University of Alabama coach Paul Bryant puts his arm around his star quarterback Joe Namath in the dressing room after losing to Texas in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla., Jan. 1, 1965. Alabama lost 21 to 17. (AP Photo)
ThereĀ is probably not another head coach and individual player that have had more video and film produced about them…..or articles and books that have been written more about them…thanĀ The Bear (Coach Paul Bear Bryant) andĀ Joe WillieĀ (QB Joe Namath).Ā
Ā The BearĀ is a 1984 movieĀ starringĀ Gary BuseyĀ andĀ Jon-Erik Hexum….in a film was written by Michael Kane, directed by Richard C. Sarafian and produced by James A. Hearn and Larry G. Spangler.Ā Ā The BearĀ follows the life ofĀ Paul “Bear” BryantĀ (Busey), head coach of theĀ University of AlabamaĀ football team…..with Jon-Erik Hexum playing Pat Trammell….along with Steve Greenstein playing Joe Namath…..as this full length feature film came out just one year after Bryant died in 1983.
Another example of this players’ and his coach’ relationship come out in Namath:From Beaver Falls to BroadwayĀ ….which is a 2012 documentary film focusing onĀ Pro Football Hall of FameĀ quarterbackĀ Joe Namath…..which was a project thatĀ Joe WillieĀ was reluctant in joining….but subsequently stated his pleasure in doing so.Ā Ā The film was produced byĀ NFL FilmsĀ andĀ HBO….and aired on January 28, 2012. The film documents Namath’s early life inĀ Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania…..followed by hisĀ college footballĀ career atĀ Alabama, with his relationship to Coach Bryant…..while the rest of the movie talked about Namath’s career with theĀ New York Jets…..which isĀ highlighted by hisĀ Super Bowl IIIĀ win over theĀ Baltimore Colts.
In this video herewith…..Broadway Joe WillieĀ speaks of Coach Bear Bryant with a respect and reverence worthy of kings…..as Namath pays homage to the man who helped him become a legend in the land ofĀ The Great Bear.