Learning the ABC's of Alabama Crimson Tide Football: A

Remember how you learned your ABC's? Perhaps some of you had a book to teach you the alphabet. Others may have learned by watching Sesame Street. No matter how you were taught, college football probably did not enter into the learning process.

Even though you know your ABC's today, I present the ABC's of college football. It's a look back at some of the student-athletes, traditions and more of the top college football programs. So, if you want to learn more about college football letter by letter, this is the place for you. Today, we begin with one of the top programs in college football: the University of Alabama. The first former player to lead off the Crimson Tide with the letter "A" is Mickey Andrews.

Most people remember Andrews as the longtime defensive coordinator for Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles from 1984 to 2010. However, he was an outstanding two-sport student-athlete at Alabama from 1961 to 1964. Andrews was a two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back, earning All-America Second Team honors. In the process, he helped Bear Bryant win a pair of national championships in 1961 and 1964.

Andrews also shined on the baseball diamond, earning All-Southeastern Conference honors in 1964. For his excellence in football and baseball, he received the 1964 Hugo Friedman Award as the Crimson Tide's best all-around athlete.

Upon graduating from Alabama, Andrews embarked on a 45-year coaching career on the high school, collegiate and professional levels. Most of his coaching stints were as an assistant coach, however, he did have two head coaching positions in Alabama. As head coach at Livingston University, (now the University of West Alabama) Andrews led the Tigers to the 1971 NAIA National Championship. He was also the head coach for four years at Division II North Alabama.

Andrews is most remembered for his stint as Florida State defensive coordinator for 26 seasons. The Seminoles won national championships in 1993 and 1999, and Andrews won the inaugural Frank Broyles Award in 1996 as the nation's top assistant coach. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.  

While Andrews is remembered as the architect of some of the best defenses in college football history at Florida State, his athletic endeavors at Alabama should not be overlooked.