RIP Johnny Majors

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Longtime coach at Tennessee and Pitt - where he won the 1976 National Championship - passes away.

Johnny Majors, former Tennessee, Pittsburgh football coach dies at 85

 

[Matt1735]

Bad week for former SEC coaches

 

[BTExpress]

I made the mistake of sitting in his seat as a 19-year-old covering one of his media sitdowns. He was nice about it.

First --- but definitely not the last --- Vol to get screwed out of the Heisman.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Hope Bill Curry's not next. The conscience of college football.
To be honest, I assumed Majors had died years ago.

 

[Alma]

Bringing back memories of the 80s SEC. not exactly a golden era for the league in terms of national titles or anything, but I enjoyed it.

 

[Liut]

First head gig was at Iowa State. RIP

 

[TigerVols]

One of the happiest events of my life was attending my first Johnny Majors Football Camp where we got to stay in the dorms and practice in Neyland. He gave each and every one of us a good deal of attention (and really helped my game, I have to say).

Somewhere in my keepsake box is a very small T-shirt that my daddy gave me...probably the first T-shirt I ever owned...it's orange and it has those iron-on letters and they say, "welcome home, johnny."

I'm pissed the Paul Hornung outlives him.

 

[BTExpress]

Didn't have the greatest record against the Bear, but remains on an eternal one-game winning streak.

 

[OscarMadison]

To be honest, I assumed Majors had died years ago.

Gotta admit to this, too.

And it always seemed like he and The Bear respected each other in a way that mutual respect didn't seem to happen between Bryant and most coaches.

 

[tapintoamerica]

One of the happiest events of my life was attending my first Johnny Majors Football Camp where we got to stay in the dorms and practice in Neyland. He gave each and every one of us a good deal of attention (and really helped my game, I have to say).

Somewhere in my keepsake box is a very small T-shirt that my daddy gave me...probably the first T-shirt I ever owned...it's orange and it has those iron-on letters and they say, "welcome home, johnny."

I'm pissed the Paul Hornung outlives him.

One of the happiest events of my life was attending my first Johnny Majors Football Camp where we got to stay in the dorms and practice in Neyland. He gave each and every one of us a good deal of attention (and really helped my game, I have to say).

Somewhere in my keepsake box is a very small T-shirt that my daddy gave me...probably the first T-shirt I ever owned...it's orange and it has those iron-on letters and they say, "welcome home, johnny."

I'm pissed the Paul Hornung outlives him.

Frame the shirt.

 

[ChrisLong]

I had dinner in a group with him the night before USC at Pitt in 1974. I was the Daily Trojan reporter. The regular beat guys treated me like one of the gang. It was the epic Anthony Davis vs. Tony Dorsett showdown with Heisman implications. Dorsett ripped off a 24-yard gain his first carry. Ended the game with 55 yards as the powerful Trojans defense shut him down. Davis also did nothing remarkable. Pat Haden got knocked out early. Nobody even knew who USC's backup quarterback was. It was Vince Evans, who came in and Pitt couldn't contain him. Trojans won, 16-7. People were surprised that Evans was black. Many thought John McKay would never have another black quarterback after all the crap he took sticking with Jimmy Jones a few years before. Another note: The Trojans had a defensive lineman named Otis Page, who was white.

Many years later, Tennessee came to Anaheim for the Freedom Bowl. All I remember was the postgame news conference with Majors. After 10 minutes, he left. I turned to where a lot of Tennessee writers were sitting and asked if they could interpret for me. I couldn't understand a word he said.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Bringing back memories of the 80s SEC. not exactly a golden era for the league in terms of national titles or anything, but I enjoyed it.

Although in 1980 or 1981, weren’t both Bo and Herschel in the league at the same time?

 

[TigerVols]

Frame the shirt.

Excellent idea. I'm going to do just that!

 

[TigerVols]

Many years later, Tennessee came to Anaheim for the Freedom Bowl. All I remember was the postgame news conference with Majors. After 10 minutes, he left. I turned to where a lot of Tennessee writers were sitting and asked if they could interpret for me. I couldn't understand a word he said.

...great anecdote! My cousin (with whom I share a name) played for Johnny and the Vols in that game.

 

[BTExpress]

Pitt couldn't contain him. Trojans won, 16-7.

I know it was a different era, but 16 points seems like decent containing.

Although in 1980 or 1981, weren’t both Bo and Herschel in the league at the same time?

Bo's first year was 1982. Herschel's last year was 1982.

 

[exmediahack]

Johnny Majors was like George Perles and **** Tomey. Coaches who looked like they were 68 years old on the sidelines... and they were in their 50s.

 

[OscarMadison]

Many years later, Tennessee came to Anaheim for the Freedom Bowl. All I remember was the postgame news conference with Majors. After 10 minutes, he left. I turned to where a lot of Tennessee writers were sitting and asked if they could interpret for me. I couldn't understand a word he said.

SEC coaches, Matthew McConaughey, and airline pilots speak the same language. I have no idea what it is.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Majors is a big reason there are scholarship limitations now.

 

[BTExpress]

My cousin (with whom I share a name) played for Johnny and the Vols in that game.

JimBob TigerVols?

That game must have been played in an alternate universe. Tennessee hasn't played in a California bowl game since 1945.

 

[Neutral Corner]

All I remember was the postgame news conference with Majors. After 10 minutes, he left. I turned to where a lot of Tennessee writers were sitting and asked if they could interpret for me. I couldn't understand a word he said.

Did you ever have any dealings with Neal Callaway while he was OL coach under Helton? Former UAB HC and an SEC caliber OL coach, he has the worst case of mush mouth combined with the Bear Bryant mumble that I've ever heard. I'm 64, lived in the South all my life, and it was all I could do to understand half of what he said. I laughed at the idea of him dealing with urban black recruits from the West coast. "What did he just say?".