The Big Man of Jim Beam

Chapter 2College Ain't for Everyone

After Booker graduated from St. Joe's Prep, it was off to the University of Kentucky. Booker didn't really have much say in the matter. His college choice had been preordained by his uncle T. Jeremiah, Jim Beam's only son and the new patriarch of the family. T. Jeremiah—Uncle Jere—was a devoted UK alum who thought the sun rose and set over Lexington, so there had never been any doubt about where his star nephew was going. There was also never any doubt that Booker was going to play football there and join the Sigma Nu fraternity, the same house Jere had joined. He was going to be a Wildcat and that was that. Uncle Jere had it all figured out.

Booker had been a star at St. Joe's, earning All-State honors, leading sweeps on offense, and blowing up quarterbacks on defense. But playing at the next level for a Southeastern Conference team? Now that was entirely another matter. Especially an SEC team coached by an up-and-comer by the name of Paul “Bear” Bryant. While Booker liked playing football, he wasn't sure he was exactly Bear material.

Bryant apparently agreed. He offered Booker's best friend and cousin Bob Noe Hayden a scholarship but passed on the big kid from Bardstown.

“He's 50 pounds overweight,” the Bear told a crestfallen Jere. “That boy's just too big.”

Uncle Jere didn't take no for an answer, though, even from a man like Bryant. Personable and persuasive, and a loyal UK fundraiser, he talked the Bear into letting Booker walk on to ...