Iconic Alabama football practice official Eddie Conyers passes away
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Eddie Conyers, who acquired legendary status within the Alabama football program as a practice official for more than six decades, has passed away, according to UA trainer Jeff Allen’s X account.
He was 97.
Conyers was married to his wife, Peggy, for 77 years.
Conyers lived mere walking distance from the UA practice facility, and began officiating Alabama practices at the behest of coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant in 1962. Bryant wanted penalties flagged in practice so they could be addressed and corrected before games, and Conyers was the lone official on the practice field at the time.
More recently, under former UA coach Nick Saban, Conyers would split responsibilities with as many as three other officials, and with full crews employed for scrimmages. More so than any official who ever blew a whistle for UA, he was a fixture in the role across six decades until agreeing, in his early 90s, to step off the field and into a new role as a practice officials coordinator. In all, he officiated practices for 10 Alabama head coaches and 12 national championship teams.
Known for his sense of humor, Conyers was a ceaseless jokester and was in high demand as a speaker at clubs and events all over the South.
Born Samuel Edward Conyers in Montgomery in 1928, his family moved to Tuscaloosa when he was 10. He graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1946, served two stints in the U.S. Navy, and earned a degree from Alabama.
Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Iconic Alabama football practice official Eddie Conyers passes away
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