Like people, schools have relationships. Often they are described in familial terms, such as sister institutions and sibling rivalries. Alabama and Texas A&M seem more like brothers. Not twins, mind you, but close. These schools have met only four times in football, yet they seem to share DNA. What explains the strong connection? Jackie Sherrill points to the patriarch. “You’d have to say Coach Bryant,” he said. “That’s the biggest connection.” But hardly the only one. Paul Bryant played at Alabama and later coached at Texas A&M (1954-57) before returning to Alabama in 1958. Gene Stallings played for Bryant at Texas A&M, coached for Bryant at Alabama, then went on to be the head coach both at Texas A&M and Alabama.
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