Imagine living in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1965.

Many avid Crimson Tide football fans would probably kill for that chance, because that was the time when “The Bear” ruled the field. Legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant left his mark on the country as one of the greatest sports (and life) mentors of all time.

What many people may not know is that Bryant has left his mark on Alabama football fans in a different way as well. Who would have thought that a six-time national championship-winning head coach could have affected the world of fashion?

It's true. Take a look around Tuscaloosa on Game Day, and the evidence is everywhere. That black and white checkered pattern known as houndstooth shows up on hats, purses, jewelry, dresses, pants, and in the case of rainy days such as Saturday’s blowout against Arkansas, rain boots and umbrellas.

Crimson Tide fans sport the classic houndstooth pattern year-round. It has become the University of Alabama’s unofficial colors in addition to crimson and white. Even one of the most popular bars on The Strip bears its name (Bryant pun intended).

“I have houndstooth, even though I don’t usually follow the trends,” said Thaddeus Fitzpatrick, a sophomore at UA who was lounging on the Quad one Friday. Fitzpatrick said he owns a long-sleeve houndstooth dress shirt. “I love that shirt and typically wear it on game day.”

It is hard not to notice the pattern in local store windows, on the Quad and even used as décor for many Tuscaloosa apartments and dorm rooms. Yet some UA students are unaware of its origins.

“I actually don’t know why it’s so popular,” said UA student Shay Isbell, a red-and-white houndstooth purse lying by her side as she sat in the Ferguson Student Center. Isbell grew up in Cullman, Ala. and said she received the purse as a gift.

At the mention of The Bear, Isbell’s eyes lit up.

“It’s because of his hat, right?” she asked.

That is absolutely right. The fedora has become known as Bryant’s trademark hat. He almost never frequented the sidelines without one. But the houndstooth hat didn’t make its debut until well into Bryant’s career.

In fact it was the year 1966 when the “Bear Bryant hat” that is sold in the SUPeStore today and reserved by many fans for game day purposes only showed up on the sidelines.

According to the book 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Christopher Walsh, #94, “No Wardrobe is Complete Without Houndstooth,” reveals the origin of the houndstooth tradition.

After the Tide won the Orange Bowl in 1966, New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin tried to recruit Bryant to coach his team. While Bryant refused the offer and remained at Bama, he and Werblin became friends. Werblin then sent Bryant a houndstooth hat as a gift. When Bryant started wearing it on the sidelines, Werblin kept sending new hats.

Thus the legacy of houndstooth at UA began and has only grown more and more right up to present day.

So next Alabama Game Day, consider wearing that crimson-and-houndstooth baseball cap, or going all out with a snazzy houndstooth dress. Chances are Crimson Tide fans everywhere will commend the excellent fashion decision which also embraces a little piece of UA tradition.

by Jordan Staggs