William Travis "Bully" Van de Graaff (October 25, 1895 – April 26, 1977) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He attended Tuscaloosa High School.[1] He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was selected as an All-American in 1915, Alabama's first. He was 6'1" 187 pounds. "Bully" was placed on an Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869-1919 era.[2] Van de Graaff served as the head football coach at Colorado College from 1926 to 1939, compiling a record of 49–54–6.[3] He coached hall of famer Dutch Clark. He died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 26, 1977, at the age of 81.[4] He was the older brother of physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff, the designer of the Van de Graaff generator which produces high voltages. Bully's two older brothers, Hargrove and Adrian, were also Alabama football players.
 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 25, 1895 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 1977 (aged 81) Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1913–1915 | Alabama |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1921–1925 | Alabama (assistant) |
| 1926–1939 | Colorado College |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 49–54–6 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado College Tigers (Rocky Mountain Conference) (1926–1939) | |||||||||
| 1926 | Colorado College | 5–2 | 5–2 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1927 | Colorado College | 6–2 | 5–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1928 | Colorado College | 5–3 | 5–3 | 5th | |||||
| 1929 | Colorado College | 4–3 | 4–3 | 7th | |||||
| 1930 | Colorado College | 2–4–2 | 2–4–2 | 9th | |||||
| 1931 | Colorado College | 4–4 | 4–3 | 6th | |||||
| 1932 | Colorado College | 5–2 | 5–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1933 | Colorado College | 2–5–1 | 2–4–1 | 8th | |||||
| 1934 | Colorado College | 1–7 | 1–6 | T–9th | |||||
| 1935 | Colorado College | 4–3–1 | 4–2–1 | T–5th | |||||
| 1936 | Colorado College | 3–4–1 | 3–4 | 8th | |||||
| 1937 | Colorado College | 5–4 | 3–3 | 6th | |||||
| 1938 | Colorado College | 1–6 | 1–1 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1939 | Colorado College | 2–5–1 | 0–3 | 5th | |||||
| Colorado College: | 49–54–6 | 44–42–4 | |||||||
| Total: | 49–54–6 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "THS Claimed 1926 National Grid Title". The Tuscaloosa News. April 25, 1969.
- ^ "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
- ^ "Colorado College Football History". Colorado College Athletics. April 18, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ "W.T. Van de Graaf". The Tuscaloosa News. April 28, 1977. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
