Grant Teaff
Encyclopedia
Grant Garland Teaff is a former American football
player and coach. He served as the head coach at McMurry University
(1960–1965), Angelo State University
(1969–1971), and Baylor University
(1972–1992), compiling a career college football
record of 170–151–8. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 2001.
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 then moved on to be an assistant at McMurry from 1957 to 1959.
Teaff began his head coaching career at McMurry in 1960, serving there until 1965. Among his players were future Pittsburgh Steelers
split end Dick Compton and future 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 to 1971.
. Baylor originally hired Rudy Feldman
from the University of New Mexico
, but Feldman quit after one day, leaving the job to Teaff. The Baylor football
team 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 title for the first time since 1924. In the process they defeated the Texas Longhorns
, 34–24, after rallying from a 24–7 halftime deficit. It was Baylor's first victory over Texas in 17 years. The 1974 season and the win over Texas are commonly referred to as the "Miracle on the Brazos," named after the Brazos River
near the Baylor campus.
Teaff remained Baylor's coach until 1992, compiling a winning record and winning the Southwest Conference 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
, his final game as coach. Teaff remains the last Baylor coach to win a bowl game. His teams also earned invitations to the 1975 and 1981 Cotton Bowl Classics, the 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl, and the 1991 Copper Bowl
. His Baylor teams finishing with a record 10–11 against the Longhorns. By comparison, in the 15 seasons preceding Teaff's arrival and the 15 years following Teaff's departure, Baylor had a 1–29 record against Texas.
Teaff gained notoriety by eating a live worm in the locker room prior to a 38–14 upset win over Texas in 1978, telling his players he would "keep the worms warm."
, an organization headquartered in Waco, Texas
that represents coaches across the United States
and is often consulted by the NCAA
and the media regarding rule changes and developments that take place in college football.
Teaff's wife, the former Jane Donnell Philips, is a member of the Baylor University Board of Regents.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head coach at McMurry University
McMurry University
McMurry University, founded in 1923, is a private co-educational university in Abilene, Texas. It is a liberal arts school offering forty-one majors in the fields of fine arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, education, business, and religion, and nine pre-professional programs, including...
(1960–1965), Angelo State University
Angelo State University
Angelo State University is a public, coeducational, doctoral level degree-granting university located in San Angelo, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1928 as San Angelo College. It gained University status and awarded its first baccalaureate degrees in 1967 and graduate degrees in 1969, the...
(1969–1971), and Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
(1972–1992), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 170–151–8. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 2001.
Early career
Teaff played high school football at Snyder High School in Snyder, TexasSnyder, Texas
Snyder is a city in and the county seat of Scurry County, Texas, United States. The population was 10,653 at the 2010 census. It is located on Deep Creek, a minor tributary of the Colorado River of Texas. Snyder is approximately 150 km southeast of Lubbock.Located in Snyder is the Scurry County...
and collegiately at San Angelo Junior College (now Angelo State University
Angelo State University
Angelo State University is a public, coeducational, doctoral level degree-granting university located in San Angelo, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1928 as San Angelo College. It gained University status and awarded its first baccalaureate degrees in 1967 and graduate degrees in 1969, the...
), and McMurry University
McMurry University
McMurry University, founded in 1923, is a private co-educational university in Abilene, Texas. It is a liberal arts school offering forty-one majors in the fields of fine arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, education, business, and religion, and nine pre-professional programs, including...
in Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
. When McMurry head coach Wilford Moore
Wilford Moore
Wilford H. Moore is a former American football coach. He is the highest winning coach in McMurry Indians football history and has the McMurry football stadium named in his honor....
went on to coach Lubbock High School
Lubbock High School
Lubbock High School is a 5A high school serving grades nine to twelve in Lubbock, Texas . Part of the Lubbock Independent School District, the school is known for its academic program and for the fact that it has produced a number of talented musicians, vocalists, businessmen, and scientists over...
in 1956, Teaff became his assistant. He then moved on to be an assistant at McMurry from 1957 to 1959.
Teaff began his head coaching career at McMurry in 1960, serving there until 1965. Among his players were future Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
split end Dick Compton and future San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
offensive lineman Ernie Park
Ernie Park
Ernest Carol Park was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for one seasons for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals.-References:...
. After a stint as an assistant coach to J. T. King
J. T. King
J. T. King was an American football coach. He was the head football coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 1961 to 1969. He amassed a 44–45–3 record....
at Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Teaff became the head coach at Angelo State University from 1969 to 1971.
Baylor
In 1972, Teaff was hired to resurrect the moribund football team at Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. Baylor originally hired Rudy Feldman
Rudy Feldman
-External links:...
from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, but Feldman quit after one day, leaving the job to Teaff. The Baylor football
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
team 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 title for the first time since 1924. In the process they defeated the Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
, 34–24, after rallying from a 24–7 halftime deficit. It was Baylor's first victory over Texas in 17 years. The 1974 season and the win over Texas are commonly referred to as the "Miracle on the Brazos," named after the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
near the Baylor campus.
Teaff remained Baylor's coach until 1992, compiling a winning record and winning the Southwest Conference title again in 1980. His teams won the 1979 Peach Bowl, the 1985 Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
, the 1986 Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
, and the 1992 John Hancock Bowl
1992 John Hancock Bowl
The 1992 John Hancock Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas between the and the on December 31, 1992. The game was the final contest of the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 20–15 victory for Baylor...
, his final game as coach. Teaff remains the last Baylor coach to win a bowl game. His teams also earned invitations to the 1975 and 1981 Cotton Bowl Classics, the 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl, and the 1991 Copper Bowl
1991 Copper Bowl
The 1991 edition to the Copper Bowl featured the Indiana Hoosiers and the .In the first quarter, Indiana quarterback Trent Green scored on a 1 yard touchdown run making it 7-0 Indiana. In the second quarter, Indiana got a 27 yard field goal from Bonnell making the lead 10-0. Vaughn Dunbar scored on...
. His Baylor teams finishing with a record 10–11 against the Longhorns. By comparison, in the 15 seasons preceding Teaff's arrival and the 15 years following Teaff's departure, Baylor had a 1–29 record against Texas.
Teaff gained notoriety by eating a live worm in the locker room prior to a 38–14 upset win over Texas in 1978, telling his players he would "keep the worms warm."
Later life and family
After retiring from coaching, Teaff in 1993 became executive director of the American Football Coaches AssociationAmerican Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, an organization headquartered in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
that represents coaches across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is often consulted by the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and the media regarding rule changes and developments that take place in college football.
Teaff's wife, the former Jane Donnell Philips, is a member of the Baylor University Board of Regents.