It is altogether appropriate that it was Thanksgiving Day when the University of Alabama family lost Bill Battle at age 82.
We are thankful for his many accomplishments as UA Athletic Director, from 2013 – 2017 under coach Nick Saban. The team won three national championships.
We are thankful for his filling the role (but no one could fill the shoes) of long-time AD Mal Moore.
We are thankful that he early-on thrust the University into the forefront of licensing merchandise.
We are thankful that he returned to his home and alma mater after being the head coach at Tennessee from 1970-76.
Our prayers are with the Battle family as they sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with a newly empty seat at the table.
Bill Battle may be the prime example of that old saying (modified): “You can take the boy out of Alabama, but you can’t take Alabama out of the boy.”
Battle had had a stellar record as head coach of the University of Tennessee. How in the world did the Tennessee family lose Bill Battle after he earned a record of 59-22-2 and a bowl record of 4-1? A remarkable record in the SEC, especially for a head coach at age 29 – the youngest in the nation.
Three things occurred that spelled the end of the Bill Battle era at Tennessee and his return home to Alabama. One, Tennessee legendary quarterback Johnny Majors had done spectacularly well coaching and had won a national championship as head coach of the Pittsburg Panthers (1976). There were influentials in the Tennessee leadership who were passionate about getting Majors back to his alma mater to try to win a national championship there. There was one thing standing in Majors’ way – head coach Bill Battle and his winning record in six years as Tennessee head coach.
Two, in Battles’s final year of 1976, Tennessee’s record fell to 6-5 and no bowl game – a far cry from his first year of 1970 with an 11-1 record, a Sugar Bowl win, and a national #4 ranking in Associated Press.
Thirdly, Battle and Tennessee had trouble beating Alabama and Auburn. Nothing could be more detrimental to the Tennessee record.
After the Tennessee head coaching career, his last, Battle moved back to Alabama and started the Collegiate Licensing Company. He signed as his first client Coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and the University of Alabama.
Battle was signed as UA Athletic Director by UA President Judy Bonner in 2013 succeeding long-time AD Mal Moore, who retired for health reasons. It was a return to Battle’s alma mater, where he had played for legendary coach Bryant.
Arrangements for Battle will be announced.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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