Alabama coach Gene Stallings, one of Bear Bryant's most ardent disciples, is still being influenced by the master.
Stallings benefited from Bryant's influence one more time Thursday night, winning the Bryant Award as the national college football coach of the year, presented by the Football Writers Association of America."Coach Bryant improved the quality of life in a lot of people," Stallings said. "It was impossible to be associated with Coach Bryant and not be affected by him."
Stallings played for Bryant at Texas A&M (1954-56) and was an assistant on Bryant's Alabama staff (1958-64) before returning to Texas A&M in 1965 as head coach.
The Bryant legend is never far from Stallings, although he now has a coach of the year award that Bryant never won.
"The players live in Bryant Hall," Stallings said. "Right in front of my office is Bryant Boulevard, then on to the Paul Bryant Conference Center, right beside Paul Bryant Museum, right down by Paul Bryant Stadium.
"That's the way it's going to be for a long time. It doesn't bother me one bit."
The Bryant trophy was presented for the 36th year and benefits the American Heart Association. The trophy has borne Bryant's name since 1986.
Bryant died of a heart attack in 1983.
"I won't ever be out of Coach Bryant's shadow," Stallings said. "In Alabama they loved Coach Bryant so much but they just tolerate the rest of us as long as we win a few games."
Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a 12-0 regular season record that included a victory over Florida in the first Southeastern Conference title playoff game.
No. 2-ranked Alabama now is poised for a chance to win the national championship if it can beat No. 1-ranked Miami in the Sugar Bowl Jan. 1.
Other finalists for the honor were Washington's Don James, the 1991 winner; Glen Mason, who led Kansas to a 7-4 record, and Tom Coughlin, who helped Boston College to an 8-2-1 record in his first season.