Former Tide Star, Birmingham Businessman Alan Pizzitola Dies

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Former University of Alabama defensive back and Birmingham businessman Alan Pizzitola died this week, according to an announcement made by UA Athletic Director Greg Byrne on Wednesday.

The news comes after Pizzitola's courageous public fight with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 67.

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“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Alan Pizzitola,” Byrne said in a statement. “Alan loved Alabama and was an incredible supporter of both athletics and the university. After personally getting to know him over the years, it was easy to see why Alan was admired by so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

The Birmingham native and former John Carroll Catholic High standout was first a walk-on under legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant, going on to earn All-SEC honors his senior year at the safety position, despite a devastating knee injury during the 1975 season.

Pizzitola was a hard-hitting defensive back known for his toughness and was praised for his tenacity during his time at the Capstone.

Following life after football, he would go on to found Business Interiors, Inc. in Birmingham in 1986 — a contract furnishings dealership that specializes in interior furnishings for a wide range of businesses. The company has grown tremendously from its humble beginnings when it started with just three employees, one of whom was Pizzitola.

Pizzitola was also generous. Along with his former Crimson Tide teammate Ricky Davis, the pair gave a sizable donation to UA's Athletic Department’s Crimson Tradition Fund. This resulted in the Defensive Backs Meeting Room at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility being named in their honor.

"They were fine players for us years ago, and today they're fine representatives of our University and our Athletic Department," UA Athletic Director Mal Moore said at the time.

As freelance writer Tommy Ford noted earlier this year, Pizzitola — who he affectionately referred to as "The Original No. 4" — was diagnosed with ALS roughly a couple of years ago and also suffered from severe diverticulitis.

Ford was also part of a recent push, along with Davis and former Alabama baseball player Keith Norton, who serves as director of development for the Culverhouse College of Business, to launch a fundraising campaign to name an endowed marketing professorship in honor of Pizzitola.

"Not only was he a really good football player for us, but he earned his way as a walk on and wasn’t handed a scholarship out of high school," Ford told Patch of his friend on Thursday. “This was at a time when you were under a microscope with Coach Bryant, so that right there made him different from most people. He used that drive, determination and attitude during football, but then in the business world ... he really will be missed."

Memorial services for Pizzitola have not been announced at this time.

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