships. Every aspect of Bryant's grueling system was geared around competing for the big prize each and every year, and in 1966 the idea of the threepeat tantalized the players, pushing them toward greatness. Driven by Bryant's enthusiasm, dedication, and perseverance, players were made to believe in their team and themselves. Led by the electrifying force of quarterback Kenny "Snake" Stabler and one of the most punishing defenses in the storied annals of the Southeastern Conference, the Crimson Tide cruised to a magical season, finishing as the nation's only undefeated, untied team. But something happened on the way to the history books.

The Missing Ring is the story of the one that got away, the one that haunts Alabama fans still, and native Alabamian Keith Dunnavant takes readers deep inside the Crimson Tide program during a more innocent time, before widespread telecasting, before scholarship limitations, before end-zone dances. Meticulously revealing the strategies, tactics, and personal dramas that bring the overachieving boys of 1966 to life, Dunnavant's insightful, anecdotally rich narrative shows how Bryant molded a diverse group of young men into a powerful force that overcame various obstacles to achieve perfection in an imperfect world.

Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the still-escalating Vietnam War, and a world and a sport teetering on the brink of change in a variety of ways, The Missing Ring tells an important story about the collision between football and culture. Ultimately, it is this clash that produces the Crimson Tide's most implacable foe, enabling the greatest injustice in college football history.