A Legend has passed

[horse]

Coach John Tucker has passed away. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

[BIGPURPLEMACHINE]

Coach John Tucker has passed away. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

 

 

I know that we have had our moments on these boards horse, probably will have more in the future.  But classy move.  Thanks!!!

[StevieRayVol]

Have several friends in Milan. Went to college and was a frat brother with one of coach Tucker's sons. Met him around 1983. Heard lots of "John W.Tucker" stories down through the years. Great coach. If he hadn't been thrown in with Brentwood Academy for so many years, there is no telling how many state titles he would have won. 

 

Coach Tucker had been sick for a few years. Great coach. There will never be another like him..

[BIGPURPLEMACHINE]

One of my favorite Tucker stories was a game in the late 80's versus McNairy.  We were undefeated and ranked #1 in the state and McNairy had a losing record.  Earnest Fields was the captain of this team..... his senior year.  McNairy played us close thru halftime.  Tucker was furious cause it shouldn't have even been a game.  During halftime.... he didn't even take the team into the fieldhouse.  There was a gravel area beside the fieldhouse at McNairy on the visitors side.  He chewed his team up and down for the lack of effort in the first half and then proceeded to have them run full contact drills in the gravel for the majority of halftime!!!  Definitely got the dawgs attention..... they blew McNairy out in the second half.  But that is the type of coach he was.  He demanded your best for every second of every play for every practice and game.  Anything less was unacceptable.  He teams demonstrated this!!!!

[KermitDeeFrog]

It is because of coaches like Paul Ward & John Tucker why while we may have a tough rivalry there is always a great respect between the 2 programs.  John Tucker was not just one of the best coaches in West TN he was one of the best high school coaches of all time.  Always made his team give 110%, but cared about them kids as well.  I have a friend that played for the Milan Bulldogs and he got injured so they took him to the hospital, well John Tucker came running in there saying hey you got my boy in there where is my boy at.  Lol they thought that John Tucker was the players dad.  A great man he was.  RIP Coach Tucker.  Prayers sent to your family loved ones and former players that looked to you like a role model.

[cofo]

One of my favorite Tucker stories was a game in the late 80's versus McNairy.  We were undefeated and ranked #1 in the state and McNairy had a losing record.  Earnest Fields was the captain of this team..... his senior year.  McNairy played us close thru halftime.  Tucker was furious cause it shouldn't have even been a game.  During halftime.... he didn't even take the team into the fieldhouse.  There was a gravel area beside the fieldhouse at McNairy on the visitors side.  He chewed his team up and down for the lack of effort in the first half and then proceeded to have them run full contact drills in the gravel for the majority of halftime!!!  Definitely got the dawgs attention..... they blew McNairy out in the second half.  But that is the type of coach he was.  He demanded your best for every second of every play for every practice and game.  Anything less was unacceptable.  He teams demonstrated this!!!!

great post Big Baby...my favorite Coach Tucker story is my senior year we were 10-0 hosting a 10-0 Memphis team...we had 2, 6' 2", 250 pound all state tackles named Headrick Shoaf and Bill Weems...the Memphis team bus pulled up to the fieldhouse a couple of hours before kickoff and there were a couple of skinny junior high kids swinging on the fieldhouse door....Coach T couldn't resist...as the Memphis players were getting off the bus, Coach Tucker came out and yelled at the jr. high players and said "Shoaf, Weems, get off that door...the Memphis players got a little cocky thinking those 2 players he yelled at were actually Milan's 2 all state tackles so they thought the game was a piece of cake...Milan won 32-6...and the Memphis team had only given up 30 points the entire season....classic Tucker...

[BIGPURPLEMACHINE]

great post Big Baby...my favorite Coach Tucker story is my senior year we were 10-0 hosting a 10-0 Memphis team...we had 2, 6' 2", 250 pound all state tackles named Headrick Shoaf and Bill Weems...the Memphis team bus pulled up to the fieldhouse a couple of hours before kickoff and there were a couple of skinny junior high kids swinging on the fieldhouse door....Coach T couldn't resist...as the Memphis players were getting off the bus, Coach Tucker came out and yelled at the jr. high players and said G"Shoaf, Weems, get off that door...the Memphis players got a little cocky thinking those 2 players he yelled at were actually Milan's 2 all state tackles so they thought the game was a piece of cake...Milan won 32-6...and the Memphis team had only given up 30 points the entire season....classic Tucker...

 

Good to hear from ya coach!!!  Shoot me an email. 

[rlh]

R.I.P.  I hope he is telling stories with Phil Beene and Don Grider. 

[RegisP90X]

RIP Coach.