Walt Bragg, an offensive and defensive lineman who helped the Hurricanes win the state title in 1969 before playing his collegiate career for legendary coach Bobby Bowden at West Virginia University
Walt Bragg, an offensive and defensive lineman who helped the Hurricanes win the state title in 1969 before playing his collegiate career for legendary coach Bobby Bowden at West Virginia University
A key player in Morristown East’s run to the first ever TSSAA Class AAA football state championship and an 11-year veteran on the sidelines as a head coach of the Hurricanes will be the featured speaker for the East football’s program’s annual Kickoff Banquet.
Walt Bragg, an offensive and defensive lineman who helped the Hurricanes win the state title in 1969 before playing his collegiate career for legendary coach Bobby Bowden at West Virginia University, will speak to the team’s players, coaches, cheerleaders, parents and boosters inside the East High School cafeteria on Monday, Aug. 12, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Bragg will be one of several members of the 1969 state championship team in attendance, as the Morristown East Football Boosters are looking to make this season a special one to remember by honoring the 50th anniversary of the state title run. The Hurricanes defeated Memphis Southside 15-12 in the title game.
“Tradition runs deep at East High School,” East Football Booster Club President Clint Harrison said. “No one embodies that tradition more than Coach Walt Bragg. As a player on the 1969 state championship team and a former East High head football coach, we’re honored to have him speak at our Kickoff Banquet. Coach Bragg’s message of perseverance, teamwork and tradition is sure to inspire our players and coaches.”
Bragg was the head coach of the Hurricanes from 1990 until 2000, where he amassed a 57-61 overall record. He was 34-30 inside Burke-Toney Stadium, and his best year was in 1997 when he took East to the second round of the TSSAA Playoffs and an 8-4 mark. Bragg, who was an assistant coach at East Tennessee State University from 1981-86, guided the ‘Canes to the TSSAA Playoffs seven times in his head coaching tenure at East.
To this day, Bragg is the only head coach at Morristown East to have a winning record against Morristown West, compiling a 6-5 record against the Trojans. Carlis Altizer is the only other East coach to have at least a .500 record in the City Championship, posting a 6-6 mark.
During his playing career at East, Bragg was named to the All-Big Seven Team twice, an All-East Tennessee Team and All-Upper East Tennessee member and Upper East Tennessee Lineman of the Year as a senior as well as All-State that season. He lettered three years and earned a starting spot while at West Virginia.
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