Kent Waldrep was a TCU player paralyzed in a 1974 football game against UA. Now, his son has received a Bryant Scholarship. By Christopher Walsh Sports Writer May 25. 2006 3:30AM TUSCALOOSA | For more than 30 years, the University of Alabama football program has thought of Kent Waldrep as an extended son. Therefore, it’s only fitting that this fall he’ll officially become part of the Crimson Tide family — or at least, his son will. Trey Waldrep of Plano, Texas, will not only enroll as a freshman for the 2006-07 academic year, but he’ll be the first sibling of any player who competed against the Tide, in any sport, to be awarded a Bryant Scholarship. “We’re tickled to death and excited about it,” Kent Waldrep said. “It’s just another example of how Alabama, the university, the people of Alabama, are exceptional. They’ve always shown us a tremendous amount of love, and we feel the same.” Longtime Tide fans will never forget Waldrep, the epitome of “once you’re one of Bear’s boys, you stay one of Bear’s boys.” He was the Texas Christian University running back paralyzed because of a broken neck sustained during a football game in 1974. Afterward, Bryant grew close to the family and made him an honorary member of the “A Club,” which is otherwise limited to former Alabama athletes, managers and trainers. That also made Trey Waldrep eligible for a Bryant Scholarship, established to benefit the children of former Tide athletes who wish to attend Alabama. School officials estimate that nearly 500 students have received a Bryant Scholarship, including approximately 100 this past academic year. But never before had a scholarship been awarded to the child of someone who had played against the Crimson Tide. “It means a great deal. It’s very special that it’s the Bear Bryant scholarship,” Waldrep said. “That’s really going to be an experience that sets the tone for the rest of his life, and I know it’s going to be positive. “It’s the best thing that could happen in Trey’s life.” On Oct. 26, 1974, Alabama was playing TCU at Legion Field in Birmingham, when Waldrep’s number was called on a sweep. However, the play didn’t develop as planned. One Tide defender had a hold of the running back when another came off a block and took out his feet. Waldrep was driven headfirst into the artificial turf. His body went numb, and he didn’t move. His neck had snapped. On the sideline, Bryant was one of the people brought to tears. “The tackle was r ight in front of coach and I and our bench,” said Alabama director of athletics Mal Moore, a former assistant coach. “We recognized that it was bad or severe. It was a really sobering moment, especially from the excitement of the game. It was sad.” Alabama won 41-3, but Bryant didn’t return to Tuscaloosa with his players. Instead, he made the first of numerous trips to the hospital, and he continued to stay in touch after Waldrep returned home to Texas. Alabama was scheduled to play at TCU the following year, but it offered a bigger payday for the Horned Frogs to return to Birmingham. Waldrep made the trip and was received like he was one of the Tide’s own. “We’ve had a friendship now for the last 30-plus years with people in the state, and we always will,” Waldrep said. “I feel as much at home in Alabama as I do Texas.” Actually, Waldrep has grown closer to Alabama than his own school. TCU had no insurance and refused to pay medical costs for his injuri es. His family wound up suing, and in 2000 Waldrep lost another lawsuit that claimed he should have been classified as a TCU employee and entitled to benefits because he had been professionally recruited. Meanwhile, Alabama supporters raised more money than TCU supporters to help pay Waldrep’s expenses. Waldrep said he never blamed the players involved — though he did file a lawsuit against those who made and installed the artificial turf — and refused to accept that his injury was permanent. Waldrep attempted experimental paralysis treatment in the Soviet Union. In 1982, he founded the organization now known as the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, and went on to establish the Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation, which built a research facility at the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital in Dallas. Waldrep has advised presidents, served on the National Council of Disability and helped draft the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Trey’s interest in Alabama peaked during a trip to see his younger brother Charley play in a baseball tournament in South Carolina last summer, when the family stopped in Tuscaloosa. It was only the second time Kent had been on campus, the other being Bryant’s funeral. Trey had heard all about how Bryant became a family friend, and was immediately attracted to the campus. He said it reminded him of home. Trey applied to Alabama and was accepted. “I honestly don’t think it’s that weird,” Trey Waldrep said. “It would be a little different if he didn’t have such ties. I’m fine with that. He is, too.” In December, when Alabama agreed to play in the Cotton Bowl, Moore invited Kent Waldrep to attend both the game and team practices. That’s when Moore learned that Trey was hoping to attend Alabama. “It was a natural thing to do,” Moore said of the scholarship. “I’m just thrilled that this is happening.” Trey, who played f ootball through his junior year of high school and might try to join the Tide baseball team, is leaning toward studying sports journalism or pre-law. “Sounds like agent to me,” his father said with a laugh. “I’m really excited about coming to the college,” Trey Waldrep said. “I’m pretty pumped to get down there and meet everyone. I can’t wait.” “It’s been such a heart-warming thing,” said Trey’s mother, Lynn. “We’re looking forward to visiting a lot, too.” Already there’s talk of a trip for Sept. 2. That’s when the football team will open the football season against Hawaii in renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium. “It was one play that changed my life,” Kent Waldrep said. “All the good that’s come out of that and the way the people of Alabama and the university have responded to me, that completely overwhelmed any kind of bad memory. “We’re all so excited for him. We’ll probably lose him to the state of Alabama.”
Wow! What an unbelievably wonderful story. My personal experiences with Alabama folks have always been 100% positive. This story makes me a permanent Crimson Tide fan. Thanks, kp.
What a great story. I don't remember the incident, but it is a wonderful and heartwarming story. Gator Bill
Awesome story. I only attended one UF game at Bama and it was at Legion Field. I found Bama fans to be very classy and I have always respected the program and this just confirms what I thought all along. Roll Tide!
Great story. Hail UA and those supporters that gave. One nit with the author. If I understood the article correctly Trey Waldrep is the son of Kent Waldrep who was injured playing against The Tide. That would Trey the first son of any player not sibling ... to be awarded a Bryant Scholarship. Then again, they are from Texas.