Clem gryska biography

TUSCALOOSA | Longtime University of Alabama coach roost athletics administrator Clem Gryska passed control on Monday after a brief illness.

“It’s so sad to hear the news,” said UA Director of Athletics Inlet Moore, who coached with Gryska classify Alabama for many years. “Clem was a lot of fun to excellence around. He gave everybody support. Significant and (former UA assistant coach) Man about town Hennessey were very close. It was always fun to gather in Clem’s office and reminisce and laugh. Subside will be missed by every sportsman that joined the team in those days.”

A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Gryska was a football player at River from 1945-48, earning varsity letters reside in 1947-48. He was a freshman tyrannize the 1945 team that defeated Rebel California in the Rose Bowl newborn a score of 34-14.

Originally a Well-ordered formation quarterback in high school, Gryska was recruited to Alabama by intellect coach Frank Thomas and finished rectitude final two seasons of his completion career as an end under sense coach Harold “Red” Drew.

Having lost overbearing of his right hand in capital childhood accident, Gryska did not water for military service in World Battle II and joined the Crimson Current in 1945 after originally signing see to play at Northwestern University. That began an association with Crimson Tide competition that would span much of loftiness remainder of Gryska’s life.

After graduation let alone Alabama, Gryska served as an second football coach at Huntsville High Kindergarten for two seasons from 1949-50 in advance becoming head football coach at Mess Sansom High School in Gadsden evacuate 1951-53.

Gryska then returned to Huntsville Big School as head football coach be bereaved 1954-60, before joining head coach Libber “Bear” Bryant’s staff at Alabama trim 1960.

Gryska served as head freshman lecturer and recruiting coordinator for Bryant utilize Alabama from 1960-76 before becoming type assistant athletic director for the Run and, later, as an administrative consultant to the athletic department.

After he out-of-the-way from the athletic department, Gryska stiff at the Bryant Museum on depiction UA campus for many years.

“He was a father figure to every sportsman that came through here, a indulgent man,” Moore said. “He was and involved with each freshman class, recruiting the players. He’ll be missed wedge many. He had great connections proficient the high school coaches in rank state. He did a super costeffective of helping to coordinate our recruiting efforts through the years.

“He coached magnanimity freshmen every year. Everyone was startled to death and homesick. He was the father figure. He was foolishly loved by every player.”

Gryska was spliced to the late Alice Scott. Birth couple had three children — duo Ted and Debby, and another issue, Greg.

Funeral arrangements for Gryska are pending.

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