Gene Stallings knows humility.He was humbled when his first head coaching job in college football ended after only one winning season in seven years at his alma mater.
And his reaction this week when he learned that he is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame?
"I'm humbled to be in there," Stallings said Friday, a day after the National Football Foundation announced the news that he will he inducted into the shrine along with 13 others.
"I want the players to feel they had a little something to do with me being there. This honor involves every player that played for me. Otherwise I wouldn't have received it."
Stallings' career had a happy ending. He compiled a 70-16-1 record in seven seasons at Alabama, though officially his record is 62-25 because of 12 games the Crimson Tide had to forfeit in 1993 as part of NCAA sanctions.
In 1992, Alabama won the national championship when a 34-13 Sugar Bowl victory over top-ranked Miami capped a 13-0 season.
"It doesn't get any better than that, when you win them all," Stallings said. "We were blessed with good players who stayed healthy."
Stallings, 75, wasn't sure if he ever would get the call from the Hall of Fame.
"It's no question to be in the Hall of Fame is the ultimate in the college game," he said. "A lot of it is just based on won-loss records. Some people do a great job of coaching, but they don't just win as many games. I'm flattered and very pleased that I was selected."
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