Practically nobody outside East Mississippi knows about or remembers Coach Bull Sullivan. He’s one of those legendary figures you hear about in hushed, reverent tones from the elders of the community. In my area, there are still a number of people around who played for him…such as one of my uncles, my high school principal/football coach, another coach from school, and the daddies of a few of my old school mates. His assistant coach of many years was a cousin of my dad’s. In fact, I have one of his old playbooks in my possession.
Sports Illustrated ran an article on the man–at the time, the longest article ever devoted in SI–back in 1984 by Frank Deford entitled, “The Toughest Coach There Ever Was”. This is pretty much the truth. I wish football were still like this…cry babies like Terrell Owens (T.O.? More like B.O., if you ask me) would never have made it past high school if the sport were still dominated by real men of genius such as this. I would like to share this one on this site, as well as keep it archived here. I didn’t post it with permission, but I figure after twenty years since its printing date, it’s not that critical an issue.
I highly recommend that you read this article, “The Toughest Coach There Ever Was”.
This on-again, off-again, would-be commentator proves that attitudes are contagious, and that some can even kill. To this end, every written word is weighed carefully to ensure the precise delivery of the author's intent while inflicting blunt force trauma to the psyche of the reader. 
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:
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 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.