Former Bradley Central and University of Alabama quarterback Steve Sloan died Sunday afternoon in Orlando at the age of 79.
Sloan, who served as UTC’s athletic director from 2002-06, leaves behind Brenda, his wife of 55 years, and son Stephen Jr.
After earning all-state recognition for the Bears in football, basketball and golf, Sloan signed with Paul “Bear” Bryant’s Crimson Tide. As a sophomore in 1963, he played behind Joe Namath but saw action as a defensive back, and when Namath was suspended for the Sugar Bowl that season, Sloan stepped in and guided Alabama to a 12-7 topping of Ole Miss to complete a 9-2 record.
In 1964, Sloan filled in at times for an injured Namath and helped the Crimson Tide win the second of Bryant’s six national championships — the first came in 1961 — in Tuscaloosa. Bryant’s third national crown occurred in 1965, when Sloan served as team captain and earned MVP honors following a 39-28 downing of Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
Sloan was an academic All-American and an outspoken Christian, receiving hundreds of invitations to speak to youth throughout the state of Alabama during his time there. He became a founding member of the Alabama Fellowship of Christian Athletes in September 1964, and he was asked to deliver the scripture reading when evangelist Billy Graham spoke at Denny Stadium on April 26, 1965.