Always had a soft spot in my heart for Alabama football ever since the days of Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler. As a huge Illinois fan, I take bittersweet pride in the fact that Bear Bryant's last game was against us in the 1982 Liberty Bowl. First time we'd been in a bowl in 20 years so it was a pretty big deal around here. Thing I remember most is our quarterback, Tony Eason, getting pounded so much he had to finally come out of the game. I remember our coaches saying afterwards that Eason was so disoriented he thought he was in Ann Arbor playing Michigan.
Two things I remember most about Bryant: He had announced that he would retire after that season and someone asked him what he would do now. He said "I'll probably be dead within a week" or something to that effect. He died a month later.
Also remember a public service announcement on Mother's Day many years ago when he said "Call your Mama......I wish I could call mine." That always touched me.