Duke's football connection to Alabama is often overlooked. Following is a summary:
Wallace Wade coached at Alabama 1923 - 1931. He came to Duke in 1931.
Bear Bryant played at Alabama 1932 - 1936 and was the head coach 1958- 1982.
David Cutcliffe graduated from Alabama in 1976 and served as a student assistant under Bear Bryant.
Don't know what sort of connection there might have been between Wallace Wade and Bear Bryant since Wade left Alabama a year before Bryant began to play, but there likely was some connection if only during the recruiting period before Bryant enrolled.