Johnny Majors, Sparky Woods, and orange helmets

[Creek Walker]

Johnny Majors proposed orange helmets as soon as he arrived in Knoxville as head coach in 1977. A young grad assistant on his staff, Sparky Woods, spoke out against them. "Well," Majors said, "your ass don't matter anyway." It turned out that the Vols didn't wear the orange helmets in 1977 or any other season under Majors. But Majors fired Woods, and he wound up on a trajectory that led him to Appalachian State and then South Carolina. And in Columbia, 30 years ago, he and Steve Taneyhill beat Tennessee. Majors was fired less than a week later. "I couldn't help thinking years later that I guess I did matter when they brought him in and did to him what happens to us all eventually," Woods said.

Irony.

http://ihsports.net/thirty-years-ago-sparky-woods-gamecocks-prompted-a-coaching-change-at-tennessee/

[Tnphil]

Interesting....

I was at Majors last game at the Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis and Fulmers first official game as HC in Tampa....Lots and lots of water over and under the bridge since those days.

[BanditVol]

Very interesting....Majors treatment of Sparky is on par with everything I have ever heard about him. I was in school from 1985 to 1990 and word on the street was that Majors typically didn't get along with his assistants and had run off a bunch over the years, not always by firing, but some just got the hell out of dodge because they couldn't stand him.  That was just a rumor though it was widely disseminated.

Then in 1992, when Majors was fired, Joe Johnson happened to attend church with my father and they were both in church leadership.  Joe told my dad that a big reason Majors was fired was "relationships".  Apparently he had issues getting along with the University (those were public at the time), his assistant coaches and often even with players.  We all know he went after the "legions of the miserable" boosters on at least one occasion also (that one might be okay though  ).

Anyway, overall the picture is of someone who was arrogant and felt entitled until Dr. Johnson and Doug Dickey gave him the boot.  To me, his actions in 1992 just proved it.  He came back in what looked to this observer like a fit of jealously and just shizzle all over what had been a wonderful season. After that, he needed to go.

He was the coach when I moved to Knoxville in 1982 and all through my college career and I do respect him as a decent (though not great) coach who had some brilliant victories but also underachieved at times.  But it was time for him to go!

OTOH, my brother in law's step father played with Larry Majors at Sewannee and knows the Majors family through his step father,  so my BIL has always been a Johnny's Boy who never respected Fulmer.  Which is too bad.  Whatever his ultimate flaws, Fulmer did get us to the top. I'm not sure Johnny ever would have.

[murfvol]

This is quite interesting. Frank Broyles had a ton of guys work for him because a) he made some great hires, and b) apparently he wasn't fun to work for.

One of those hires was Majors, who was also good at finding talented assistants, but may have had similar traits. To be clear my brief interactions with Majors and Broyles were extremely positive, but both clearly had revolving doors.

On another note, it sounds like Bandit has a Laurel connection. I'm a huge Joe Johnson fan.

[BanditVol]

This is quite interesting. Frank Broyles had a ton of guys work for him because a) he made some great hires, and b) apparently he wasn't fun to work for.

One of those hires was Majors, who was also good at finding talented assistants, but may have had similar traits. To be clear my brief interactions with Majors and Broyles were extremely positive, but both clearly had revolving doors.

On another note, it sounds like Bandit has a Laurel connection. I'm a huge Joe Johnson fan.

Yes, my parents attended Laurel for many years, as did I in HS and college.  They switched to Murville about 15 years ago or so to follow my sister who switched. 

Joe Johnson loved UT, came up through the ranks, and was one of the best Presidents ever IMO.  Just  a good guy all around.

[PirateVOL]

Yes, my parents attended Laurel for many years, as did I in HS and college.  They switched to Murville about 15 years ago or so to follow my sister who switched. 

Joe Johnson loved UT, came up through the ranks, and was one of the best Presidents ever IMO.  Just  a good guy all around.

Concur on Joe Johnson

[10EC]

Concur on Joe Johnson

Seriously great President.  Unlike Lamar.

[BanditVol]

Seriously great President.  Unlike Lamar.

I wasn't going to go there, but had the exact same thought.   

[murfvol]

Yes, my parents attended Laurel for many years, as did I in HS and college.  They switched to Murville about 15 years ago or so to follow my sister who switched. 

Joe Johnson loved UT, came up through the ranks, and was one of the best Presidents ever IMO.  Just  a good guy all around.

In that case there's a high probability we met at some point. I attended there from birth in 1974 until 1990 when we moved to Murfreesboro. I went to Heritage High School outside Murville.

[BanditVol]

In that case there's a high probability we met at some point. I attended there from birth in 1974 until 1990 when we moved to Murfreesboro. I went to Heritage High School outside Murville.

No way!  That's pretty cool. I was born in 1966, attended Laurel from 1982 to 1990. So you left the same time i did but we are 8 years apart. 

Let's see...I graduated from Doyle HS in 1985, at which time you would have been 11. I mostly interacted with other teanagers, but likely I know who your family is at least.

My father became an elder in 1990 in fact, right as I was graduating from UT.