Quick Witted Joe Willie

[SUPERCOACH]

Joe was never what you'd call a humble person, but most of his talk was lighthearted and quick.  Street talk, really.  A Vanderbilt tackler hit him pretty good when he was a sophomore and, according to our players, said, "Hey, No. 12, what's your name?"

Joe said, "You'll see it in the headlines tomorrow."  On the next play he threw a touchdown pass.

Years later some New York writer tried to get a rise out of him about his studies at Alabama.  He asked Joe if he had majored in basket weaving.  Joe's quoted answer was, "Naw, man.  I majored in journalism.  It was easier."


This excerpt was taken from the book "Bear:  The Hard Life & Good Times of Alabama's Coach Bryant", by Paul "Bear" Bryant with John Underwood.  It is available here at Amazon.  If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it.  This story about Joe Namath is found on page 184.

[BAMAWV]

Not meaning to hijack you SC, but me favorite Bama QB quote involved team docs standing over Stabler, who had just had his bell rung.

"Kenny, do you know where you are?"

""Yeah. 3 and 7 on the 43"

[SUPERCOACH]

That is a good one.

[Terrie1959]

You know, they can say what they want about Joe Willie, but he was (and still is) quick on his feet AND quick with his retorts or responses to the media

My Brother In Law is a Joe Willie expert. I have yet to pose a Joe trivia question that he couldn't answer in seconds.  Man is amazing with Bama football too.

[Kupkake]

These identical comments are in the book Namath by Frank Kriegel.  I hope the writer of The Bear book gives appropriate credit since the other book was published first.

[SUPERCOACH]

Really?  What year was the Namath book published?

[Kupkake]

Namath hardback was published August 19, 2004.  It contains over 100 pages of credits for information in the book.  Since I am reading it on an ereader, it is not easy to go back to quotes and see if they are credited to another source.  But over 100 pages of credits is a lot!

[ricky023]

He was and is still great! He can point a finger and do what it said on the field. RTR!

[Kupkake]

The Hard Life and Good Times of Paul Bear Bryant was published in 1975 so it obviously was published first!  I thought it was a new release.  I bet Mark Kriegel gave credit for his source in Namath.  I don't want to plow through over 100 pages of references to find it though!

[ricky023]

Boy, you guys are so knowledgeable about publications. My compliments to you all. RTR!

[SUPERCOACH]

The Hard Life and Good Times of Paul Bear Bryant was published in 1975 so it obviously was published first!  I thought it was a new release.  I bet Mark Kriegel gave credit for his source in Namath.  I don't want to plow through over 100 pages of references to find it though!

That's right.  That is why I was asking.  The updated second edition came out in 2007, so that is probably the source of the confusion.

[Marshal Dillon]

Namath hardback was published August 19, 2004.  It contains over 100 pages of credits for information in the book.  Since I am reading it on an ereader, it is not easy to go back to quotes and see if they are credited to another source.  But over 100 pages of credits is a lot!

Namath had a book released around 1969 or 1970, I read it as a teenager. I think that quote is in there. It's title was, "I Can't Wait Unitl Tomorrow.......Because I Get Better-Looking Every Day."

Great book with several Coach Bryant stories. Namath has probably had over 200-300 magazine articles written about him, so I'm sure that quote has been around a long time.

[Kupkake]

Namath hardback was published August 19, 2004.  It contains over 100 pages of credits for information in the book.  Since I am reading it on an ereader, it is not easy to go back to quotes and see if they are credited to another source.  But over 100 pages of credits is a lot!

Namath had a book released around 1969 or 1970, I read it as a teenager. I think that quote is in there. It's title was, "I Can't Wait Unitl Tomorrow.......Because I Get Better-Looking Every Day."

Great book with several Coach Bryant stories. Namath has probably had over 200-300 magazine articles written about him, so I'm sure that quote has been around a long time.

I am going to see if I can download the Bear book and I Can't Wait until Tomorrow.... on to my ereader.  I remember when Joe's book came out.  I still would love to meet him - have come within 20 feet of him twice in my life and neither time did I get to meet him.

[Marshal Dillon]

I remember Joe being inerviewed by Johnny Carson about his book back then, "I Can't Wait for Tomorrow," and Johnny asked him about the title. Joe was embarassed and said the publishers recommeded the title for "marketing" purposes. I saw the book on Amazon for like $2.99.

[ricky023]

I like just sitting here and reading about the past players and coaches. RTR!

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