TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When University of Alabama football legend Kenny Stabler passed away Thursday he went as he lived: in style and in love with his home state.
“He passed peacefully surrounded by the people he loved most, including his three daughters and longtime partner, as some of his favorite songs played in the background,” said the Stabler the family in a statement. “Such as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and Van Morrison’s ‘Leaves Falling Down.'”
Born in Foley, Alabama, Stabler won consecutive high school state championships before wearing the #12 jersey for the Crimson Tide, where he won the 1965 National Championship and lead the team to a perfect record the next year before being snubbed for a third consecutive championship.
“The Snake” went on to have a stellar NFL career, winning the 1977 Super Bowl, being named a Pro Bowler 4 times, and NFL MVP in 1974.
“I was head coach of the Raiders the entire time Kenny was there, and he led us to a whole bunch of victories, including one in Super Bowl XI,” said former Raiders coach John Madden in a release following Stabler’s passing. “I’ve often said, if I had one drive to win a game to this day, and I had a quarterback to pick, I would pick Kenny. Snake was a lot cooler than I was. He was a perfect quarterback and a perfect Raider. When you think about the Raiders you think about Ken Stabler. Kenny loved life. It is a sad day for all Raiders.”
A notorious partier who allegedly would study the playbook by the light of the nightclub jukebox, Stabler was a highly charismatic figure whose ability to keep cool under pressure was legendary. But most of all, he was devoted to his home state and University.
“I think anyone who had the chance to get to know Kenny would appreciate the great person he was and the pride he had for the University of Alabama,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. “I have had the chance to be around some of the best to ever play college and pro football, and Kenny may have been one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game.”
According to ESPN, Stabler’s brain and spinal cord were donated to Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center to support research into degenerative brain disease among athletes.
RIP and RTR, Snake.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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