Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award Presented to Two Former UA Players

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two former University of Alabama standout athletes – Johnny Musso and Marlin “Scooter” Dyess – have received the 2012 Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award.

The award is presented by the UA National Alumni Association to former athletes whose accomplishments have been outstanding based on character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service.

Dyess, of Montgomery, and Musso, of Hinsdale, Ill., were presented the prestigious award on Sept. 8 at halftime of the UA vs. Western Kentucky football game in Tuscaloosa.

This year’s award presenters included UA President Guy Bailey, Sabrina Keating-NAA president, Charlie Schaeffer-NAA president-elect, Calvin Brown-UA director of alumni affairs, Cecil Ingram-A-Club president and Mal Moore-UA athletic director.

Marlin “Scooter” Dyess – A 1961 UA graduate, Dyess played football under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant as a member of the “Turnaround Team.” He was voted the most valuable player in the 1959 Auburn-Alabama game and served as captain of the 1959-1960 team. He played in the Liberty Bowl, the Blue-Gray Classic and the Senior Bowl. Dyess then served as an officer in the National Guard from 1960-1968. He was president of the University’s National A-Club Association in 1968, and was inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Johnny Musso  – A 1972 UA graduate, Musso played for the Crimson Tide from 1969-1971. Musso currently ranks fourth in the program’s history with 34 career rushing touchdowns. He held the touchdown mark for 27 years before Shaun Alexander broke it in 1999. Musso was named All-SEC three times and All-American twice, and was honored as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete after his senior season. A 1989 inductee into the Alabama Football Sports Hall of Fame, Musso went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League, the World Football League and for the Chicago Bears. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Past Recipients of the Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award include:

1988 – John Croyle

1989 – Young Boozer

1990 – Charlie Boswell

1991 – Fred Sington

1992 – Hoyt “Wu” Winslett

1993 – Holt Rast, Tom Rast

1994 – Bart Starr

1995 – Bud Moore

1996 – Ozzie Newsome

1997 – Jerry Duncan

1998 – Dwight Stephenson

1999 – Lee Roy Jordan

2000 – Joe Kelley, Wendell Hudson

2001 – Dr. Andrew Burch, Jack McKewen

2002 – Harry Lee, I. L. “Pat” O’Sullivan Jr.

2003 – Harry Gilmer, Don Salls

2004 – Jeremiah Castille, William E. Sexton

2005 – Bill Battle, Dr. Noah Langdale Jr.

2006 – Jim Loftin, Sr., Bobby Luna, Mal Moore

2007- Clem Gryska, Cecil “Hootie” Ingram

2008 – Barbara Mack Harding, George A. McCain Jr., Ben W. McLeod Jr.

.2009 – Jerry Belk, Jack V. Brown Sr.

2010 – Randy Billingsley, Colenzo “Rock” Hubbard

2011 – Clark Boler, Tommy Brooker, Lt. Col. Howard Pierson