This is a trivia question that I am having trouble with. the only hints I have is that it has to do with Alabama's Roll Tide Coach "Paul "the bear" Bryant" and that it was something to do with him before he became coach for Alabama. and "The on that got away"

It refers to the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide being denied a 3-peat as NCAA National Football Champions by "the powers that be". Paul "Bear" Bryant was the coach.

ive heard of the quote but not the story behind it sorry

Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin鈥檚 Press
New York
2006

In the autumn of 1966, as the world teetered on the brink in a variety of ways, Paul "Bear" Bryant's University of Alabama Crimson Tide pursued the most elusive prize in college football鈥攁 third consecutive national championship. But something happened on the way to the history books. In an imperfect world, perfection on the field was not quite enough.

The Missing Ring is the story of the one that got away, the one that haunts Alabama fans still.

Led by the electrifying force of quarterback Kenny 鈥淪nake鈥?Stabler and one of the most punishing defenses in the storied annals of the Southeastern Conference, the Crimson Tide cruised to a magical season. But Alabama finished with a dubious distinction: Undefeated, untied and uncrowned.

Native Alabamian Keith Dunnavant takes readers deep inside the Crimson Tide program during a more innocent time, before widespread telecasting, before scholarship limitations, before end-zone dances. Meticulously revealing the strategies, tactics and personal dramas that bring the overachieving boys of 1966 to life, Dunnavant鈥檚 insightful, anecdotally rich narrative shows how Bryant molded a diverse group of young men into a powerful force that overcame obstacles large and small to become one of the most dominant college teams of all time.

Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the still-escalating Veitnam War, and a world and a sport teetering on the brink of change in a variety of ways, The Missing Ring tells an important story about the collision between football and culture. Ultimately, it is this clash that produces the Crimson Tide鈥檚 most implacable foe, enabling the greatest injustice in college football history.

Yeah, its about what the others say about the 1966 championship.

Here is an interesting note:

Bryant announced his retirement as head football coach at Alabama effective with the end of the 1982 season. His last game was a 21-15 victory in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee over the University of Illinois. When asked in a post-game interview what he intended to do while retired, Bryant sarcastically replied that he would "probably croak in a week."

Bryant died less than a month after making that statement.