Paul W. Bryant High School

Last updated

Paul W. Bryant High School
Address
Paul W. Bryant High School
6315 Mary Harmon Bryant Drive

Cottondale, Alabama
35453

United States
Coordinates 33°9′28″N87°27′13″W / 33.15778°N 87.45361°W / 33.15778; -87.45361
Information
Type Public
School district Tuscaloosa City Schools
SuperintendentMike Daria
CEEB code 010767
PrincipalEric Hines
Teaching staff51.20 (FTE) [1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,042 (2022-23) [1]
Student to teacher ratio20.35 [1]
Color(s)Navy blue, Vegas gold, and white
   
MascotStampy The Elephant
Website www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/Domain/17

Paul W. Bryant High School serves grades 9 through 12 and is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, forming part of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. The school is named after former Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach Paul William "Bear" Bryant. The school competes as part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association in Region 4 of the 6A division.

Contents

History

With the 1999 lifting of the desegregation order that resulted in the creation of Central High School in 1979, the School Board began exploring the option to construct three new high schools to replace Central. [2] By the early 2000s (decade), Tuscaloosa City Schools announced that three new high schools would be constructed that would become Bryant, Northridge and a new Central High School. By September 2001, the board would award construction contracts totaling $100 million to implement the Five-Year Facilities Plan. [3] Costing $31.5 million to complete, the school would celebrate its ribbon-cutting on August 24, 2003, with U.S. Representative Artur Davis delivering the keynote address. [4] As of the 2018-19 school year, the school is not completely segregated, at just 92% Black. [5]

Naming

In January 2002, the Tuscaloosa City Schools School Board voted to name the school after Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach Paul William "Bear" Bryant. [6] The name was selected after being suggested by a resident during a community meeting regarding the new school. [6] Originally, the mascot was to be the "Bears" playing on the famous nickname of Paul Bryant. [7] However, that option was ruled out because the old Tuscaloosa High had been nicknamed the Black Bears, and a 1970s court order relating to the consolidation of Druid High with Tuscaloosa High stated that no new school in Tuscaloosa may take a nickname used by any of the former segregated schools. [7] [8] Additionally, the name "Titans"—voted on by students of schools that would feed into Bryant—was rejected because Holy Spirit High School's teams were already named the Titans. [7]

With the rejection of "Bears" and "Titans," popular sentiment was in favor of using "Stampede" as a mascot. According to PTA president Paul Lightsey, anyone who heard the school's name would expect to see an elephant as the mascot even if the school opted not to use Alabama's colors of red and white. Due to concerns about copyright issues, "Huskies" was chosen as an interim name. [8] However, after Alabama lifted its objections to Bryant High using an elephant mascot, "Stampede" was ultimately chosen as the mascot for the school. [9]

Academics

Paul W. Bryant has a program offered to junior and seniors called Co-Op that provides students with the technical and hands on experience of the work force while in school. [10] In 2018-19, 18% of students achieved proficiency in mathematics, and 22% in reading, both lower than even the Alabama state average. [5]

Varsity sports

Paul W. Bryant High School currently fields a varsity team in nine men's and eight women's sports. [11] They are:

Men's sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
 

Women's sports

  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bear Bryant</span> American football coach (1913–1983)

Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of the University of Alabama football team from 1958 to 1982. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and 13 conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for the most wins (323) as a head coach in collegiate football history. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W. Bryant Drive, and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor at the University of Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Alabama</span> Public university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, US

The University of Alabama is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama as well as the University of Alabama System. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryant–Denny Stadium</span> Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama US

Bryant–Denny Stadium is an outdoor stadium in the southeastern United States, on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It is the home field of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Stallings</span> American football player and coach (born 1935)

Eugene Clifton Stallings Jr. is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University (1954–1956), where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1965 to 1971. Stallings was also the head coach of the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) (1986–1989) and at the University of Alabama (1990–1996). Stallings' 1992 Alabama team completed a 13–0 season with a win in the Sugar Bowl over Miami and was named the consensus national champion. Stallings was also a member of the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach on July 16, 2011.

The University of Alabama is a school with many traditions. This article describes several of these traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Thomas (American football)</span> American football player and coach (1898–1954)

Frank William Thomas was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Chattanooga from 1925 to 1928 and at the University of Alabama from 1931 to 1946, compiling a career college football record of 141–33–9. During his tenure at Alabama, Thomas amassed a record of 115–24–7 and won four Southeastern Conference titles while his teams allowed an average of just 6.3 points per game. Thomas's 1934 Alabama team completed a 10–0 season with a victory over Stanford in the Rose Bowl and was named national champion by a number of selectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Al (mascot)</span> Mascot of the University of Alabama

Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama Crimson Tide football</span> University of Alabama Football Team

The Alabama Crimson Tide football program represents the University of Alabama in the sport of American football. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team is currently led by Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide is among the most storied and decorated football programs in NCAA history. Since beginning play in 1892, the program claims 18 national championships, including 13 wire-service national titles in the poll-era, and five other titles before the poll-era. From 1958 to 1982, the team was led by Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who won six national titles with the program. Alabama then had a dominant run under head coach Nick Saban between 2007 and 2023, resulting in six further national titles.

Johnny Musso is an American former professional football player who was a running back for three seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears. Musso played college football at the University of Alabama, where was a consensus selection on the 1971 College Football All-America Team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul W. Bryant Museum</span> Football museum at the University of Alabama

The Paul W. Bryant Museum is located on the campus of the University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Founded in 1985, the museum was opened in 1988 to "house the history of Alabama football, with special emphasis on the legendary coach" Bear Bryant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Million Dollar Band (marching band)</span> Marching band of the University of Alabama

The Million Dollar Band is the official marching band of the University of Alabama. Founded in 1912, the Million Dollar Band is the largest student organization at the University of Alabama. The band performs during pregame and halftime of every home and neutral-site Alabama football game; it also supplies at least a pep band to every away football game, as well as home men's basketball, women's basketball, women's gymnastics, and volleyball games. In 2003, the band was awarded the Sudler Trophy, recognizing it as one of the top college bands in the United States.

The 1897 Alabama Crimson White football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1897 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The team was led by head coach Allen McCants, in his first season, and played their home games at The Quad in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In what was the sixth season of Alabama football, the team finished with a record of one win and zero losses.

The 1978 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 84th overall and 45th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 21st year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eleven wins and one loss, as SEC champions and as national champions after a victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. Alabama's costumed "Big Al" mascot officially debuted this season, appearing at the Sugar Bowl.

The 1971 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 77th overall and 38th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 14th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eleven wins and one loss, as SEC champions and with a loss to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

The 1968 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 74th overall and 35th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 11th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished season with eight wins and three losses and with a loss against Missouri in the Gator Bowl.

The 1981 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 87th overall and 48th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 24th year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins, two losses and one tie, as SEC co-champions with Georgia and with a loss against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

Paul Burnum was a coach of multiple sports at the University of Alabama, having served as head coach of the school's men's basketball and baseball teams and an assistant for the football team. He was also the head football coach at Tuscaloosa High School in the university's home city of Tuscaloosa, where he led the Black Bears to an undefeated record, five state championships and a pair of national championships during his five-year tenure there. After his career as a coach ended, Burnum worked in private business and served as a member of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. After his death in 1981, Burnum was posthumously inducted into Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

The Bear Bryant Show was a weekly coaches' show that served as a weekly recap of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team's previous day's game. The show ran during the tenure of head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from the 1958 through the 1982 seasons. Co-hosted by John Forney (1961–1965), Bill Austin (1966), Charley Thornton (1967–1981) and Steadman Shealy (1982), The Bear Bryant Show was a cultural phenomenon within the state of Alabama that contributed to the rise in popularity and awareness of the university's football program during the 1960s and 1970s. The show ran for an hour during its entire run.

Tommy Wilcox is an American television personality and former college football player. He played defensive back for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide from 1979 through 1982 and was a member of the 1979 national championship team and was a consensus selection to the 1981 College Football All-America Team. Presently Wilcox serves as the host of a hunting and fishing show entitled "Tommy Wilcox Outdoors."

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Paul W Bryant High School". National Center for Education Statistics.
  2. ↑ Schmitke, Alison (Winter 2005–2006). "Teaching Brown in Tuscaloosa". Rethinking Schools.
  3. ↑ Kampis, Johnny (September 26, 2001). "Board approves contracts for schools". The Tuscaloosa News.
  4. ↑ Ricks, Markeshia (August 25, 2003). "New high schools open their doors". The Tuscaloosa News.
  5. 1 2 "Paul W Bryant High School (2021 Ranking) | Cottondale, AL". Public School Review. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Kampis, Johnny (January 29, 2002). "New school will be named Paul W. Bryant High School". The Tuscaloosa News.
  7. 1 2 3 Kampis, Johnny (March 19, 2002). "Bryant High School can't 'Bear' it". The Tuscaloosa News.
  8. 1 2 Reeves, Steve (April 22, 2003). "Bryant High Huskies, for now". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  9. ↑ Carroll, Andrew (August 7, 2003). "Stampede tries on its new colors". The Tuscaloosa News.
  10. ↑ Archived August 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Paul W. Bryant High School, Paul W. Bryant High School Athletics . Archived August 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.