Junction Boys Goehring, Tate tell of playing for The Bear

Quick quotes from Dennis Goehring

"Bear Bryant had a personality that just magnified his ability to get things done."

"The guys [needed] to be able to play the whole game and play every play."

"[Coach Bryant] was one of the first coaches to grade every player individually."

"[Coach Bryant] wanted you to play and hit somebody every play not every other play."

"After Coach Bryant's funeral, we got a letter from his estate that he was leaving $100,000 in announced scholarships for the sons and daughters of the guys who played for him."

"There was a second side of him besides football."

"I really enjoyed my years with [Coach Bryant] after I graduated."

"Out of all the guys who played for him, six individuals went on to coach for him at Alabama."

"Kenneth Hall was the fastest guy on the team. He would have been a great safety and certainly a great running back."

"[Hall] was such a nice guy. He never got mad at anybody and everybody liked him."

"Coach Bryant wanted people out there who were aggressive and played with intensity."

"I went to Junction knowing that if I didn't produce, I wasn't going to have a scholarship."

"I have always looked at Junction as positive learning experience. I felt very strongly that it helped me."

"I've never heard anybody say anything negative about Jack Pardee."

"[Coach Pardee] had all the features of a personality that I'd like to have."

"I just hope half as many people say as many nice things at my funeral as they did at Coach Pardee's."

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Quick quotes from Marvin Tate

"Everything is exciting at A&M right now. This past season has set everyone, including me, on fire."

"There is a very fine line between fear and respect when Bear Bryant came here. He changed things around tremendously."

"If you played for Coach Bryant, he would never forget you."

"Bear Bryant would walk into the room and it would get quiet. That's the kind of effect he had on people."

"It was a lot of discipline, hard work, dedication, and it was a big change [from Ray George to Bear Bryant]."

"I wish I had another year or two to play for him Coach Bryant."

"I grew to know the man [that Bear Bryant was] not just the football coach."

"Junction was tough. I don't care what anyone said, it was tough."

"Looking back at Junction, I think it was a lesson for all of us."

"If you look at the guys who came back from Junction... practically every one of them has been successful."

"Jack Pardee was a great leader, great person... a very quiet leader."