TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Even people who have absolutely no interest in sports can’t help but notice the presence of football on the University of Alabama campus, and the reverence that it holds.
There are the names of the football team captains in concrete around Denny Chimes, at the heart of campus, the Quad. Statues of coaches line the Walk of Champions, where both the teams and players of the national champions are set in stone. There’s the Bryant Museum (which has the Bryant Wall of Honor), Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, buildings and stadiums boasting the names of coaches and administrators, and even the prestigious Bryant Society, which celebrates those who have made gifts of at least $1 million.
But what about the other sports? Outside of Sarah Patterson Champions Plaza, which honors the non-football championship teams, there isn’t much, and even less for the actual athletes. Notable exceptions include the Joe Sewell statue in the entranceway of the baseball stadium, the plaque honoring John Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium, and Wendell Hudson’s basketball jersey hanging from the top of Coleman Coliseum.
There’s also the statue of two football players, who are supposed to represent all who suited up for the Crimson Tide, holding the flag by the entrance to Sabam Field. Center Antoine Caldwell and middle linebacker Matt Collins were the models, with one holding a flag and the other extending his hand and finger with a No. 1 while appearing to look into the distance.
This isn’t to suggest that Alabama should start placing more statues and plaques around campus of its major award winners, but might it be time to add a Hall of Fame, especially during the era of NIL and athletes being treated more like professionals?
