Former UK great Warren Bryant passes at age 65

Warren Bryant received his award from the Sporting News from UK radio announcer Ralph Hacker in 1976. (UK Athletics Photo)

Warren Bryant — the best offensive lineman I have seen play at Kentucky in my 46 plus years covering UK — died Sunday night from a heart attack at age 65. The Florida native came to UK to play for coach Fran Curci after Curci left Miami where Bryant had committed to try to revive the program at Kentucky after John Ray was fired.

Bryant was a massive man and dominating offensive tackle from 1974-76. He was a  first-team All-American by Walter Camp and American Football Coaches Association in 1976. He won the Jacobs Award in 1976  given to the most outstanding SEC blocker.

Bryant was a three-time All-SEC selection and a first-round NFL Draft choice — sixth pick overall — by Atlanta Falcons in 1977.

He played in 164 games with 93 starts  in the NFL from 1977-85 and helped the Falcons make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Bryant was a huge building block for Curci. The Cats went 5-6, 6-5, and then 2-8-1 in his first three seasons before rebounding in a big way in 1976. Kentucky had wins over West Virginia, Penn State, LSU, Vanderbilt, and Florida but needed a win at Tennessee in the final game to earn a bid to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Kentucky had not beat the Vols since 1964 but dominated the line play to win 7-0 then easily beat North Carolina 21-0 in the Peach Bowl. Kentucky fans took over the city and that’s the first time Catlanta started being used.

The Cats actually ended the season 8-4 and 4-2 in SEC play but a loss to Mississippi State was later changed because the Bulldogs used an eligible player. Kentucky’s official record was 9-3, 5-1 and that tied Georgia for the SEC championship.

Dave Hopewell played with Bryant at Kentucky. Players referred to Bryant as “Clyde” and Hopewell, who had two sons play at UK, says Bryant is still the best offensive lineman he has seen at Kentucky.

“He was so big and strong but he was also very, very athletic for a man that size,” Hopewell said. “He was a great teammate and person. He meant a lot to our team.”

Bryant is a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. Many members of that 1976 team, including Curci, were at Kroger Field Saturday for a 45-year anniversary and saw UK beat LSU. Bryant did not attend because of other health concerns.