A&M presented with Bear Bryant's original contract

It’s common knowledge that Paul “Bear” Bryant coached Texas A&M for four seasons in the 1950s.

Now, it can be common knowledge what Bryant was compensated to coach the Aggies.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp at a press conference on Tuesday unveiled the original contracts Bryant signed to become Texas A&M’s football coach in 1954. The documents included an agreement to pay Bryant $15,000 per year plus one percent of the gate for football games. Also included was a deed to a house that Bryant also received.

The documents, dated April 11, 1954, were given to Sharp by former A&M Controller Robert Smith, Class of ’58.

“These are the actual blue book copies,” Sharp said. “There were no other copies. It’s the original deed to the house. I’m surprised somebody had the blue book copies.

“I think Robert was rummaging through some stuff and found them. That part is pretty rare.”

The framed documents will be displayed in the Hall of Champions in the new Kyle Field.

The press conference included remarks from Board of Regents Chairman Phil Adams, Interim A&M President Dr. Mark Hussey, Texas A&M Football Coach Kevin Sumlin and A&M football legend John David Crow, the only Heisman Trophy recipient coached by Bryant.

“I’ve always said we were blessed that we were on his pathway to absolute legendary status,” Adams said.

Added Hussey: “We will take care of these until we’re able to display them in the Hall of Champions. Texas A&M is extremely fortunate to be associated with such a great coach and a great man.

“These items are a constant reminder of Coach Bryant’s proud influence on Texas A&M University.”

Bryant’s first team at Texas A&M was made up of the famous “Junction Boys” who endured a grueling 10-day preseason summer camp which resulted in the majority of the players quitting the team.

That ’54 team finished just 1-9, but the ’55 team was 7-2-1. In ’56 the Aggies finished 9-0-1 and won A&M’s first Southwest Conference championship in 25 years. The next season A&M was ranked No. 1 in the nation after eight games. However, rumors surfaced that Bryant would be leaving to accept the same position at Alabama.

Perhaps distracted by those rumors, the Aggies lost their final three games and finished ninth in the Associated Press poll.

The previous year A&M finished fifth in the AP poll. The Aggies did not manage another top-five national finish until Sumlin’s 2012 team finished fifth.

“When you look at what’s going on with the tradition and the history of the football program … when you associate the name Paul 'Bear' Bryant with that, it doesn’t get any bigger than that,” Sumlin said.