Posted on 10/18/2013 9:12:00 PM PDT by Dysart
Bum Phillips, who helped turn the Houston Oilers into a playoff team in the mid-1970s and was a beloved figure in the state of Texas, died Friday at the age of 90, according to his son.
Wrote Wade Phillips, the Texans defensive coordinator, late Friday night:
After coaching high school for many years, Phillips spent a number of seasons coaching in college, including apprenticing under Bear Bryant at Texas A&M before moving on to SMU and Oklahoma State.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbssports.com ...
He was an American.
“On the first day of Christmas, Bud Adams gave to me, a Bum Phillips’ Super Bowl Team.
On the 2nd day of Christmas, Bud Adams gave to me, Snake throwing passes, on a Bum Phillips’ Super Bowl Team...”
There haven't been too many characters in the history of sports like this guy. A few things stand out from his career as an NFL coach:
1. The Stetson (of course).
2. The absent Stetson in the Astrodome ("My momma taught me never to wear a hat indoors").
3. Bringing an ice cream truck onto the field during sweltering hot days in training camp.
4. "Run the Bumerooski!"
5. "Every man block a man. Every good man block two!"
6. "There's two kinds of coaches: them that's fired and them that's gonna be fired."
7. "The Dallas Cowboys may be America's team, but the Houston Oilers are Texas' team."
8. Classic Earl Campbell Quote #1 (in response to a reporter's question about Campbell's difficulty completing a one-mile run during training camp): "When it's first and a mile, I won't give it to him."
9. Classic Earl Campbell Quote #2: "I don't know if he's in a class by himself, but I do know that when that class gets together it sure don't take long to call the roll."
Ah, that’s a shame. A real character back when Texas’s other NFL coach seemingly wore the same suit, tie, hat and expression for the better part of three decades. A real pity he never got to kick that door down.
RIP
He was one of the reasons I love Texas. Never gave up even in the 1977-9 seasons..
P.S. to Bud Adams: Bite me!
You do know they stole that song from the Miami Dolphins.
I was an Oiler’s fan at the time, only because Pastorini sounded like “pastrami”, and I loved pastrami as a kid. But as a skins fan, I loved the contrast between him and the coach of the other team in Texas, whatever it was, and really appreciated Phillips’ style.
Well said.
So I’ve heard, but I could never figure out why the Miami Dolphins would want to sing a song praising the Houston Oilers. :)
The hat would probably be outlawed by the NFL suits today. Tonight the hat hangs on a hook in a BBQ shack in Heaven.
RIP Bum.
That would be a 15 yard penalty and ejection today.
As a young kid I remember, during an Oilers game, a TV announcer saying that Bum Philips never wore a hat indoors (ie. the Astrodome) out of respect for the Almighty
I grew up in NY so wasn’t an Oilers fan, but even as young kid I found it classy, and memorable.
Both were great Christian men....It takes all kinds.
Bum Phillips’ home was about a half a mile from where I lived when I was growing up, just across the highway from the Country Store in Dewalt, TX. So much has changed out there. Tempus fugit. Rest in peace, Mr. Phillips.
Was x-raying pipe there at about that time. I’ll always remember Bum for the story about him teaching Earl Campbell how to read and write. A truly great sportsman.
I saw Earl Campbell and the Oilers play the Rams on Sept 24, 1978. The Rams won 10-6.
That's running Larry Csonka style. His line didn't block for him. They got out of his way. And he does have an unnecessary roughness penalty to his credit.
"He can take his'n and beat your'n and take your'n and beat his'n."
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