GUEST COLUMN: The Ray Perkins Most Never Knew
By Gus Hergert
“Crusty” is the first word in the official family obituary to describe Walter Ray Perkins. “Crusty” is how many people will remember Coach Perkins. It is what was under the crust of Ray Perkins I saw, and which made the biggest difference in my life and career.
Those who knew Coach Ray Perkins saw the steely blue eyes you would get if you did something that just was not up to Perkins’ standards or the way he expected you to conduct yourself. Coach had a clear vision of the way he wanted his tenure at Alabama to proceed and the path he would follow. We were all expected to walk that path directly or get off it.