The late Louis Crews is the all-time winningest football coach at Alabama A&M University. The stadium is named after him and the entrance leading to the luxury boxes is filled with his memorabilia.

Now, a group of his former players, spearheaded by former split end Tom Jones and former quarterback Onree Jackson, are trying to raise money to erect a statue and a plaza in his honor outside of the stadium.

“This is our way to honor Coach Crews and his legacy,” said Jackson, who played for Crews from 1965-69.

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“We’re talking about a man that was larger than life. We’re talking about the man that put Alabama A&M football on the map.”

From 1960-75, Crews compiled a 93-53-3 record and guided the Bulldogs to four Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. A&M finished 8-0 in 1963. Before his arrival, A&M managed only three winning seasons since 1945.

“Coach Crews was a football coach, but he was so much more than that,” Jackson said. “He touched players and students alike and because of his willingness to take time with us, many are still making contributions today.”

According to Jones, the idea was spawned almost two years ago, but hasn’t picked up any real speed. There since have been seven or eight meetings. Approximately 1,000 letters have been mailed to former and current A&M football and baseball players in an attempt to help fund the $250,000 project.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of success, but this year, we’re going to give it an all-out push,” said Jones, who played from 1963-66. “In addition to contacting former players and alumni, we want everybody who knew him or worked with him to get involved. We’re going to contact the pro teams who have drafted some of our athletes and see if they will make a contribution. We’re going to hit the corporate world and see if we can pull this off.”

Former players are asked to make a tax deductible contribution of $500 or more. The names of those persons will be placed on a permanently displayed plaque that identifies each contributor. The monument will be built by world-renowned sculptor Branco Medenica. Medenica built the likeness of A&M founder Dr. William Hooper Councill.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Jackson at 256-489-5119 or 256-682-5465.

Alabama A&M Players propose statue for Crews
By Reggie Benson, The Huntsville Times
http://www.al.com/sports/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1214903745146080.xml&coll=1