What's going on Dr. H? Even though I was just a kid, I used to keep up with TSUs program back in the day. I always wondered what would have happened if Joe Gilliam was allowed to take over after John Merrit. Any thoughts about this?
Bulldog
As they say down home "Ain't nothing Shaking, but the leaves on the tree" I talked with Pat about a month ago.
Scratching, my head, that’s a loaded question. A majority of the TSU’ers wanted Coach Gilliam [Tic], to take over after Coach Merritt. When BT was announced as he HC, the TSU Family was sick and that was the beginning of the downfall or TSU Football.
If, Gilliam, had become head coach, I think we would be much further advance in football than any HBCU and most PWC. Yes, we would be able to compete and defeat the YSU, Montana, Richmond’s and others.
The players loved playing for him, but he did not accept excuses for missing classes and assignments on the field, he was an old school disciplinarian and the “New Athlete” could not understand or accept his type of discipline. Joe was tough and hard on his classroom students and players, but had a heart of gold.
There were four or five students had to leave TN State, because Joe demanded the best from them, Robert P, transferred to SCSU. If my memory serves me correctly one of the others was the son of Jim Marsalis. Jim, was a TSU graduate, played with the Chiefs.
Joe, was not given a fair chance, by some of the parents and Hefner. Some of the girls would call their parents complaining about Coach Joe., if you are late for practice you rolled the field and ran the hill. You miss class, extra study hall, then you rolled the fill and ran the hill. There was no practice without pads.
When the complaining started Joe knew his days were numbered, then we have Bill Davis, OMG what a Joke.
I recall, Hefner calling Joe and saying, some of the players has been complaining - He's to hard on us.
Check this out:
Joe Gilliam, Sr. is one of the most respected coaches in the history of the game. He began his intercollegiate football career at Indiana University, where he played on the Hoosiers' national championship football team. He then went into the armed services, and upon his discharge, enrolled at West Virginia State College, where he played both basketball and football. At West Virginia State College, he received All-American honors as a quarterback and earned a place in the Yellow Jackets' Sports Hall of Fame. Coach Gilliam began his 35-year coaching career on the high school level in Kentucky, where he earned the Kentucky High School Football Association's Coach of the Year title.
Here is what the youngsters don’t understand, Coach Joe, has written four books on football two on D and two on O and countless articles. Folks, don’t believe it but the “Shotgun and Run and Gun” was from the mindset of Joe. Cooley, took it to MSVS with Jerry Rice. Remember, Grambling was running the Wing T and TSU was running the "Run and Gun" and Shotgun, this was backin the late 60's until BIG JOHN retired.
Side Note: Coach McClendon, started the four cornes at TSU, Dean Smith copied and received all the propm and circumstance. If my memory serves me correctly, Coach Mc, started the four cornes at Winston - Salem (I think).
It was not until after his retirement he wrote these books
• Coaching the Empty Backfield Offense provides a detailed look at an innovative offensive scheme of attack that can be employed effectively against all types of defenses.
• The kicking game can turn games around and outright win games for coaches who put its importance alongside game control, outstanding defensive play, and offensive execution.
• This innovative new reference covers defensive philosophy, tackling, down linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, red zone defense, and also offers detailed information on how to design effective running and weight training programs.
• The second edition of this best-selling work by Coach Joe Gilliam, Sr. offers step-by-step instructions on how to develop and execute a multiple formations offense.
Side note: Guess who is reading his books, sure isn’t HBCU Coaches. Guess, where Boots Donally and yes ole UT Phil would spend their time during the off season, with Coach Merritt and his Staff.
If you want to learn football
https://coacheschoice.com/m-182-joe-w-gilliam-sr.aspx
Joe in an interviews with Dr. Haney, listen to the wisdom. There are two or four "segments" on YouTube
#1
[video=youtube;9uBeX221fq4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uBeX221fq4[/video]
#2 "Work Ethic"
[video=youtube;7QwXelvxmpw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QwXelvxmpw&feature=relmfu[/video]
