William T. Van de Graaff | |
Birth Date: | 25 October 1895 |
Birth Place: | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
Death Place: | Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
Player Years1: | 1913–1915 |
Player Team1: | Alabama |
Player Positions: | Tackle |
Coach Years1: | 1921–1925 |
Coach Team1: | Alabama (assistant) |
Coach Years2: | 1926–1939 |
Coach Team2: | Colorado College |
Overall Record: | 49–54–6 |
Awards: |
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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.