Rollcrimsontide is proud to break another Alabama news story for the members of our site. Jackie Sherrill is returning once more to coach at Alabama, but this time as the head coach, of the new All American Football League (AAFL), that is. Sherrill played for the University of Alabama under Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant from 1962 to 1965, helping Alabama win two national championships. After graduating from the Capstone, Sherrill turned his focus from playing football to coaching. Sherrill landed his first head coaching job at Washington State in 1976. However, he didn't stay long. When Johnny Majors decided to step down as head coach of the University of Pittsburgh to return to his alma mater at the University of Tennessee, the panthers came knocking on Sherrill's door and managed to convince him to return to Pittsburgh where he had previously served as an assistant. Sherrill amassed a 50-9 and 1 record during his tenor from 1977- 1981.

Impressed with the job Sherrill had done in Pittsburgh, Texas A&M offered him a record six year contract over 1.7 million dollars to replace Tom Wilson as the head coach of the Aggie's in 1982. Under Sherrill the Aggie's began to dominate their opponents, winning three consecutive Southwest Conference championships in 1985, 86 and 87. In his seven seasons he led Texas A&M to 52 wins, and one tie while losing only 28.

Sherrill, having played at Alabama knew the importance of tradition, and decided to begin the tradition of the "12th Man Kick Off Team " in honor of E. King Gill and the Aggie football fans who call themselves the 12th man in honor of him. Gill was a reserve who had left the team but was called out of the stands by A&M coach D.X.Bible in the first post season game on the southwest against defending national champion Centre College 1922 because he feared his players were being injured so badly that he feared he would not have enough players to finish the game. Though he never had to actually go into the game, Gill was the only "player" left on the sidelines as the Aggie's won the game 22-14. Since there were 11 men on the field and he stood ready to play if needed, he was the 12th man.

This kick off team was composed of regular Texas A&M students who tried out for the team instead of players who were recruited. The students were placed on the roster solely for kickoffs. Each player was given the number 12 to wear (at the time NCAA regulations did not prohibit more than one person on the field with the same number) and nicknamed them "the suicide squad." The "12th Man Kick Off Teams" were feared by opponents who knew that these walk on student players were determined to make a tackle and a name for themselves, and had little regard for their own safety. As part of tradition, the entire Texas A&M student body stand throughout the game to symbolize their readiness, desire and enthusiasm to support the eleven players on the field. In 1988, fans also began waving 12th Man Towels during the game to show their support. The towel tradition originated after the 1988 Cotton Bowl, in which Sherrill led A&M to victory over Notre Dame. Twice during that game Warren Barhorst, a member of Sherrill's 12th Man Kickoff Team, tackled Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, and then grabbed Brown's towel and waved it back and forth over his head. Both instances, Brown tackled Barhorst to retaliate, earning himself two 15-yard penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and was ejected from the game. During the 1988-1989 football season, students began waving their own white towels, and now the towels are everywhere. This tradition was changed under R.C. Slocum to allow only one member of the team to be a walk on, but has since been brought back under Dennis Franchione, though rarely used.

In 1988, the Aggie's were put on probation by the NCAA for a period of two years. However, Sherrill was too good of a coach to stay out of the business for long and in 1991 he became the head coach of Mississippi State where he stayed for thirteen years before retiring in 2003. He ended his career at Mississippi State with a record of 75-75-2. In 1998, he guided the team to an SEC west title, and in 1999 the Mississippi Bulldogs finished with a record of 10-2 and #12 in the country. That #12 ranking was the highest final ranking achieved by any NCAA Division I-A school in Mississippi in over 30 years. After retiring in 2003 the NCAA placed Mississippi State on probation for four years, but Sherrill was never personally found guilty of any NCAA rules violations. He finished his career with an over all record of 180-120-4.

Now, after being out of coaching for four years, Sherrill looks to return home to Alabama and instill that same gritty toughness his teams have always been characterized by on AAFL's Alabama football team. Have no doubts about it, he will do it. Watching Coach Sherrill walk the sidelines once again barking out plays and chewing out officials should be fun. Don that crimson once more coach and welcome home.

^]