Ingram, Gryska to Receive UA’s Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two former football standouts at The University of Alabama – Clem Gryska and Cecil “Hootie” Ingram – will be recognized for their accomplishments off the field as recipients of the 2007 Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award.

The prestigious award, presented by the UA National Alumni Association, recognizes two former athletes whose accomplishments since leaving the University are outstanding based on character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service.

The award will be presented on Sept. 1 at the Alabama vs. Western Carolina football game in Tuscaloosa.

Clem Gryska
Clem Gryska

Clem Gryska began his career at UA when he was 17 years old after being recruited to play football by coach Frank Thomas. While playing for Bama from 1945-1948, Gryska went to both the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

Gryska served as assistant coach at Huntsville High in 1949 and served as head coach at Emma Sansom in Gadsden in 1951 before returning to Huntsville High as head coach in 1954. In 1960, Gryska left Huntsville to join Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s football staff at Alabama.

Gryska said one of the most important lessons he learned from Coach Bryant was that ultimate football success was not to be concerned with winning, but to avoid mistakes that could lose the game. Gryska continued to serve after Coach Bryant’s retirement, assisting UA coaches Ray Perkins, Bill Curry and Gene Stallings. During his tenure with the Tide, Gryska was associated with seven national championship teams.

In 1988, Gryska began working at the Paul W. Bryant Museum, where he serves as a liaison with the UA Athletic Department and former Alabama players.

Coach Gryska has contributed more than 50 years of goodwill and service to the University through his work with fellow coaches, young players, fans and those at the Bryant Museum. In addition, he is an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church on campus and has served on numerous boards and committees over the years in the Tuscaloosa area, including the Stallings Center, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Tuscaloosa Association for Retarded Citizens and Phoenix House.

Cecil “Hootie” Ingram
Cecil “Hootie” Ingram

Cecil “Hootie” Ingram was a football standout at Alabama, earning All-SEC honors as a sophomore after leading the nation with 10 interceptions. He set an Alabama Orange Bowl record in 1953 with an 80-yard punt return in the Tide’s 61–6 win over Syracuse. Ingram was also an infielder for the Alabama baseball team.

Before embarking on his impressive coaching career, Ingram served in the U.S. States Army. In 1960, after four years of coaching on the high school level, Ingram began coaching on the collegiate level. He spent 13 years coaching with stints at Virginia Tech, Georgia, Arkansas and served as head coach at Clemson.

In 1973 he began his administrative career as an assistant commissioner at the Southeastern Conference office. After eight years of service, Ingram was chosen as Florida State’s athletic director in January 1980. He served there until coming back to Alabama as director of athletics in 1989. He directed the efforts of Alabama’s nationally acclaimed 19-sport athletic department until 1995.

Ingram was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and was honored in 1992 as a second-team defensive back selection on the Tide’s “Team of the Century.” A dedicated family man, Ingram and his wife, Toni, have raised three children and are now proud grandparents.

Past Recipients of the Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award include: John Croyle, Young Boozer, Charlie Boswell, Fred Sington, Hoyt “Wu” Winslett, Holt Rast, Tom Rast, Bart Starr, Bud Moore, Ozzie Newsome, Jerry Duncan, Dwight Stephenson, Lee Roy Jordan, Joe Kelley, Wendell Hudson, Dr. Andrew Burch, Jack McKewen, Harry Lee, I. L. “Pat” O’Sullivan Jr., Harry Gilmer, Don Salls, Jeremiah Castille, William E. Sexton, Bill Battle, Noah Langdale Jr., James D. “Jim” Loftin Sr., Bobby Luna and Mal Moore.