For Richard Bell, wins and losses never mattered as much as loyalty. That principle defined a 42-year coaching career, and it’s why the college football world is mourning the former South Carolina head coach, who passed away Saturday at the age of 88. Hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, Bell became a beloved figure across the football fraternity, coaching more than ten programs and leaving behind a legacy built on defense, integrity, and conviction.

That journey included stops at VMI, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Texas Tech, South Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Georgia, Navy, and Air Force, a rare résumé that put him in multiple locker rooms and eras of college football, while keeping him rooted in defense-first fundamentals.

“Richard Bell, who was a team captain on Frank Broyles’ first

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