I guess SPuat will now claim #13......

The Prowler · « **on:** October 14, 2009, 06:05:22 PM »

Quote

The real ring: 'Bama players finally honored for 1966 season
By Austin Phillips (Contact) | Shelby County Reporter

Published Thursday, October 8, 2009

PELHAM — When former University of Alabama football players Junior Davis of Hoover, Conrad Fowler of Columbiana, Mike Hall of Havana and Norris Hamer of Gardendale got together at Davis' office in Pelham before lunch Wednesday, their topic of conversation was an odd one - jewelry.

But after more than 42 years, the four players, in addition to their 1966 teammates, now have that missing ring they all felt they rightfully deserved.

Following back-to-back national championships in 1964-65, Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide entered the '66 season as the No. 1 team in the nation, but was dropped to third after not playing the first week of the season.

Alabama, the Michigan State Spartans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish emerged as the top three teams throughout the season, as the Crimson Tide emerged unscathed with a perfect 11-0 record.

However, in a Nov. 19 match-up, the Spartans and the Irish played to a tie, and the two teams remained Nos. 1 and 2 in the final AP poll, each with a 9-0-1 record.

While neither the Spartans or Irish went on to play a bowl game, the No. 3 Tide dominated No. 6 Nebraska, 34-7, in the Sugar Bowl.

Some theories of why the controversial vote happened include the 1966 Associated Press poll was a backlash for the Tide winning the championship in '64, in which Alabama beat Texas, who lost to undefeated Arkansas, while others felt it was a backlash for the '65 title, in which the Tide finished 9-1-1, while the Spartans finished 9-1. WRONG......Jan. 1st 1965 Orange Bowl Texas 21 - SPuat 17....I guess when you start making up shit, ya just can't help yourself, LOL.

Another theory was that voters were punishing the Tide because the state of Alabama was still allowing segregation.

Following the vote, Fowler said he remembers Bryant leaving a note for the players the next morning.

"Coach Bryant had been up most of the night, and he left us a note the next morning saying, 'Sorry we didn't make it this year,'" Fowler said. "I'll never forget that."

While the four players said Bryant never really showed how much the missing ring meant to him, Fowler said that was just the person he was.

"That was just his nature," Fowler said. "He wanted it, but he didn't want to play off it."

Hall agreed.

"It hurt him just as bad as it did us," Hall said. "But we had to move on. We had to play in '67."

Author Keith Dunnavant wrote about the controversial season in his book, "The Missing Ring: How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize."

After the release of the book, Hall and teammate Bob Childs began throwing around the idea of having rings made up for the uncrowned '66 championship team.

"That gave Bob and Mike the ammunition to push the idea," Fowler said. "(Dunnavant) really wrote some inside stuff that really drew people's attention."

Hall said while he and Childs were "whining" one day about not getting a ring, they decided to throw the idea around to other players, which quickly caught on.

"We didn't have a ring from that season. Coach Bryant did not believe in getting an SEC championship ring," Hall said. "You only got a national championship ring."

When news broke that Dave Hart had been named chief operating officer for University of Alabama athletics, Hall and Childs went to Athletic Director Mal Moore with the idea.

"I was afraid Mal was going to get out of there before we could get it done," Hall said.

And get it done, Hall did.

"I never gave up," Hall said.

Players began receiving rings in August, and although the rings read "SEC Champions," the three diamonds on the middle crimson stone signify the Tide's three-consecutive national championships, the first team to ever do so. NOPE.....Again just because you make it up, doesn't mean that it's real.

"I needed something to show my kids and my family," Davis said. "It's closure for me."

But while the long awaited rings are certainly special to the players, there is another ring that will always hold the most special place in each of their hearts - the A-Club ring.

A-Club rings were given by Bryant to players who endured all four years of Alabama football.

"Forty-five guys signed with us, and only 17 made it the whole way," Davis said. "That ring right there, that came from the man."

http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/news/2009/oct/08/real-ring-bama-players-finally-honored-1966-season/

Pell City Tiger · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2009, 06:21:58 PM »

What a crock of shit!

RWS · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2009, 06:28:52 PM »

I guess its easy for me to say because I wasn't on the '66 team, but......who cares? And from all people, Prowler, who accuses us of having little sister syndrome.

The Prowler · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2009, 07:26:19 PM »

Quote from: RWS on October 14, 2009, 06:28:52 PM

I guess its easy for me to say because I wasn't on the '66 team, but......who cares? And from all people, Prowler, who accuses us of having little sister syndrome.

AHAHAHA....You bammers would've tried to claim this as another "Mythical" NC, but now that the Auburn fans will make fun of y'all before you try to claim it, then that just ruins those plans. LMAO, what a bunch of losers. I'm guessing that 40 years from now, y'all will try and claim the '09 National Championship, I mean y'all almost beat UF and if y'all would've beaten UF then surely OU would've been a walk in the park.

RWS · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2009, 07:30:10 PM »

Quote from: The Prowler on October 14, 2009, 07:26:19 PM

AHAHAHA....You bammers would've tried to claim this as another "Mythical" NC, but now that the Auburn fans will make fun of y'all before you try to claim it, then that just ruins those plans. LMAO, what a bunch of losers. I'm guessing that 40 years from now, y'all will try and claim the '09 National Championship, I mean y'all almost beat UF and if y'all would've beaten UF then surely OU would've been a walk in the park.

Again, read: It really doesn't make a shit to me. They went 11-0 and have "SEC Champions" rings. Its something some old players did. Besides them, who really gives a shit? Not I. How many times have you seen me put in somebody's face how many MNC, SEC Titles, etc that we have? Shit, I don't even know how many SEC titles we have. I guess I'm a bad fan.

boartitz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2009, 07:45:34 PM »

Quote from: RWS on October 14, 2009, 07:30:10 PM

Again, read: It really doesn't make a shit to me. They went 11-0 and have "SEC Champions" rings. Its something some old players did. Besides them, who really gives a shit? Not I. How many times have you seen me put in somebody's face how many MNC, SEC Titles, etc that we have? Shit, I don't even know how many SEC titles we have. I guess I'm a bad fan.

Nobody knows. The number depends on who you are talking to at the moment.
If you almost got some pussy, do you count that in your resume?

The Prowler · « **Reply #6 on:** October 14, 2009, 07:59:44 PM »

"extensive recent history of infractions cases unmatched by any other member institution in the NCAA"...

"Unmatched. Hey, another national championship." - ($1 to Kevin Scarbinsky for making me laugh my ass off this morning)

RWS · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2009, 08:41:35 PM »

Quote from: The Prowler on October 14, 2009, 07:59:44 PM

"extensive recent history of infractions cases unmatched by any other member institution in the NCAA"...

"Unmatched. Hey, another national championship." - ($1 to Kevin Scarbinsky for making me laugh my ass off this morning)

The exact quote from the NCAA is: "The COI faced an institution with an appalling and unprecedented recent infractions history."

Also, another quote from the NCAA mentions our "abysmal infractions track record". They make a good point in the rebuttal, though. There are 27 teams in Div I who have had the same or more number of major infractions infractions. So, in essence, 22% of all teams in Div I have an "abysmal infractions record". Half of the Pac 10, Half of the Big 12, 3 schools in the ACC, and 4 in the Big 10. I don't agree with a "everybody else is cheating, so its ok if we do it" statement, and I don't think thats what UA is saying. I mean, they are pretty candid that we fucked up. EVERYBODY knows we've fucked up in the pas. I simply think that part of the brief is to put some of the name calling by the NCAA in perspective.

No Huddle · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2009, 10:32:10 PM »

Prowler you should read the missing ring. It is quite informative. During those three years (64, 65, 66) lots of things changed from one year to the next. For example in '64 the bowl game did not effect the final polls so Alabama did lose to Texas, as you mentioned, but had already been crowned NC. Then in '65 the polls were finalized after the bowl games. Alabama won while the three teams above them lost. Alabama was voted number one. In '66 preseason number one never lost but slipped to number three behind two teams that ties each other. The difference in Alabama (and the rest of the SEC) and those two teams (Mich. St. and ND). SEC and Alabama were segregated and the other two teams were not. I will agree Alabama did not win the title in '66 but it would appear they were robbed. I hope this helps. Good luck this weekend with KY.

The Prowler · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:01:27 AM »

Quote from: No Huddle on October 14, 2009, 10:32:10 PM

Prowler you should read the missing ring. It is quite informative. During those three years (64, 65, 66) lots of things changed from one year to the next. For example in '64 the bowl game did not effect the final polls so Alabama did lose to Texas, as you mentioned, but had already been crowned NC. Then in '65 the polls were finalized after the bowl games. Alabama won while the three teams above them lost. Alabama was voted number one. In '66 preseason number one never lost but slipped to number three behind two teams that ties each other. The difference in Alabama (and the rest of the SEC) and those two teams (Mich. St. and ND). SEC and Alabama were segregated and the other two teams were not. I will agree Alabama did not win the title in '66 but it would appear they were robbed. I hope this helps. Good luck this weekend with KY.

And...I'm guessing that you believe that SPuat has 12 Nashunal Shampiunshiups.

No Huddle · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:08:39 AM »

Quote from: The Prowler on October 15, 2009, 06:01:27 AM

And...I'm guessing that you believe that SPuat has 12 Nashunal Shampiunshiups.

I am a huge Alabama fan but I do not believe all 12 are legit. I would agree with 9. But who really knows?

RWS · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:15:23 AM »

Quote from: No Huddle on October 15, 2009, 10:08:39 AM

I am a huge Alabama fan but I do not believe all 12 are legit. I would agree with 9. But who really knows?

Claiming X amount of championships is good for prestige and a good selling line to recruits; thats about it. It really doesn't make a shit to me how many we have won, because I don't use it for something to throw in people's faces. I know we've won alot of SECCG and have the winningest record in bowl games. I couldn't tell you how many of each category, because I just don't care. Maybe I'm a bad fan, I dunno. College football is very much a what have you done for me lately type of sport. For example, LSU won a MNC in 2007. Thats pretty fucking recent, but look at them now. Thats how quick things change in this landscape. College football just isn't what it was 5 years ago, much less 20 years ago.

Kaos · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:42:40 AM »

Quote from: No Huddle on October 14, 2009, 10:32:10 PM

Prowler you should read the missing ring. It is quite informative. During those three years (64, 65, 66) lots of things changed from one year to the next. For example in '64 the bowl game did not effect the final polls so Alabama did lose to Texas, as you mentioned, but had already been crowned NC. Then in '65 the polls were finalized after the bowl games. Alabama won while the three teams above them lost. Alabama was voted number one. In '66 preseason number one never lost but slipped to number three behind two teams that ties each other. The difference in Alabama (and the rest of the SEC) and those two teams (Mich. St. and ND). SEC and Alabama were segregated and the other two teams were not. I will agree Alabama did not win the title in '66 but it would appear they were robbed. I hope this helps. Good luck this weekend with KY.

Who gives a fuck, really?

No Huddle · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:40:49 AM »

Quote from: RWS on October 15, 2009, 10:15:23 AM

Claiming X amount of championships is good for prestige and a good selling line to recruits; thats about it. It really doesn't make a poop to me how many we have won, because I don't use it for something to throw in people's faces. I know we've won alot of SECCG and have the winningest record in bowl games. I couldn't tell you how many of each category, because I just don't care. Maybe I'm a bad fan, I dunno. College football is very much a what have you done for me lately type of sport. For example, LSU won a MNC in 2007. Thats pretty phuking recent, but look at them now. Thats how quick things change in this landscape. College football just isn't what it was 5 years ago, much less 20 years ago.

Can't disagree with that.

dallaswareagle · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2009, 12:43:32 PM »

Quote from: No Huddle on October 15, 2009, 11:40:49 AM

Can't disagree with that.

WOW-Two turd fans agreeing about something on a Auburn message board.

My life is now complete.

jadennis · « **Reply #15 on:** October 15, 2009, 12:52:33 PM »

Personally, if 1966 was Auburn, I would probably claim it. The two teams in front of Alabama tied each other, and didn't play in bowl games. Last I checked, winning all your games was better than having a tie in your record.

Also, the Sugar Bowl victory that Alabama had came against a Nebraska team that was 9-1, and ranked #6 in the country. Nebraska's one loss was by one point, 10-9, on the road to Oklahoma. Alabama didn't just beat this 9-1 Nebraska team, they killed them 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl.

The clincher for me is that I don't think Michigan State was that good, and Notre Dame tied them. Michigan State's three toughest opponents were all down that year. Michigan was 6-4. Penn State was 5-5. Ohio State was 4-5. In fact, 9-2 Purdue was the only team on their schedule with more than 6 wins. To me their 9-0 record going into the Notre Dame game was about as respectable as Hawaii's undefeated season a couple years back.

However, I'll acknowledge the 1966 team as soon as Alabama hands over the 1972 SEC title to Auburn, the rightful owner.

Alabama went 7-1 in the SEC. Auburn went 6-1. Auburn's loss was to LSU, but we beat Alabama. But because Alabama played one extra SEC game that year, they win by % points.

djsimp · « **Reply #16 on:** October 15, 2009, 01:00:51 PM »

Wait.......is this.........no it cant. Man, I thought for a minute this was the Auburn Tiger football thread on al.com.

Kaos · « **Reply #17 on:** October 15, 2009, 01:01:57 PM »

Quote from: jadennis on October 15, 2009, 12:52:33 PM

However, I'll acknowledge the 1966 team as soon as Alabama hands over the 1972 SEC title to Auburn, the rightful owner.

Alabama went 7-1 in the SEC. Auburn went 6-1. Auburn's loss was to LSU, but we beat Alabama. But because Alabama played one extra SEC game that year, they win by % points.

Perfect.

Bastards.

I think we've already established Auburn's seven national championships based on the same rules used by Alabama to justify eight of their "12"

I claim seven.

Godfather · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2009, 01:02:52 PM »

Quote from: dallaswareagle on October 15, 2009, 12:43:32 PM

WOW-Two turd fans agreeing about something on a Auburn message board.

My life is now complete.

Don't get your hopes up, it was said by a fellow spuat fan.

No Huddle · « **Reply #19 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:07:14 PM »

Quote from: dallaswareagle on October 15, 2009, 12:43:32 PM

WOW-Two turd fans agreeing about something on a Auburn message board.

My life is now complete.

Two turd fans come on dude turd really?