William T. Van de Graaff

Who was William T. Van de Graaff?

William Travis "Bully" Van de Graaff was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was selected as an All-American in 1915, Alabama's first. "Bully" was placed on an Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869-1919 era. Van de Graaff served as the head football coach at Colorado College from 1926 to 1939, compiling a record of 49–47–6. He died in Colorado Springs, Colorado on April 26, 1977 at the age of 81. 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.