When you hear September 11, you think of the tragedies that struck our nation in 2001. As terrible of a day that it was for America, good things have happened on September 11 in other years. For example, it’s the birthday of two of America’s most famous coaches in history. They were both known as being a head coach with a hat. More specifically, one was known as “The man with the funny hat”. They were both the coach of one team for over 20 years. They both have statues in front of the teams’ stadiums. More important though, they both put their lives on the line for their country by serving in the US Military.
Tom Landry and Paul “Bear” Bryant had a lot in common. They were more than football coaches. They were everything that’s great for the game and then some. They were patriots who put others above themselves.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bryant joined the US Navy where he eventually became Lt. Commander. His ship, the USS Uruguay was attacked by another and ordered to be abandoned. Bryant would eventually be honorably discharged for disobeying the orders to help save his own men. His coaching career began shortly after the discharge where his job was to train recruits and coach the team at North Carolina Navy Pre-Flight where he coached an eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer, Otto Graham.
He started his next coaching job was at University of Maryland in 1945 where he always put his integrity first. Bryant had power struggles with the University president who reinstated a player who Bryant suspended due to breaking team rules. Bryant must have figured enough was enough so he took the coaching job at University of Kentucky.
During his eight years there, Bryant took the Wildcats to their first bowl game. A few years later they won their first conference title on their way to knock off the No.1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
After a four year stop in College Station where he coached the Texas A&M Aggies, the veteran head coach headed for Alabama to coach the Crimson Tide in 1958. He wasted no time turning them around. In 1959, Alabama appeared in a bowl game for the first time in years where they beat rivals Auburn. The following year, Bryant and his Crimson Tide went 11-0 and were National Champions.
Some of the players he coached included guys like “Broadway” Joe Namath, Lee Roy Jordan and
Ken Stabler. Bryant announced his retirement at the end of the 1982 season. He coached his last game against Illinois in the Liberty Bowl in a 21-15 final. His legend passed on January 26, 1983, just 28 days after his last game.
Thomas Wade Landry defined the word character as he would make the Dallas Cowboys into America’s Team. Landry put his education on hold after attending the University of Texas so that he could join the US Army Air Forces in WWII.
Landry became a 2nd Lt. and a copilot in the 860th Bomb Squadron. He complete 30 missions and survived a crash in Germany after his air craft ran out of gas. After the crash, he returned to Austin to finish his education as he suited up for the Longhorns.
In 1956, Landry took the job as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator. Also on that squad was Packers great Vince Lombardi.
The Dallas Cowboys entered the NFL in 1960 and took on Landry as their head coach. The Cowboys didn’t get to enter the draft that year and it showed on the field as the ‘Boys stumbled to an 0-11-1 record. That didn’t last too long. Landry saw to it that a winning tradition would soon be brought to Big D.
Landry helped bring two Super Bowl victories (which everyone knows it should have b
een at least on more thanks to a bad call against the Colts), five NFC titles and 13 divisional titles as he had 20 career playoff wins and 20 straight winning seasons. When his career was all said and done, Landry finished with a record of 270-178-6, the third most victories of any coach in NFL history.
Tom Landry was a genius. He invented the shot gun formation and the 4-3 defense. After drafting Roger Staubach, he moved Rayfield Wright to the offensive line from Tight End because Staubach was a mobile quarterback and needed someone who could move with him.
Landry’s reign as the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys came to a sudden end after the team was bought by Jerry Jones in 1989. Landry was the coach of the Cowboys longer than any coach has ever been with one organization and that’s a record that will never be broken. The year after his departure, Tom Landry became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and in 1993 he became a member of the Dallas Cowboys ring of honor.
Off the field, Landry was known for his integrity. He played a huge role in the Fellowship of 
Christian Athletes and many other charity events. He would tell his players his priorities always followed in the following order: God, family, football.
The Hall of Fame Coach lost his battle to cancer on February 12, 2000. He was 75 years old but still active before passing. Now for one more season, he can look through the famous hole in the roof of the stadium where he used to coach. Perhaps maybe the new one will be named after him. What better way to honor a man who did so much for your team and your league?
This September 11, instead of mourning the tragedies of seven years ago, celebrate the lives that began years earlier on that day and were put on the line for our freedom. Celebrate our freedom and celebrate those that provided it. Celebrate men like Paul “Bear" Bryant and Thomas Wade Landry.
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