How Alabama football honored Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State game
Alabama football took time to honor Sylvester Croom, a former center and assistant coach, during its game against Mississippi State for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
He stood on the field and was shown on the video board while his accomplishments from his successful football career were read at the end of the first quarter.
A Tuscaloosa native, Croom went on to play center for the Crimson Tide from 1972-1974. He earned All-American honors in 1974. He was an All-SEC first team selection and recipient of the Jacobs Blocking trophy that year, too.
Croom, a team captain in 1974, took part in three bowl games and was a member of three teams that finished in the top 10 final national rankings. Crooms also helped Alabama win a UPI national title in 1973.
He will be inducted at the 64th National Football Foundation annual awards dinner in Las Vegas on Dec. 6.
After his successful playing career with the Crimson Tide and one season in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Croom pivoted to coaching.
Croom first joined Alabama to work under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant then Ray Perkins from 1976 to 1986.
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Most of the rest of his career was spent as an assistant coach in the NFL, but he returned to the college ranks to serve as coach of the Bulldogs.
Croom made history in the process. He became the first Black head football coach in the SEC's history in 2004 and later won SEC coach of the year in 2007.
Croom returned to the NFL after five seasons with the Bulldogs. He coached through the 2016 season as an assistant at the professional level. His coaching stops as an assistant included Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, San Diego, Detroit, Green Bay, St. Louis, Jacksonville and Tennessee.
He worked as an offensive coordinator for the Lions.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How Alabama football honored Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State game
