Sad One: Former Alabama QB dies at 79

Steve Sloan, a former collegiate coach and administrator who played quarterback and served as Alabama’s athletic director, died at the age of 79, according to his close friend Tommy Limbaugh.

Sloan died on Sunday at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Florida, surrounded by his wife, Brenda Faw Sloan, according to Limbaugh.

Sloan led Alabama to the 1965 national championship after taking over for Joe Namath, earning most valuable player honors in an Orange Bowl victory against Nebraska.

Sloan coached Vanderbilt for two seasons and was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year in 1974 before departing to take over the Texas Tech school. He previously served as head coach at Mississippi and Duke before leaving to become Vanderbilt’s offensive coordinator in 1990.

“You will never find anybody that says anything bad about Steve Sloan,” he stated. “You can’t find that person.”

Sloan, a consensus All-American, was selected the SEC’s most valuable player in 1965 and received the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s greatest passer.

He served as athletic director for Alabama, North Texas, Central Florida, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

He is survived by his wife and son, Stephen Jr. The funeral arrangements will be disclosed later.