Comments for Shwiggie.com http://www.shwiggie.com Random Thoughts from a Random Mind Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:19:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Hank Springer http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-2/#comment-4117 Hank Springer Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:19:06 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-4117 I could add, maybe just a little, to the story of this magnificent man, but why would I want to interfere in an accurate and well written history. GOD has Bull now and the thanks of those of us who shared him. I could add, maybe just a little, to the story of this magnificent man, but why would I want to interfere in an accurate and well written history. GOD has Bull now and the thanks of those of us who shared him.

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Dan Walker http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-2/#comment-4088 Dan Walker Sat, 01 May 2010 15:55:51 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-4088 I’m a football history fan with a particular appreciation for coaches who have, or had, the nerve to try formations and approaches which few others had the courage to attempt -- obviously Coach Sullivan was an innovative coach. I’m also a bit of a nut about tactics, formations, play diagrams, etc. So – if anyone reading the comments on this thread has any old playbooks, play diagram-cards, or simply recollections of interesting or unorthodox plays devised by Coach Sullivan, I welcome hearing from you directly. Also, if you’re in a position to photocopy any printed materials you have, do let me know; I’d gladly pre-pay you for any photocopying and postage expense to send me photocopies of those playbooks or other materials. Feel free to fire off a line to me at flfreedom@yahoo.com; I'd appreciate hearing from you. Dan Walker (Tallahassee, FL) I’m a football history fan with a particular appreciation for coaches who have, or had, the nerve to try formations and approaches which few others had the courage to attempt — obviously Coach Sullivan was an innovative coach. I’m also a bit of a nut about tactics, formations, play diagrams, etc.

So – if anyone reading the comments on this thread has any old playbooks, play diagram-cards, or simply recollections of interesting or unorthodox plays devised by Coach Sullivan, I welcome hearing from you directly. Also, if you’re in a position to photocopy any printed materials you have, do let me know; I’d gladly pre-pay you for any photocopying and postage expense to send me photocopies of those playbooks or other materials.

Feel free to fire off a line to me at flfreedom@yahoo.com; I’d appreciate hearing from you.

Dan Walker
(Tallahassee, FL)

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Scott http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-2/#comment-4045 Scott Sat, 10 Apr 2010 02:58:32 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-4045 Our local newspaper, <u>The Kemper County Messenger</u>, has a "Looking Back" section that reprints from its archives news items dating back to as far as fifty years. In this week's (April 8, 2010) edition, the following was the lead item, from April 6, 1950: <blockquote>Coach Bob Sullivan, formerly assistant coach at the University of Oregon, has accepted the position of head coach at East Mississippi Junior College. Coach Sullivan was born in Aliceville, Ala. After graduation from Aliceville High School, he entered Union University, Jackson, Tenn. After two years there Coach Sullivan's college career was interrupted by the war. He entered the Marines and served two and [a] half years. After his discharge from the Marines he entered the University of Nevada and finished his college days. After college Coach Sullivan played professional football. After two years of this he accepted a coaching position at the University of Oregon. From there he came to us.</blockquote> Our local newspaper, The Kemper County Messenger, has a “Looking Back” section that reprints from its archives news items dating back to as far as fifty years. In this week’s (April 8, 2010) edition, the following was the lead item, from April 6, 1950:

Coach Bob Sullivan, formerly assistant coach at the University of Oregon, has accepted the position of head coach at East Mississippi Junior College.

Coach Sullivan was born in Aliceville, Ala. After graduation from Aliceville High School, he entered Union University, Jackson, Tenn. After two years there Coach Sullivan’s college career was interrupted by the war. He entered the Marines and served two and [a] half years. After his discharge from the Marines he entered the University of Nevada and finished his college days.

After college Coach Sullivan played professional football. After two years of this he accepted a coaching position at the University of Oregon. From there he came to us.

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Jeff Perkins http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-1/#comment-4030 Jeff Perkins Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:46:10 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-4030 I Grew up in columbus ,ms and graduated from New Hope High in 1984. Growing up in columbus you were introduced to the legend of Bull Sullivan at an early age. We knew the stories long before the SI article came out. It was neat when the story came out because I knew several people mentioned in the article. I played baseball at scooba from 84 to 86. During that time I got to know Randle Bradberry the football coach at that time. Im certain that this story was told to me by him ,but Im not sure. Scooba used to play some games at the magnolia Bowl in columbus. Bull would use this opportunity to scout the high school talent in the area. On one such occasion bull situated himself high in the stands to watch a scrimmage at New Hope High. usually coach sullivan would not stay long at high school practices because he didnt want to be a distraction. But on this day the scrimmage was spirited with a lot hard hitting which coach sullivan loved. At some point during the scrimmage a fight broke out between the entire offense and defense. It took several minutes for the New Hope coaches to get things under control and when they did practice was called and the players were escorted into the locker room. A few minutes later the door to the locker room came bursting open and coach Sullivan came charging through and bellowed."I'll take every damn one them." I've never seen this story in print and felt it should be. I hope my facts are accurate, If not, feel free to edit Thanks to all that have posted here, I've really enjoyed the reading. I Grew up in columbus ,ms and graduated from New Hope High in 1984. Growing up in columbus you were introduced to the legend of Bull Sullivan at an early age. We knew the stories long before the SI article came out. It was neat when the story came out because I knew several people mentioned in the article. I played baseball at scooba from 84 to 86. During that time I got to know Randle Bradberry the football coach at that time. Im certain that this story was told to me by him ,but Im not sure.
Scooba used to play some games at the magnolia Bowl in columbus. Bull would use this opportunity to scout the high school talent in the area. On one such occasion bull situated himself high in the stands to watch a scrimmage at New Hope High. usually coach sullivan would not stay long at high school practices because he didnt want to be a distraction. But on this day the scrimmage was spirited with a lot hard hitting which coach sullivan loved. At some point during the scrimmage a fight broke out between the entire offense and defense. It took several minutes for the New Hope coaches to get things under control and when they did practice was called and the players were escorted into the locker room. A few minutes later the door to the locker room came bursting open and coach Sullivan came charging through and bellowed.”I’ll take every damn one them.”
I’ve never seen this story in print and felt it should be. I hope my facts are accurate, If not, feel free to edit
Thanks to all that have posted here, I’ve really enjoyed the reading.

]]> Comment on Remembering Daddy by Bob Sullivan http://www.shwiggie.com/remembering-daddy/comment-page-1/#comment-3998 Bob Sullivan Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:15:04 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=466#comment-3998 Scott, I recently received an old photo of my Daddy holding me when I was a year or so old from his baby sister, one of two surviving aunts I have now, and it had the same effect on me as did your Father's photo on you. Always keep those Precious memories. I'm sure you've heard that old gospel song. I give your photo five stars also! Bob Sullivan Scott,

I recently received an old photo of my Daddy holding me when I was a year or so old from his baby sister, one of two surviving aunts I have now, and it had the same effect on me as did your Father’s photo on you. Always keep those Precious memories. I’m sure you’ve heard that old gospel song. I give your photo five stars also!

Bob Sullivan

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Bob Sullivan http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-1/#comment-3997 Bob Sullivan Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:59:04 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-3997 Roy, I think my Daddy believed what Coach Drew told him about you and he found a way, as he always seemed to, to bring it out of you. I remember several occasions when he did that to inspire players to perform as he thought they could. He also told me one time he'd often thought of adopting Johnny Vaught's policy at Ole Miss to not have married players but he never did. Vaught was famous, or infamous according to some, for taking away scholarships if a guy got married and he supplied several players to other schools as a result. College football has changed so much when it comes to coaching philosophy and I miss the good old days when mentors like my Daddy and Coach Paul Bryant were in the sport. Now it seems to be more business than anything else. Bob Roy, I think my Daddy believed what Coach Drew told him about you and he found a way, as he always seemed to, to bring it out of you. I remember several occasions when he did that to inspire players to perform as he thought they could. He also told me one time he’d often thought of adopting Johnny Vaught’s policy at Ole Miss to not have married players but he never did. Vaught was famous, or infamous according to some, for taking away scholarships if a guy got married and he supplied several players to other schools as a result. College football has changed so much when it comes to coaching philosophy and I miss the good old days when mentors like my Daddy and Coach Paul Bryant were in the sport. Now it seems to be more business than anything else.

Bob

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Roy Simpson http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-1/#comment-3992 Roy Simpson Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:28:56 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-3992 My first trip to Scooba was at the suggestion of Coach Red Drew of the University of Alabama. He gave me a letter and said I was to give it to Coach Sullivan. I never did open that letter, it was only taped and not sealed securely. I always wished I had opened that letter, but I never did. When I first saw the Coach, he was so very big and he looked down at me and was blinking his eyes reapidly. I found out later this condition was caused by a war injury. When I first got there I had just returned from my honey-moon and my mind was not on Football. I was running third string. Thay gave me a pair of size 42 pants and I was size 32. I complained because the pants were too big. Coach "Bull" said "grow into the damm things". So, I taped the pants on me. I got in one play and fumbled. The next week Coach called me in and said he would have to put me on half scholarship because I was not doing what Coach Drew's letter said I could do. i asked him to give me one more week. He said O.K. I had a chance to prove myself. I started the next game and all the other games during 1951 & 1952. I'm proud to have played for Coach Sullivan and will always remember him. My first trip to Scooba was at the suggestion of Coach Red Drew of the University of Alabama. He gave me a letter and said I was to give it to Coach Sullivan. I never did open that letter, it was only taped and not sealed securely. I always wished I had opened that letter, but I never did. When I first saw the Coach, he was so very big and he looked down at me and was blinking his eyes reapidly. I found out later this condition was caused by a war injury. When I first got there I had just returned from my honey-moon and my mind was not on Football. I was running third string. Thay gave me a pair of size 42 pants and I was size 32. I complained because the pants were too big. Coach “Bull” said “grow into the damm things”. So, I taped the pants on me. I got in one play and fumbled. The next week Coach called me in and said he would have to put me on half scholarship because I was not doing what Coach Drew’s letter said I could do. i asked him to give me one more week. He said O.K. I had a chance to prove myself. I started the next game and all the other games during 1951 & 1952. I’m proud to have played for Coach Sullivan and will always remember him.

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Bob Sullivan http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-1/#comment-3991 Bob Sullivan Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:03:59 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-3991 Hey Roy, listen to your boy! Since that line rhymes I thought I'd pass along a "Pants on the Ground" moment in my Dad's career at Scooba. One August afternoon in 1958 in Scooba we were lined up for calisthenics and my Dad was leading us in jumping jacks when without warning his athletic shorts suddenly dropped due south, collapsing in a heap around his ankles. The whole squad broke out in laughter, joined by my Dad. I wouldn't put it past him to have designed that occasion since he had a purpose behind everything he ever did. Last week while I was watching Brett Favre chanting the latest rap sensation, "Pants on the Ground," in the Vikings dressing room to the delight of his teammates, I thought of that hot afternoon. We had mostly brutal practice sessions in 1958 but we also had the occasional humorous occurrence that worked sorta like a break in the clouds on a gloomy day. And since Roy didn't mention it, I will. He was, finally, inducted into EMJC's Sports Hall of Fame in the 2009 class for his outstanding play in my Dad's first tour at Scooba. The honor was long overdue and I was glad to see it finally happen. See, Roy Simpson was making linebackers and other defensive players put their "Pants on the Ground" back in the day when such behavior was not looked on in the same manner it may be today. :-) Bob Hey Roy, listen to your boy! Since that line rhymes I thought I’d pass along a “Pants on the Ground” moment in my Dad’s career at Scooba. One August afternoon in 1958 in Scooba we were lined up for calisthenics and my Dad was leading us in jumping jacks when without warning his athletic shorts suddenly dropped due south, collapsing in a heap around his ankles. The whole squad broke out in laughter, joined by my Dad. I wouldn’t put it past him to have designed that occasion since he had a purpose behind everything he ever did. Last week while I was watching Brett Favre chanting the latest rap sensation, “Pants on the Ground,” in the Vikings dressing room to the delight of his teammates, I thought of that hot afternoon. We had mostly brutal practice sessions in 1958 but we also had the occasional humorous occurrence that worked sorta like a break in the clouds on a gloomy day.

And since Roy didn’t mention it, I will. He was, finally, inducted into EMJC’s Sports Hall of Fame in the 2009 class for his outstanding play in my Dad’s first tour at Scooba. The honor was long overdue and I was glad to see it finally happen. See, Roy Simpson was making linebackers and other defensive players put their “Pants on the Ground” back in the day when such behavior was not looked on in the same manner it may be today. :-)

Bob

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Danny Simpson http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-1/#comment-3990 Danny Simpson Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:42:17 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-3990 Dad, We want more!! Dad, We want more!!

]]> Comment on The Legend of Bull Sullivan by Roy Simpson http://www.shwiggie.com/the-legend-of-bull-sullivan/comment-page-1/#comment-3988 Roy Simpson Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:08:09 +0000 http://www.shwiggie.com/?p=21#comment-3988 I played at EMJC during 1951 and 1952. My position was full-back. I have many stories concerning Coach Cyclone "Bull" Sullivan. I too,have a great respect for the Coach and his wife Virgina; and I remember Bob "little bull", Royce and Bobby. I have a Christmas card with pictures of Coach Sullivan, Virginia and the girls mailed Christmas of 1953. I also have a picture of Coach with Vic at 3 months old, sitting on "it looks like" the front step of their house. We have throughly enyoyed reading all this information from others who knew our favorite person and Coach who taught me so very much. I remember when we played in Macon, it was extremely cold and Coach had a case of Vicks salve. He gave each player a jar and showed them how to scoop it out and eat it. No one refused, we all did it. It was supposed to keep us from getting sick. Now, every year when we have a cold spell I remember this occasion. When we played Decatur, a team that EMJC had not beaten since 1938 we were having a private practice in a cow pasture behind the "old Alamo". A plane kept circleing above and Coach told the manager to go get him a rifle. The manager thought it was a joke but when he told him the second time he knew he had better get started. He got the rife, Cyclone Sullivan shot at that plane and it left quickly. Coach thought they were spys. EMJC won that game 40 to 20. I played at EMJC during 1951 and 1952. My position was full-back. I have many stories concerning Coach Cyclone “Bull” Sullivan. I too,have a great respect for the Coach and his wife Virgina; and I remember Bob “little bull”, Royce and Bobby. I have a Christmas card with pictures of Coach Sullivan, Virginia and the girls mailed Christmas of 1953. I also have a picture of Coach with Vic at 3 months old, sitting on “it looks like” the front step of their house. We have throughly enyoyed reading all this information from others who knew our favorite person and Coach who taught me so very much. I remember when we played in Macon, it was extremely cold and Coach had a case of Vicks salve. He gave each player a jar and showed them how to scoop it out and eat it. No one refused, we all did it. It was supposed to keep us from getting sick. Now, every year when we have a cold spell I remember this occasion. When we played Decatur, a team that EMJC had not beaten since 1938 we were having a private practice in a cow pasture behind the “old Alamo”. A plane kept circleing above and Coach told the manager to go get him a rifle. The manager thought it was a joke but when he told him the second time he knew he had better get started. He got the rife, Cyclone Sullivan shot at that plane and it left quickly. Coach thought they were spys. EMJC won that game 40 to 20.

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