Jim Bunch
| No. 63 | |
| Date of birth | March 10, 1956 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Mechanicsville, Virginia,U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Offensive tackle |
| US college | Alabama |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1976–1979 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| 1980 | West Virginia Rockets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Jim Bunch(born March 10, 1956) is a formerAmerican footballplayer and businessman. He playedoffensive tacklefor theUniversity of AlabamaCrimson Tidefrom 1976 through 1979 and was a member of the1978and1979national championshipteams and a consensus selection to the1979 College Football All-America Team.After his collegiate career, Bunch played one season as asemi-professionalwith the West Virginia Rockets. After his playing career ended, Bunch entered the hospitality business. Presently Bunch serves as aninnkeeperatWinston Place,abed and breakfastlisted on theNational Register of Historic PlacesinValley Head, Alabama.
Early life
[edit]As a native ofMechanicsville, Virginia,Bunch played offensive guard forLee Davis High Schoolfootball team as a youth.[1]From there, Bunch then enrolled atFork Union Military Academywhere he was recruited initially byVirginia TechandNC State.[2]Alabama later offered him an opportunity to play with the Crimson Tide only after Alabama assistant coachKen Donahuenoticed Bunch on film that he was viewing for adefensive backthat he wasrecruitingat that time.[2][3]
Playing career
[edit]Bunch entered the Alabama starting lineup in the third game of the1976 seasonagainstVanderbilt.[3]He was the only freshman to start during the season and was recognized as First Team Freshman All-SEC for his efforts.[2]Bunch remained as a fixture in the Crimson Tide offensive line over the next three seasons alongsideBuddy Aydelette,Vince Boothe, Mike Brock andDwight Stephensonand helped lead Alabama to an overall record of 43 wins and 5 losses (43–5) during his career at the Capstone.[2][3]
In recognition for his play during his sophomore and junior years, Bunch was a First Team All-SEC selection.[4]After his senior year, Bunch was named First Team All-SEC and as a consensus selection to the1979 College Football All-America Teamand was awarded the Douglas MacArthur Trophy in early 1980 in recognition for his achievements as a Virginia athlete outside the commonwealth.[3][4][5]In recognition of his accomplishments as a student athlete, the Virginia state legislature passed a resolution that declared February 2, 1980, as "Jim Bunch Day."[3]
Although he was a consensus selection to the All-America Team, Bunch went undrafted and was not signed as anundrafted free agentafter the1980 NFL Draft.[6]He was left unsigned due to NFL teams believing he was too short to be competitive as an offensive lineman as a professional.[6]As such, Bunch then played a single season as asemi-professionalwith the West Virginia Rockets.[6]
Later life
[edit]After the completion of his playing career, Bunch returned to Alabama where he served as agraduate assistantonBear Bryant's staff for the1980 season.[2]After he completed his graduate degree, Bunch then worked for Quincy's Family Steakhouses for 25 years until his retirement in 2005.[2]Bunch now is an innkeeper at theWinston Place,abed and breakfastinValley Head, Alabamaalong with his wife Leslie.[2][7]
References
[edit]- ^"1979 University of Alabama alphabetical roster"(PDF).RollTide.com. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 28, 2018.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
- ^abcdefgGold, Eli (2007).Bear's Boys: Thirty-Six Men Whose Lives Were Changed by Coach Paul Bryant.Thomas Nelson, Inc. pp. 15–21.ISBN9781418574178.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
- ^abcdeWelch, Chris (February 17, 1980)."Moment to remember: Jim Bunch ranks HIS day right up there with two big Bama wins".The Tuscaloosa News.p. 5B.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
- ^ab"2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book"(PDF).Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2012. p. 219. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 17, 2013.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
- ^Award Winners I 2012 NCAA Division I Football Records(PDF).National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). p. 8.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
- ^abcBrowning, Al (May 19, 1980)."From All-American to semi-pro ranks".The Tuscaloosa News.p. 10.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
- ^"Winston Place c. 1831: A National Register Property".VirtualCities.com.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.