Bill Battle, who has served as Alabama’s athletic director since 2013, will take a leave of absence due to undergoing a stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma treatment. ESPN’s College Football insider Brett McMurphy released the news Tuesday, via social media.
Alabama AD Bill Battle to take leave of absence for few weeks to undergo stem cell transplant for treatment of multiple myeloma
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) June 21, 2016
Multiple myeloma, per Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a collection of abnormal plasma cells that accumulate in the bone marrow where they interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
Bone pain, anemia and kidney failure are all symptoms of multiple myeloma.
Dr. Sagar Lional, a world-renowned expert in treating the cancer in question, will be performing the transplant surgery for Battle. Lional said via a press release from UA that Battle is “currently in great health and his condition is not considered life-threatening.” Battle was initially diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the spring of 2014, making it a two-year battle for him at this point.
Thus far, Battle has witnessed two Southeastern Conference championships (2014-15) a national championship (2015), a Heisman winner (Derrick Henry) and three top-five recruiting classes at Alabama. Judy Bonner, former University of Alabama president, hired Battle on March 22, 2013.
He succeeded the late Mal Moore, who served at the position from 1999 to 2013.
Battle attended and played football at UA from 1960-62 under legendary coach Paul Bryant.
He served at tight end on Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961, and would go on to pursue coaching opportunities at both Army (1964-65) and Tennessee (1966-76) prior to returning to Alabama as an athletic director.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
