Champ Pickens
Football expert
About Champ Pickens
Lived 1877 – 1963 (aged 86).
William C. "Champ" Pickens (May 31, 1877 – September 18, 1963) was a prominent figure in Alabama and Southern football, the namesake of the Champ Pickens Cup Pickens developed the idea for the Blue–Gray Football Classic, He wrote two of the earliest books on Alabama football. Pickens was manager of the 1896 Alabama team.
Million Dollar Band Pickens bestowed the name "Million Dollar Band" after the 1922 football game against Georgia Tech. Though accounts vary, it is reported that in order for the band to attend the game they had to solicit funds from local businesses. They were able to collect enough funds to ride in a tourist sleeper to the game. After the game, which Alabama lost 33–7, an Atlanta sportswriter commented to Pickens, "You don't have much of a team; what do you have at Alabama?" Pickens replied, "A Million Dollar Band."
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Champ Pickens's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Champ Pickens?
football expert (1877–1963)
When was Champ Pickens born?
Champ Pickens was born on 31 May 1877.
When did Champ Pickens die?
Champ Pickens died on 18 September 1963.
What was Champ Pickens known for?
Champ Pickens was known for 1896 Alabama Crimson White football team, Blue–Gray Football Classic, Champ Pickens Trophy and Million Dollar Band (marching band).
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Champ Pickens. https://biography.guide/champ-pickens/
MLA: "Champ Pickens." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/champ-pickens/.
Chicago: "Champ Pickens." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/champ-pickens/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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