Gene Stallings is perhaps best-known nationally for being Alabama's coach when the Crimson Tide won the national championship in 1992, but in the state of Texas, he'll always be known as a Texas A&M Aggie.
The Paris, Texas, native played for the program from 1954-56, served as coach from 1965-71 and won the 1967 Southwest Conference championship. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of that SWC championship team, the school will honor Stallings and his players during this weekend's game vs. Alabama.
In addition to recognizing the team, "1967" will be painted in the end zones to commemorate the title.
First coat of paint is on, as Kyle Field honors the great Gene Stallings and his ‘67 SWC Champions--who are reuniting this weekend #12thman pic.twitter.com/EHVvC2RJI4
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 3, 2017
After losing four in a row, Stallings' Aggies won their final seven games of the 1967 season, culminating with a 20-16 win over Bear Bryant's Alabama team. Bryant was the coach of the Aggies when Stallings was a player, and the two worked together when Stallings was a defensive assistant under Bryant prior to landing the Texas A&M gig in 1965.
Stallings suffered a heart attack last weekend but, according to Mark Heim of AL.com, was taken off a ventilator and is expected to make a full recovery.
The Aggies and top-ranked Crimson Tide will square off Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. ET at Kyle Field in College Station.
