FAYETTEVILLE — Fordyce, Crossett and Lewisville had a combined population of 11,087 in 2010 according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Yet, those small towns in southern Arkansas produced three of the biggest names in college football.
Paul “Bear” Bryant, Barry Switzer and Charlie McClendon all rank among the top 100 on the 150 greatest college football coaches ever, according to a list compiled by ESPN to celebrate the sport’s 150th season in 2019.
Bryant, who had a 232-46-9 record and won six national championships and 14 SEC titles in 25 seasons at Alabama from 1958-82 and a career record of 323-85-17 including other stops at Maryland, Kentucky and Texas A&M, was born in Moro Bottom and grew up in Fordyce.