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Gene Stallings explains why he traveled to Tuscaloosa after suffering heart attack
By Keith Farner
Published:
Gene Stallings believes in keeping his word, even if he has a major health issue.
The former Alabama coach visited Tuscaloosa Friday night just two weeks after he suffered a massive heart attack in Paris, Texas. Stallings was in town to be a part of the 25th anniversary of Alabama’s 1992 national championship, AL.com reported.
Stallings, 82, came to the Bear Bryant Museum on Friday and spoke with reporters a week after he was on the field at Texas A&M as his 1967 ream was honored during the Alabama game.
“I had a responsibility and I was going to honor it,” Stallings said. “We didn’t really discuss it much with the doctors except telling them what I was going to do. We had a private jet to pick us up and carry us down. As soon as the game was over, I left and came back. It was not a struggle. It was a real joy to be able to see the players. And I was going to honor that like I was going to honor this one.
“A lot of people advised me not to do that and I just said you talk to somebody else because I’m going to go.”
Stallings spent two days on a ventilator at a Dallas hospital but was well enough to be in College Station last week. He also expects to be on hand for the 6:15 p.m. kickoff Saturday for Alabama against Arkansas.
“This time, I’m glad to be back on campus, literally,” Stallings said. “You know, I had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago and had a couple of strokes before that. So, I’m literally excited to be back on campus.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
