Former Alabama head coach Paul W. Bryant to this day remains a legend in the state of Alabama and it's university. In the new book 'Bears Boys' authored by Eli Gold, new insight is given into the man who touched hearts and motivated progress.

"What I found is that while he was teaching these young men football, he was also teaching them to live," Gold said. "I don't know if many of them themselves realized that at the time, but they do now. Under the guidance of x's and o's he taught them life lessons."

These life lessons are accounted by Alabama greats such as Foley’s own Ken Stabler, Bob Baumbower, Paul Crane, Joe Nameth, Mike Hall, Ozzie Newsome, Ray Perkins and Gene Stallings among many others.

Coach Bryant won six national championships and 13 SEC titles during his tenure with the Tide and although Gold never worked with coach they called "Bear" he shed deep insight into the man beyond the sidelines.

"I joined the university during the Bill Curry era and I actually never met coach Bryant," he said. "I was around him and on occasion and admired him from afar but we never met. What I've learned about coach Bryant came through personal observations and through the stories from others."

Coach Bryant's philosophies are well dictated in this book, the "Take care of your parents. Go to church. Give 100-percent in everything you do" ideology seemed to stick with each and every play in some form or fashion.

The cult following for The Bear in the state and especially at the university is like no other in the country. After spending much time in conversation with former players and coaches, Gold stated he felt the coach would downplay his role in their lives.

"His name is the anchor to this university," he said. "If you mention Alabama on Main Street in Moline, IL, someone's going to say Bear Bryant. The tradition is great in this state. The coach Bryant name is a top the list, although he would have been the first one to deflect that. He would give credit to the others — to his coaches and players."

Gold has started the, "Eli Gold Scholarship" for the university's School of Communications and proceeds from this book will go towards the further growth of this fund.

Gold, a Brooklyn, New York native, has spent more than half his life living in the state of Alabama and is well known as a member of NASCAR's Motor Racing Network in addition to being the radio voice of the University of Alabama.

During his long stint with NASCAR, Gold was witness to the cultish following Dale Earnhardt Sr. received in this state. When the seven-time Nextel Cup Champion past away tragically at Daytona in 2001, there was great outpouring by the people of Alabama. To this day the Earnhardt Sr. merchandise trailer is a top seller at Talladega Superspeedway.

When coach Bryant passed away just one month after coaching his last game, fans lined the roads from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to honor the states most beloved hero. The connections between the two larger than life legends is obvious, but there is a certain mystique to a winner with a hardened exterior and a heart of gold.

"The big thing is the were both winners," Gold said. "That is what obviously attracts people to them. They had a hard edge to them at times, but down deep they were some of the most sensitive people and that may not be the right word.

"When you got Dale Earnhardt in a private setting away from the race track he was just a normal guy and a fun loving jokester. Coach Bryant might not have been a fun loving jokester, but when you left school he became your number one supporter and friend."