Bear Bryant, Pat Dye and the famous hunting photo

The story behind the iconic photograph of the two coaches taken in 1982 that turns up everywhere in Alabama, from service stations to barbecue joints, man caves to lake houses.

[@RedElephantStampede]

Now they can hunt together forever, two legends. God knows I miss them both.

[@johnnyclemmons9756]

RIP Coaches

[@sammylacks4937]

Everybody does. I'm from NC , a long ways from Alabama. I got here because of a tornado and am so glad and honored to have learned what I have and feel I've almost met some mighty fine people.

[@troutaholic8834]

From generals to football coaches, throughout history, the great ones have always seemed to be the most humble. These coaches were leaders of men. Great story and photo. There is something religious that tugs at my heart, whenever I see this photo. It is special.

[@Thex-W.I.T.C.H.-xMaster]

RIP two of the GREATEST head coaches.

[@BamaFanUSMC]

That rabbit knew who was shooting at him. 😎

[@mackdaddy8739]

This photo hangs on my wall...WDE! There is deposition from my first divorce, The judge states, Sir is it true ALL you want from your divorce is your personalized PAT DYE autograph? My response is YES your honor.. I remember as a kid my dad, Lonnie Russell, and Coach Bryant getting hammered down at the barn in Lonnie’s office. My mother would hear the Rollins alarm go off at the cattle gap when Coach Bryant’s car would cross and she start cussin...he treated me as nice as a preacher... but I KNEW as a young boy this wasn’t a man to be trifled with. This coming from a DYE hard Auburn fan...I love the state of ALABAMA...

[@yeildo1492]

GREAT story. You got the really important thing in your divorce.

[@Southernman887]

I have a signed copy of them hunting. One of my favorite keepsakes.

[@RepublicConstitution]

Two good ole country fellers right there.

[@charleshowell7855]

I’m a Dawg fan. But,damn those two knew how to coach. Next to general Lee and Stonewall Jackson

[@leewalker3048]

Nothing but RESPECT. For BOTH!! RTR!

[@kckc6588]

I’m not old enough to have seen the Bear, I was born in 82’. But I do miss hearing Pat Dye call in Finebaum back when the show was still in Birmingham. He was one of kind.

[@kckc6588]

@RidgeRunner That’s awesome. Maybe the Alabama Tennessee rivalry will get back to what it once was. I know as a kid there wasn’t a team I wanted Alabama to beat more than Tenn, just bc they owned us for a long stretch.

[@stevefowler2112]

Awesome picture...by a tremendous photographer (a guy who was born in Hunstville, but graduated from UF College of Engineering)

[@sloanchampion85]

It was good to put this out to tell the story of this photograph

[@michaelscott8230]

This should not be such a surprise that these two spent time together.....Dye was an assistant coach on Bear's staff for 8 years!!! 1965-1973......I understand the "Alabama/Auburn" thing, but, they had a very familiar relationship. An off season hunting expedition back then was no rare occurrence. To me, it is more valuable due to the fact that Bryant would die less than a year after this picture and the hunting excursion happened. Possibly his last ever!

[@larollercoaster75]

#WAREAGLE for Coach Dye... I’m glad the two friends are reunited...

[@wildestcowboy2668]

Grandpa was a trooper. In 79 they moved him to t town. For supper one evening he said guess who I stopped 2day? Bear Bryant. Dad asked if he gave him a ticket he laughed.

[@willoneil1456]

God has been so good to me to have met both Men and to have been recruited by the both of them Coach Bryant in 1978 as a senior in high school at Alabama and Coach Dye in 1977 as a junior in high school at East Carolina. Lord knows I wish I had played for both ? But I went to N C State and Coach Monte Kiffin but I was recruited there by Bo Rein who had left to go to LSU ? God's been so good to have known these great Men especially Coach Bryant and Dye. RIP Boy's.

[@morrisonreed1]

The light is perfect , as if done on a high dollar film set

[@ytsn_THE_OG]

Rest in Paradise to both amazing men. Roll Tide

[@friedrice69]

Iconic.

[@kennybridgman4322]

Awesome. Sent chills up my spin

[@duanelewis6930]

This hunting trip took place at Allen Acres, a 5,000 acre property on the banks of the Black Warrior River outside of Moundville, Alabama. It was owned by Judge Tigger Burke and 3 of his friends. I heard that Ebsco may own it now.

[@christophercringle896]

As a Bama fan I had alot of respect for Coach Dye. I will even give him a "WAR EAGLE"!!! But that is the only time. My hypocrisy goes so far. RTR

[@joltinjack]

I loved the BEAR, and I'm from GA. Was a high school wishbone fullback in the mid 1970's and really liked the Crimson Tide.

[@joltinjack]

Tennessee Tech

[@joltinjack]

@Hammerschlägen M My high school coach, Howard Cochran, was an All-OVC guard who played with him, and All-Americans Larry Schrieber (RB), and Mike Hennigan (LB). Schrieber played for SF 49'ers for years & then ended with a year for the Chicago Bears. Hennigan played LB for the Detroit Lions, and then New York Jets for a while. I was practically a "preferred" walk-on in 1977, playing scout team fullback. My specialty was short yardage and blocking; however, our team ran a Houston split-back veer - had to run around a 4.5 forty to run the pitch on that double or triple option (coming from behind backside guard to opposite boundary). I was a 4.7 to 4.8 forty man....4.9 on a bad day at around 210 lbs. After that year, I earned a 1/2 scholarship in 1978 and made 2nd team right guard, playing on kickoff & kickoff return teams. My last year I was moved to left defensive end (2nd team), and again, played on KO and KO Return teams. I lettered in '78 & '79. I left after the '79 season after reoccurring shoulder injury. Cortisone and Darvons got me through the last season. I'm now a semi-retired math teacher in SE Georgia - live on ancestor's land out in the country.

[@joltinjack]

@Hammerschlägen M Thank you, sir.

[@yeildo1492]

On another hunting trip, Bryant shot at a bird and missed. "There flies a dead bird," he said. True story: I have an autographed picture of Coach Bryant. A distant relative worked in the football office and got me and my brothers the picture. It is, of course, a treasure.

[@okrajoe]

Great photo.

[@deantnorton]

"That rabbit knew who was shootin at him."

[@ronaldcarr3481]

Roll Tide and God bless Bear Bryant

[@JK-br1mu]

There were a lot of Greatest Generation dudes that sorta looked like Bear Bryant. Vanished breed, they don't make em like that anymore.

[@sammylacks4937]

Is there a way of getting a print of this and if available what size? I ve heard many times a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe this picture supports that more than any other I ve seen.

[@frankfowlkes7872]

Less than one year later Coach Bryant was gone!

[@samlittle6092]

They both belong to the ages now.

[@brianwagar19]

Come to the cabin with me Bo.

[@shellcrackerlover5889]

I like Bear better than Pat Dye, but I tell ya, Dye has a better gun with that Browning A5

[@uuuultra]

Never heard of it

[@teller1290]

I've always heard there was a hunting trip involving Bryant, John Wayne and Woody Hayes. I assume that is a myth. Does anyone know for sure?

[@mat915]

Would have been great if the producers of this piece had shed some light on the location of the cabin. Does anyone know who owned it or where exactly it was? Anyone know if it still stands?

[@AlabamaCrimsonTideonALcom]

The hunting lodge was on a property called Allen Acres along the Black Warrior River in Moundville, AL. You can read the companion article that gives more information here: www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/10/paul_bear_bryant_pat_dye_and_t.html

[@mat915]

Thank you. Does the cabin where the famous photo was taken no longer stand?

[@bigsarge]

@@mat915 It is still there. Although the new owners of the property built a new, bigger lodge down past it.

[@nobody127yago8]

What map is that

[@Fleur-de-lis_2_27]

Made ONE Frame…

[@brianwagar4512]

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[@brianwagar4512]

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[@brianwagar4512]

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[@brianwagar4512]

You

[@brianwagar4512]

This bullshit ain't worth a damn.

[@michaelcanney7218]

Who cares

[@brettrobinson2901]

If you don't, why were you here? Why comment at all?