William T. Van de Graaff

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.

William T. Van de Graaff

Biographical details
Born	(1895-10-25)October 25, 1895 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
Died	April 26, 1977(1977-04-26) (aged 81) Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Playing career
1913–1915	Alabama
Position(s)	Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1921–1925	Alabama (assistant)
1926–1939	Colorado College
Head coaching record
Overall	49–54–6
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Second-team All-American (1915) 2× All-Southern (1914, 1915) Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869-1919 era

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Colorado College Tigers (Rocky Mountain Conference) (1926–1939)
1926	Colorado College	5–2	5–2	T–3rd
1927	Colorado College	6–2	5–2	3rd
1928	Colorado College	5–3	5–3	5th
1929	Colorado College	4–3	4–3	7th
1930	Colorado College	2–4–2	2–4–2	9th
1931	Colorado College	4–4	4–3	6th
1932	Colorado College	5–2	5–2	3rd
1933	Colorado College	2–5–1	2–4–1	8th
1934	Colorado College	1–7	1–6	T–9th
1935	Colorado College	4–3–1	4–2–1	T–5th
1936	Colorado College	3–4–1	3–4	8th
1937	Colorado College	5–4	3–3	6th
1938	Colorado College	1–6	1–1	T–3rd
1939	Colorado College	2–5–1	0–3	5th
Colorado College:		49–54–6	44–42–4
Total:		49–54–6

References

1. "THS Claimed 1926 National Grid Title". The Tuscaloosa News. April 25, 1969.
2. "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
3. "Colorado College Football History". Colorado College Athletics. April 18, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
4. "W.T. Van de Graaf". The Tuscaloosa News. April 28, 1977. Retrieved July 11, 2011.

External links

• William T. Van de Graaff at Find a Grave