Grant Teaff

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Grant Garland Teaff

Born November 12, 1933 (1933-11-12) (age 74)
Place of birth Flag of Texas Hermleigh, TX
Career highlights
Overall 128–105–6
Bowls 4–4
Coaching stats
College Football DataWarehouse
Awards
1974 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award
2006 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
Playing career
1953-1954
1955
San Angelo JC
McMurry
Position LB
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1956
1957-1959
1960-1965
1966-1968
1969-1971
1972-1992
Lubbock HS (assistant)
McMurry (assistant)
McMurry
Texas Tech (assistant)
Angelo State
Baylor

Grant Garland Teaff (born November 12, 1933 in Hermleigh, Texas) is a retired American Football coach, most well-known for his time as the greatest coach Baylor University in Waco, Texas ever had. In 2001, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Teaff's name has a silent "e", and is pronounced "taff".

Contents

[edit] Early career

Teaff played high school ball at Snyder High School and collegiately at San Angelo Junior College (now Angelo State University), and McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. When McMurry head coach Wilford Moore went on to coach Lubbock High School in 1956, Teaff became his assistant. He than moved on to be an assistant at McMurry from 1957-59.

Teaff began his head coaching career at McMurry in 1960, serving there until 1965. Among his players were later Pittsburgh Steelers split end Dick Compton and later San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Ernie Park. After a stint as an assistant coach to J. T. King at Texas Tech, Teaff became the head coach at Angelo State University from 1969-1971.

[edit] Baylor

In 1972, Teaff was hired to resurrect the moribund football team at Baylor University. Baylor originally hired Rudy Feldman from New Mexico, but Feldman quit after one day, leaving the job to Teaff. Baylor had been 7-43-1 in the five seasons preceding Teaff's arrival. Teaff quickly built Baylor into a competitive team and in 1974 Baylor won eight games and captured the Southwest Conference Championship (SWC) for the first time since 1924, and in the process defeated the University of Texas 34-24 (rallying from a 24-7 halftime deficit). It was Baylor's first victory over the Texas Longhorns in 17 years. The 1974 season and the win over Texas are commonly referred to as the “Miracle on the Brazos” (after the Brazos River, near the Baylor campus) and it remains part of Baylor lore.

Teaff remained Baylor's coach until 1992, compiling a winning record and winning the SWC title again in 1980. His teams won the 1979 Peach Bowl, the 1985 Liberty Bowl, the 1986 Bluebonnet Bowl, and the 1992 John Hancock Bowl (better known as the Sun Bowl, his final game as coach). His teams also earned invites to the 1975 and 1981 Cotton Bowls, as well as the 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl and the 1991 Copper Bowl. Teaff's Baylor teams were known for their success against the University of Texas, finishing with a record 10-11 against the Longhorns. For perspective, in the 15 seasons preceding Teaff's arrival and the 15 years following Teaff's departure, Baylor has a 1-29 record against Texas.

Prior to a 38-14 upset win over Texas in 1978, Teaff gained notoriety by eating a live worm in the locker room prior to the game, after telling his players he would “keep the worms warm.”[1]

After retiring from coaching, Teaff in 1993 became executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, an organization (headquartered in Waco) that represents coaches across the nation and is often consulted by the NCAA and the media regarding rule changes and developments that take place in college football.

Teaff's wife Donell (the former Jane Donnell Philips) is a member of the Baylor University Board of Regents.

[edit] Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl Coaches# AP°
Baylor Bears (Southwest Conference) (1972 – 1992)
1972 Baylor 5–6
1973 Baylor 2–9
1974 Baylor 8–4 L Cotton 14 14
1975 Baylor 3–6–2
1976 Baylor 7–3–1
1977 Baylor 5–6
1978 Baylor 3–8
1979 Baylor 8–4 W Peach
1980 Baylor 10–2 L Cotton 15 14
1981 Baylor 5–6
1982 Baylor 4–6–1
1983 Baylor 7–4–1 L Bluebonnet
1984 Baylor 5–6
1985 Baylor 9–3 W Liberty 15 17
1986 Baylor 9–3 W Bluebonnet
1987 Baylor 6–5
1988 Baylor 6–5
1989 Baylor 5–6
1990 Baylor 6–4–1
1991 Baylor 8–4 L Copper
1992 Baylor 7–5 W John Hancock
Baylor: 128–105–6
Total: 34–28
      National Championship         Conference Title         Conference Division Title
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season.
°Rankings from final AP Poll of the season.

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mark Schlabach, Richt's motivational gamble pays off for Georgia, ESPN.com, October 29, 2007.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Bill Beall
Baylor Head Football Coach
19721992
Succeeded by
Chuck Reedy