In the heart of Alabama, he is still revered. University of Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant (1913–1983) was born Paul William Bryant on this day in Moro Bottom, Arkansas—the 11th of 12 children. As a bold teenager, he earned his lifelong nickname by wrestling a bear. That fearless spirit never left him.

“Mama wanted me to be a preacher,” he said once with a grin. “I told her coachin’ and preachin’ were a lot alike.” And in many ways, they were. On the field, he became a kind of Southern sage, gruff but guided by purpose.

When he retired in 1982, Bryant had more wins than any coach in history: 323 victories, six national titles (1961, ’64–’65, ’73, ’78–’79), and generations of fans who saw him as the soul of Tuscaloosa.

“Coming from behind is still one of the greatest lessons,” he believed, “and the ability to do it is the mark of a great team.”

He was a tough disciplinarian with a velvet streak of vision. He inspired legends like Joe Namath and Ken Stabler. But more than that, he gave Alabama something to believe in—teamwork, tradition, honor. His values became a kind of creed, stitched into the very fabric of the South.

“When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it; learn from it; and don’t repeat it.” Wisdom like that stays in the blood.

More BEAR Bryant Quotations