Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for most wins as head coach in collegiate football history with 323 wins, a record broken by John Gagliardi in 1996. Bryant's mark has since also been surpassed by his longtime friend Joe Paterno, by Eddie Robinson, and by Bobby Bowden. At the University of Alabama, the Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W. Bryant Drive and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor. He was also known for his trademark black and white houndstooth or gingham hat, deep voice, casually leaning up against the goal post during pre-game warmups, and frequently holding his rolled-up game plan while on the sidelines.

Mal M. Moore (born December 19, 1939) is the current Director of Athletics for the University of Alabama. On November 23, 1999, he was hired to his current position after spending almost thirty years in other areas with the university. During his time at the university, Moore has been involved with eleven national championship teams.

One of seven children, Moore was born into a farm family in Dozier, Alabama. As a scholarship player from 1958–1962, Moore played as a career backup quarterback for legendary coach Bear Bryant. During his college career at Alabama, Moore earned his bachelor's degree in sociology in 1963 and his master's degree in secondary education in 1964.

Moore began his coaching career as a secondary coach, and then moved to coach quarterbacks in 1970. He remained on Alabama's staff until Bryant retired in 1982. He then joined Gerry Faust's staff at Notre Dame as an assistant coach. Moore returned to the University of Alabama in 1990 as quarterbacks coach under Gene Stallings.

A sideline Reporter is someone, typically a professional journalist, who is a member of a broadcast crew for an event, who assists with additional coverage on the field, rink, pit, court or anywhere else. Often the sideline reporter makes special updates on injuries, breaking news and conducts interviews, since the play-by-play broadcaster and color commentator must remain in their main broadcast position.

Jim Lampley is largely considered, by most, to be the first sideline reporter.^[who?] In Lampley's telling, the job grew out of the wreckage of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where new wireless technology was put to such vital use in ABC's quicksilver coverage of the Israeli hostage crisis and the subsequent massacre. Says Lampley: "Months later, they asked, 'What else could we do? Would it work in a football stadium? Could we put someone on the sidelines?'" The first broadcast with a sideline reporter was the UCLA vs. Tennessee football game in 1974.

Most people^[who?] believe that sideline reporters are nothing more than a pretty face. After controversies with multiple sideline reporters such as Jenn Sterger, or Ines Sainz, that sterotype has been furthered. Sideline reporters are actually very hard working and knowledgable parts of a broadcast team. Lots of preparation and research is needed to be on the top of your game. Lampley's replacement in 1977 was Anne Simon. Many sideline reporters have moved on to have great success in the broadcast booth, studio jobs, commercials, acting roles.