Dear Jim:
Next Wednesday, September 11, is the 100th anniversary of Coach Bryant's birth.

Here's a Birmingham News article about the event planned in Birmingham Wednesday night http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/09/paul_bear_bryants_100th_birthd.html

The Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa is also unveiling a new exhibit along with a film and book.
http://bryant100.com/

Here's the trailer for the new film, MAMA CALLED
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201871128570350&set=vb.30287023558&type=2&theater

Great Sept. '45 article about Bryant's takeover of Maryland http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xipWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o-QDAAAAIBAJ&dq=north%20carolina%20pre-flight%20football%20paul-bryant&pg=6965%2C6991024

Here's Coach Bryant's own version of how his career started at Maryland. It begins on page 100
http://books.google.com/books?id=wR-HNCyR6e0C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=curley+byrd+paul+bryant&source=bl&ots=Tl-N4Yvefu&sig=fLjalHVCAl4CKp-9YEbxTgJl6Tk&hl

Here's one more University of Maryland link
http://www.lib.umd.edu/blogs/univarch_exhibits/?p=35

Here's Coach Bryant's own version of how his career started at Maryland. It begins on page 100
http://books.google.com/books?id=wR-HNCyR6e0C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=curley+byrd+paul+bryant&source=bl&ots=Tl-N4Yvefu&sig=fLjalHVCAl4CKp-9YEbxTgJl6Tk&hl

Here's one more link
http://www.lib.umd.edu/blogs/univarch_exhibits/?p=35

This is a terrific story about two sports titans: Curley Byrd and Bear Bryant
The way Bryant was suddenly hired, the way the players suddenly showed up on campus after WWII and the one hour it took Coach Bryant to quit have the makings of something unique and interesting. Some of those guys on the '45 Maryland team probably remember the guy Bryant kicked off the team and why Curley reinstated him while Bryant was off on vacation. That story would make some great reading.
Best,
Robert Register