William “Bill” Raines Battle III, former director of athletics and student-athlete at The University of Alabama, collegiate football coach and founder of Collegiate Licensing Company, has passed away at the age of 82.

Bill Battle, who won national championships as an Alabama football player and later became UA’s athletics director, has died, UA announced Thursday. He was 82.

Alabama A&M university mistakenly announced the death of one of its football players – before backtracking and confirming that he is very much still alive. The school’s athletics team wrongly declared on Wednesday that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, had died weeks after he was seriously injured during a game.

Bill Battle, a member of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's first National Title team at Alabama, former Athletic Director at director of athletics

Medrick Burnett Jr. is alive and in stable condition, Alabama A&M University clarified in a statement on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Hours earlier, the college announced the death of the linebacker, who sustained a serious injury during a game last month.

He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate head coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics."

Bill Battle, former director of athletics for the University of Alabama and a legendary figure in college athletics, has passed away at the age of 82.