Bryant-Denny Stadium

Year Opened:1929
First Game: October 5, 1929 vs. Mississippi
Official Capacity:101,821
Largest Crowd:101,821 (four times – most recent: vs. Mississippi, Oct. 16,2010)
Surface: Grass
BDS Record:210-49-3 (.807)*
Win Streak:57 (Oct. 26, 1963 to Nov. 13, 1982)
*does not include 15 wins vacated by NCAA ruling

Bryant-Denny Stadium is quickly becoming one of the most prominent college football
venues in the nation. Located on the southwestern edge of the University of Alabama
campus, the history-laden stadium will rank among the nation’s top 5 on-campus football
stadiums upon completion of the latest expansion in the summer of 2010.

Stadium History

Inside Bryant Denny Stadium

The 2010 project is the fourth expansion of Bryant-Denny stadium since 1988 and the
seventh expansion in the stadium’s history. Other expansions were completed in 1946,
1961, 1966, 1988, 1998 and 2006. Those projects have expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium
to its current capacity of 92,138 and the stadium’s capacity is expected to exceed
100,000 when completed in the summer of 2010.

The evolution of Bryant-Denny Stadium has been significant from its origins back in
1929 when 12,000 seats were erected for a Crimson Tide team coached by Wallace Wade
that featured an All-American lineman named Fred Sington.

The Tide beat Mississippi College, 55-0, in the first game played at Denny Stadium
on September 28, 1929. The stadium was officially dedicated October 5, 1929, when
the Tide beat Ole Miss, 22-7.

In the 1930s, during the heart of the Frank Thomas Era, Denny Stadium increased in
size to approximately 24,000 in a time that the Crimson Tide featured the legendary
Don Hutson.

After Alabama’s perfect season in 1945, which included a Rose Bowl win over Southern
California, bleachers were added for the 1946 season. A record crowd of 31,000 watched
the Harry Gilmer-led Tide beat Southwestern Louisiana, 54-0, on October 12 to dedicate
the largest stadium in the state.

When Paul Bryant returned to Alabama in 1958, Denny Stadium had remained untouched,
but the legendary coach mapped out details for an additional 12,000 seats and a new
press box with an elevator that was completed for the run to the national title in
1961. In the first game with 43,000 seats, the Tide beat North Carolina State, 26-7,
October 14.

Noteworthy that autumn afternoon was the fact that the Wolfpack, led by future NFL
superstar Roman Gabriel, jumped to a 7-0 lead. It would be the only time Alabama would
trail an opponent all year long.

After national titles in 1964-65 and with an increasing demand for tickets, Bryant
implemented an expansion of 17,000 seats, upping the capacity to 60,000 in 1966. A
26-0 victory over Clemson, coached by Frank Howard, was the first game in the 60,000-seat
Denny Stadium.

During the summer of 1975, Bert Bank, who had matured from a teenage fan to a World
War II hero to a state senator, used his political clout to have the stadium re-named
Bryant-Denny Stadium and on April 10, 1976, during the annual A-Day game, the official
dedication took place.

Bryant-Denny experienced a first on November 17, 1979, when ABC, with Al Michaels
calling the play-by-play, aired the first live television game from campus. Other
on-campus stadiums had outpaced Alabama in refurbishing and expansions, as the Crimson
Tide continued to play most of its key games at legendary Legion Field in Birmingham.
That would change dramatically in the 1980s.

After Alabama beat Temple in the final game of the 1986 Tuscaloosa schedule, construction
began on the upper deck, new press box, Ivory Club, President’s Club and locker rooms.

After playing its entire home schedule at Legion Field in Birmingham in 1987, the
Tide returned to a 70,123-seat configuration in 1988. It was also the first season
of Tide Pride and in the home opener; Alabama beat Vanderbilt, 44-10, on September
24.

Ten years later, and nearly four years after the planning stages began under Director
of Athletics Hootie Ingram in 1994, the east side expansion was completed, upping
the capacity to 83,818. Brigham Young served as the opponent on September 5, 1998,
in a night game that featured a five-TD effort by Shaun Alexander in Alabama’s 38-31
victory. Included in the 1998 east side expansion were 10,000 bleacher seats and two
spiral walkways to give the stadium a more symmetrical appearance. A total of 81 skyboxes
(on two levels) were also added.

In 1999, four additional skyboxes were added and a scoreboard with video replay capabilities
was added to the south end. Other recent additions to Bryant-Denny Stadium include
two east side reception areas for Scholarship and A-Club level patrons. These areas
are located above the center entrance on the east side and include rooms large enough
to host receptions and pre-game meal functions. A bank of lights was also added on
the east side.

The North End Zone project, which began immediately following the 2004 football season,
featured the addition of the North End Zone (“The Zone”) complex which added more
than 8,000 bleacher seats, added three levels of premium seating, a pair of large
video scoreboards and state-of-the-art wrap-around display boards on the facades of
the east and west upper decks. A unique addition to the stadium was a plaza connecting
the stadium with University Boulevard. Known as “The Walk of Champions”, the plaza
quickly became a game day focal point and honors Alabama’s national championship coaches
while commemorating the school’s 13 national championships and 22 SEC titles.

That expansion added 38 luxury skyboxes (bringing the total number of skyboxes in
the stadium to 123), a club level area and traditional upper deck seating, a new home
team locker room and a revamped sound system. When Alabama and Hawaii met to open
the 2006 season, a sellout crowd marked the largest crowd to view a college football
game in the state of Alabama as 92,138 fans packed the stadium.

The 2009 season was only the ninth time in the stadium’s history that Alabama has
played all of its home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium. From 1900 until 2003, Alabama
played at least one home game at Birmingham’s Legion Field. The Crimson Tide owns
an impressive 225-46-3 (.827) all-time record in Tuscaloosa as more than eight million
fans have witnessed the Crimson Tide play in 105 home games over the last 19 seasons.

By the fall of 2010, the structure will host 157 skyboxes, four large video scoreboards
and wrap-around display boards on the facade of both the west and east grandstands.

Bryant-Denny Stadium’s Namesakes

Paul W. Bryant

Paul William Bryant (1913-1983) returned to Alabama as head football coach in 1958
after playing for the Tide from 1933-35 and serving as an assistant coach from 1936-39.
The Bryant Era at Alabama spanned more than a quarter of a century. Bryant-Denny Stadium,
Bryant Hall, the Bryant Conference Center and the Bryant Museum stand as reminders
of Bryant’s unparalleled winning legacy to the University.

Dr. George Denny

George Hutcheson Denny (1870-1955) accepted the presidency of The University of Alabama
on January 1, 1912. He began an extraordinary presidential career that spanned almost
a quarter of a century. Denny Chimes and Bryant-Denny Stadium stand as reminders of
Denny’s legacy to the University.

Stadium Growth Through The Years

1936: 6,000 seats added as East grandstand is constructed, raising capacity to 24,000.
1946: 7,000 seats added via end zone bleachers at both ends, raising capacity to 31,000.
1961: 12,000 seats and a press box added to the west grandstand, raising capacity
to 43,000.
1966: 17,000 seats added by enclosing both end zones and adding to the east grandstand,
raising capacity to 60,000.
1988: 10,123 seats added by the addition of an upper grandstand on the west side,
raising capacity to 70,123.
1998: 13,695 seats added by the addition of an upper grandstand on the east side,
raising capacity to 83,818.
2006: 8,320 seats added by the construction of the upper grandstand on the north end
zone, raising capacity to 92,138.
2010: Approximately 9,000 seats added by an upper grandstand on the south end zone,
raising capacity to more than 101,000

Recent History

Despite many big games played at Legion Field, new memorable games and events have
taken place in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Some of these include Marvin Constant’s goal
line stop against LSU quarterback Josh Booty in 1999; Alabama’s 36-0 shutout against
Auburn in 2008 (Alabama’s first Iron Bowl victory in Bryant-Denny Stadium); and Terrence
Cody’s field goal block against Tennessee as time expired during Alabama’s undefeated
2009 season.

Alabama Coaching Records at Bryant-Denny Stadium

CoachYearsRecordPct
Wallace Wade1929-306-01.000
Frank W. Thomas1931-4637-3-1.915
Harold “Red” Drew1947-5418-3-1.841
J.B. “Ears” Whitworth1955-572-4-1.357
Paul W. “Bear” Bryant1958-8272-2.973
Ray Perkins1983-8611-2.846
Bill Curry1987-894-2.667
Gene Stallings1990-9622-4.846
Mike DuBose1997-20009-8.529
Dennis Franchione2001-026-5.556
Mike Shula2003-0619-10.679
Nick Saban2007-70-7.909
Totals:259-59-3(.823)