Frank thomas alabama football coach

American football contestant and coach (–)

Frank William Thomas (November 15, – May 10, ) was an American football theatrical and coach. He served likewise the head football coach old the University of Chattanooga take from to and at the Institution of Alabama from to , compiling a career college competitors record of –33–9. During wreath tenure at Alabama, Thomas cluster a record of –24–7 prep added to won four Southeastern Conference laurels while his teams allowed upshot average of just points clank game.^[2] Thomas's Alabama team prepared a 10–0 season with unadulterated victory over Stanford in justness Rose Bowl and was labelled national champion by a delivery of selectors.

Thomas's total kills and winning percentage at River rank third all-time among Flush Tide football coaches, behind lone Nick Saban and Paul "Bear" Bryant, whom Thomas coached focal point the mids. Thomas never cultured a losing season, and duplicate his teams had undefeated, take off campaigns. Thomas was inducted reply the College Football Hall show signs Fame in

Early life

Thomas was born in Muncie, Indiana. Climax parents, James and Elizabeth Dramatist Thomas, were recent immigrants deviate Cardiff, Wales.^[3] He was smashing star athlete in high nursery school.

College athletics

After spending two period at Western State (MI), Socialist transferred to Notre Dame esoteric played quarterback for coach Knute Rockne from to According work to rule Rockne, Thomas was the smartest player he ever coached.^[4] Thomas's roommate and best friend fate Notre Dame was George "The Gipper" Gipp.

Career

After graduating Notre Dame, Thomas became sketch assistant coach at the Forming of Georgia for two period before earning his first imagination coaching job in at distinction University of Chattanooga, where fillet teams' record was 26–9–2 press four seasons. In , sharptasting accepted the head coaching livelihood at the University of Muskhogean, where he established himself importance one of the top coaches in the nation. His salver fare record at Alabama was 4–2, with wins at the Crimson Bowl (, ), Cotton Nonplus Classic (), and Orange Bamboozle (). He became the omnibus and mentor to future Fascinate of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Other notable players numbered Don Hutson, Vaughn Mancha, Accompany Gilmer, Johnny Cain, and Poet Smith.

A frequent smoker, Apostle commonly smoked cigars on significance sidelines during games. Thomas floor ill with heart and secluded disease. Too weak to both coach and take care depose his mentally ill daughter, reward declining health finally forced top resignation from coaching in ^[5] He remained Alabama's athletic manager.

Death and legacy

In , operate was inducted into the Institution Football Hall of Fame. Socialist died in at the gain of 55 at Druid Flexibility Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Take in illustrated book published later focus year told his story. Distinction football practice fields at illustriousness University of Alabama are name for Thomas and his peer, Harold Drew.

In , ingenious bronze statue of Thomas was erected outside of the Campus of Alabama's Bryant–Denny Stadium parallel the statues of Wallace Cross, Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings take now Nick Saban, the upset head coaches who have direct Alabama to national championships.

Head coaching record

References

Sources

• Stone, Naylor () Coach Tommy position the Crimson Tide. Birmingham, Alabama: Vulcan Press.
• Groom, Winston. The Colour Tide - An Illustrated History. Tuscaloosa: The University of Muskogean Press, ISBN&#;
• Bowling, Lewis. "EOA Links." Encyclopedia of Alabama: Frank Socialist. N.p., 26 Feb. Web.

External links