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05:45 PM ET 03.21 | The Alabama Crimson Tide have hired recommended Tennessee coach Bill Battle to be the new athletic director. Battle follows in the footsteps of Mal Moore, who stepped down from his position on Wednesday. Battle played football at Alabama from 1960-62, then became an assistant coach at Army and Tennessee for the rest of the decade before coaching the Vols in the early 70s to several bowl victories. Battle was also the foudner and chairman of The Collegiate Licensing Company.

http://whnt.com/2013/03/21/ua-president-to-recommend-bill-battle-as-athletics-director/

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March 21, 2013 06:07 PM ET

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Welcome to Alabama, now do whatever I say
-Nick Saban

smart alec

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March 22, 2013 07:49 AM ET

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Actually, the Collegiate Licensing Company is quite a success. It's the strongest entry on Battle's resume. Likely, it's a big factor in BB getting the job. There are other successful Bama men out there, but only Bill can cite the CLC as an accomplishment.

Tin Man

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March 22, 2013 07:50 AM ET

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I don't think Saban's going to be subjugating Bill Battle. Bill may come across as a mild mannered Clark Kent type, but he's no shoe polisher.

Tin Man

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March 22, 2013 08:20 AM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 07:49 AM ET 03.22 by Tin Man

Actually, the Collegiate Licensing Company is quite a success. It's the strongest entry on Battle's resume. Likely, it's a big factor in BB getting the job. There are other successful Bama men out there, but only Bill can cite the CLC as an accomplishment.

I would have thought that you would be pointing out that Alabama needs an ex Tennessee coach to guide them. ;-)

DearbornSparty

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March 22, 2013 08:55 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:20 AM ET 03.22 by DearbornSparty

I would have thought that you would be pointing out that Alabama needs an ex Tennessee coach to guide them. ;-)

Bill did not enjoy his tenure at UTK. The Big Orange faithful could not accept a Bear apostle as the Vols HC. When his Tennessee teams lost to Bama, "fans" would send moving vans to his residence. It was not their finest hour. Battle was bumped for the return of Vols favorite son, Johnny Majors. Sadly, the Vols football fortunes did not rise under Majors' tutelage. Tennessee's record on the gridiron was better under Battle than during Majors' following years. JM's apologists credit BB's recruiting.