The Missing Ring

How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize

By: Keith Dunnavant

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

The Missing Ring is more than a football book. It is both a story of a changing era and of an extraordinary team on a championship quest.

Very few institutions in American sports can match the enduring excellence of the University of Alabama football program. Across a wide swath of the last century, the tradition-rich Crimson Tide has claimed twelve national championships, captured 25 conference titles, finished 34 times among the country's top ten, and played in 53 bowl games.

Especially dominant during the era of the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant, the larger-than-life figure who towered over the landscape like no man before or since, Alabama entered the 1966 season with the chance to become the first college football team to win three consecutive national championships. Every aspect of Bryant's grueling system was geared around competing for the big prize each and every year, and in 1966 the idea of the threepeat tantalized the players, pushing them toward greatness. Driven by Bryant's enthusiasm, dedication, and perseverance, players were made to believe in their team and themselves. Led by the electrifying force of quarterback Kenny "Snake" Stabler and one of the most punishing defenses in the storied annals of the Southeastern Conference, the Crimson Tide cruised to a magical season, finishing as the nation's only undefeated, untied team. But something happened on the way to the history books.

The Missing Ring is the story of the one that got away, the one that haunts Alabama fans still, and native Alabamian Keith Dunnavant takes readers deep inside the Crimson Tide program during a more innocent time, before widespread telecasting, before scholarship limitations, before end-zone dances. Meticulously revealing the strategies, tactics, and personal dramas that bring the overachieving boys of 1966 to life, Dunnavant's insightful, anecdotally rich narrative shows how Bryant molded a diverse group of young men into a powerful force that overcame various obstacles to achieve perfection in an imperfect world.Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the still-escalating Vietnam War, and a world and a sport teetering on the brink of change in a variety of ways, The Missing Ring tells an important story about the collision between football and culture. Ultimately, it is this clash that produces the Crimson Tide's most implacable foe, enabling the greatest injustice in college football history.

©2006 Keith Dunnavant (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Fantastic

As a life long Alabama fan, I enjoyed the football, stories, the history and reminiscing about the man at the middle of it all, Coach Bryant.

ROLL TIDE, ROLL!

Incredibly touching, memorable tale of an incredibly talented Crimson Tide Football Team, and their legendary Coach, Paul William "Bear" Bryant. Excellent retelling of a great college football team that did not allow challenging times - and a robbed National Championship - to define them. Excellent story, terrific writing, and outstanding narration, to boot! A MUST for real college football and Alabama Football fans! Grade: A+++!!!

a great story of toughness

a great story of toughness. those guys thought they were learning only football, however, they were learning so so much more than that. coach bryant was teaching them life.

1966 Tide were robbed!!!

Excellent story. Loved the narration as well. 14 hours well spent !!
Thank you

What Happened Was a Crime

If you could sum up The Missing Ring in three words, what would they be?

True, Tragic, Revolting

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bear Bryant

What does Jay Snyder bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good narration and expression. Voice has a good cadence making him easy to listen to.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Missing Ring is fine

Any additional comments?

For me there was a silver lining to this otherwise hideous crime. Prior to the 66 season I had no love or feeling for the Tide, but as I watched the season unfold until is was so patently obvious the Alabama was indeed the very best college football team and yet the voters whether out of ignorance or bias continued to ignore Alabama.

Finally, after watching The Tide shut out their last four regular season opponents and then maul a very fine and fourth ranked Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl I realized that I had morphed into a die hard Alabama fan and proudly remain one to this day forty seven years later.

Thank you Coach Bryant and all those great never say die players on the 66 team you don't ever duck you head to nobody. ROLL TIDE.

the missing ring is a great book

the Missing Ring is a great book. It provides never before heard insight ro the '66 season.

Excellent story

Good story but they didn’t deserve the national championship. ND wussed out but they were the better team.