Normally, the only type of event that would overflow Birmingham’s Legion Field was an Iron Bowl.
An exception was evangelist Billy Graham's 1972 Alabama Crusade, held May 14-21. It has now been 53 years since that crusade, and what a difference it made.
The news media and Billy Graham in his sermons pointed out that Birmingham and Alabama were changed places since his previous Birmingham crusade in 1964. It had been held just months after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church had killed four young black girls.
Now, Graham insisted that the ‘72 crusade be integrated. The audience was black and white. So was the staff. The choir was intentionally black and white. The churches that organized to turn out folks intentionally included black churches. Platform guests and speakers included black Christians.
That inclusion had not been the case in the 1964 crusade. Same town, same stadium, different era.
Watch:
One influential celebrity on the stage had recently integrated his own program. It was Alabama head football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He and his wife Mary Harmon Bryant were seated on stage with his former quarterback Joe Namath, who had writ his name in crimson flame by unexpectedly winning Super Bowl III.
In 1964, Bryant had an all-white staff and team. By 1972, he had learned that he needed the best athletes regardless of color.
What a difference.
There was Tom Landry, head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, “America’s Team” at that time. And Mike Kolen, “Captain Krunch” of the Miami Dolphins and Auburn fame. Kolen, who died in 2024, was about to lead Miami to a perfect season and Super Bowl win. History made that year.
Landry and Kolen spoke at the crusades, each giving their testimony of how they accepted Christ and became Christians, and 50,000 people listened.
What a difference.
There was Alabama quarterback Scott Hunter. Former Alabama receiver and later head coach to follow Bryant, Ray Perkins.
An iconic photo was taken of the crusade platform showing Graham, Landry, Bryant and wife, Namath and Scott Hunter. This photo is a Daniel Moore level of Alabama imagery.
When Billy Graham got word that Alabama Governor and presidential candidate George Wallace had been shot that day in an assassination attempt, he prayed for Wallace and asked his audience – black and white – to pray. They did. It was May 15, 1972 — 53 years ago.
The Graham Crusade helped celebrate Birmingham's selection as an All-American City by the National Municipal League.
The crusade was part of sparking a spiritual revival in Birmingham that saw hundreds of high school students organizing for Christ. This student revival inspired the later movie "Woodlawn." It, in turn, contributed to a national revival of youths later named “The Jesus Revolution,” also a later movie.
Nowadays, Legion Field is not used for Alabama or Auburn football games, or any SEC games. Hasn't been for years. It sits in western Birmingham almost like a ghost town. It is near the closed Birmingham-Southern College campus. Nothing much is there but memories, mostly of football games but also of the 1972 Billy Graham Crusade.
A half-century ago at Legion Field.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her 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 [email protected].
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
