My Mother, Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide (Flashback)

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Alabama Crimson Tide

My mother and I both are huge Alabama fans and have been for years. When I think of the Crimson Tide, I automatically see the face of Coach Bear Bryant and although he passed away when I was a little girl, I still remember his being tough as nails to push his players to be the best they could possibly be. In fact, he was so tough that he would make sure “puke barrels” were nearby because the practices were so brutal. I have no doubt that Coach Bryant’s influence lives on today and continues to make Alabama one of the top college football teams in the SEC today…decades after his death!

Like Bear Bryant, my mother was also tough as nails…pushing me and my siblings to be smarter, stronger…better than what I ever thought I could be. She was and still is a loving mother, but she could always be tough…even brutal when she knew we were being lazy and not trying as hard as we could try…at anything.

At times, Mom was like a drill sergeant but although it didn’t feel good at the time, I can tell you that her fierceness motivated us to do what we were supposed to do. I don’t think I could’ve graduated college nor become a published author of four books without my mother’s influence.

It is the same with the Crimson Tide. They wouldn’t be the awesome college football team they have always been without the influence of the one and only Bear Bryant. His legacy lives on over three decades after his passing, just as my mother’s legacy will live on in the hearts of her children long after she is gone!

Roll Tide Roll!

0 thoughts on “My Mother, Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide (Flashback)

  1. Kym Gordon Moore says:

    Oh Momma Bear! ๐Ÿป I think I would truly love your mom. Sounds a lot like my mother. I would not dare cross her. Now that she’s gone, you have no idea how much her “Drill Sergeant” attitude makes me appreciate those days gone by. Girlfriend, I think we are better because they disciplined us on so many levels. Survivors are what we are! Thanks so much for sharing this Cherie! Kindred baby…kindred!!! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ

    • cheriewhite says:

      Thank you so much, sweetie! I think you would too! ๐Ÿ’– I didn’t appreciate her efforts as much when I was a young (and dumb) teenager, but I sooo appreciate them now! A tough mama produces resilient kiddos! It also makes me think of a verse in the Bible, where a child may stray from the values he was taught for a little while, but he always comes back to embrace those values later. This has certainly been the case with me. And I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother, honey. ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค— Ss you said, we’re survivors- but more than that, we’re thrivers! And definitely kindred spirits! ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’๐ŸŒน

      • Kym Gordon Moore says:

        Oh my gosh, how beautifully put Cherie. Yep, it’s been almost 19 years since I lost my mom. She died on Easter Sunday that year (2003) and I find such comfort in that. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ The Bible verse you speak of definitely resonates with me. Sadly I see so many kids nowadays who don’t get the kind of hard lessons with a loving touch as we received. Continue to rise girlfriend!!! ๐Ÿฑโ€๐Ÿ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿฆ… Continue to let your light shine!!! ๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿ’ก๐Ÿช”

        • cheriewhite says:

          You’re so right, girlie! ๐Ÿ’ฏ It seems that, with the times, parenting has changed from what was tried and true to a new type of parenting that does kids no good. It’s why we see skyrocketing crime rates now. My mother once said “a butt whipping today keeps the cops off your doorstep tomorrow.” ๐Ÿ‘ฎ๐Ÿš”She was so right!

          And the fact that your mother died on Easter Sunday is definitely a great comfort! She had to have been one special lady for the Lord to take her on the day of Our Lord’s Rising from the tomb. Get ready to meet her at the pearly gates once you close your eyes, honey! ๐Ÿ•Š๐Ÿ•Š๐Ÿ•Š๐Ÿ•Š

          • Kym Gordon Moore says:

            PREACH!!! I love your mom’s advice, “a butt whipping today keeps the cops off your doorstep tomorrow.โ€ ๐Ÿ‘ฎ๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿš“๐Ÿ‘ฎ๐Ÿผโ€โ™‚๏ธ AMEN to that girlfriend. I am just happy to have been born when I was. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ The Lord certainly had his hand in that. I still have the portrait I had painted of my mom after I was born that hangs on my wall in my home office. ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸผRemembering our talks and those lessons she instilled in me and my siblings is a gift I am grateful for. ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿฅฐ

            Whatever you need to find out from your mom or any older relatives still alive, grab your pen and notebook and start taking notes. If you already have your family tree compiled, kudos. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ If you don’t, it’s not too late to get started. I wished my mom was here to see how far I researched her family tree with the breadcrumbs she left for me. I think that is the one thing I’ve done that keeps me humble!

            Gotta get back to work! I will catch ya later gator!!! ๐ŸŠ๐ŸŠ๐ŸŠ Hugs and smooches DJ Cherie!!! ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽ›๐ŸŽต

          • cheriewhite says:

            I can certainly understand, Kym! Family history is priceless and sacred! Don’t work too hard, sweetie! Have a great day! ๐ŸŒž Hugs and smooches back! ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ˜˜

  2. Shannon says:

    I married into a Tide family but had no idea about the ‘puke buckets’! I’ll have to ask if they know about them – I imagine they must, they’re diehard fans – the dog’s name is Bear and one of my nephews is Bryant! ๐Ÿ˜‚

    • cheriewhite says:

      Awesome, Shannon! I had no idea either until I had several articles about Bear Bryant and his training style. And I can bet that if a coach trained like that today, he’d be quickly fired and replaced. But Bear wanted to know that his players were in it for the long haul.

  3. J.N.R Dutton (aka The Poet) says:

    I’ll confess I’m not big on football, but I still grasp the intent of your post. Sometimes, my son probably thinks I’m overly hard on him, but I want him to grow up strong & determined and succeed at being everything he’s meant to be.

  4. RespectAll44 says:

    I am not a College Football Fan but I love that story. People don’t always recognize the influence they have.

    • cheriewhite says:

      Roll Tide! ๐ŸŒŠThank you so much, Leigh! Alabama is a beautiful state! We lived there back in the 70s when my Dad was stationed at Ft. McClellan. We lived in Jacksonville and Anniston- Calhoun County. โค

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