Stoneludlow
09-19-2007, 02:25 PM
Buster Ramsey, first head coach of the Buffalo Bills, dies of pneumonia
First coach of Bills was old-school guy
<!-- Begin /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_byline_and_copyright_or_creditline.comp -->By Milt NorthropNEWS SPORTS REPORTER <!-- Begin /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_copyright_with_dash.comp --><!-- Begin /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_creditline_with_dash.comp --><!-- End /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_creditline_with_dash.comp --><!-- End /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_copyright_with_dash.comp --><!-- End /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_byline_and_copyright_or_creditline.comp -->
Updated: 09/19/07 11:35 AM
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<DL id=story-pic><DD class=story-pic-byline><DD class=story-pic-caption>Buster Ramsey had an 11-16-1 record in two seasons as Bills coach. <!--dd class="story-pic-bigger">Click to view a larger picture (http://media.buffalonews.com/smedia/2007/09/19/07/454-bn-20070919-D001-busterramseydea-200213-MI0001.standalone.prod_affiliate.50.jpg)</dd--></DD></DL>
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<!-- End /PubSys/Story/MediaBox/MediaBox.comp --><!--endclickprintexclude-->Garrard “Buster” Ramsey, the bombastic, sometimes profane and always colorful first head coach of the Buffalo Bills, died Sunday in Signal Mountain, Tenn., his family announced Tuesday.
Ramsey, 87, died of pneumonia in a Chattanooga-area retirement center.
Ramsey was a successful defensive assistant coach with the Detroit Lions when Ralph Wilson brought him to the Bills in 1960. The Bills needed a trainer, and Ramsey remembered a young man at the University of Detroit who worked at the Lions’ training camp each summer. He hired Ed Abramoski, who stayed 36 seasons.
“Buster was a unique character, but above all else he was a good guy,” Abramoski remembered Tuesday.
Ramsey had an 11-16-1 record in two seasons as Bills coach. He was on his way out when the 1961 season ended with a loss at San Diego. Lou Saban already had signed on as player personnel director and soon would become coach.
“Buster made his reputation as a defensive coach with the Lions with Hall of Fame players such as Joe Schmidt, Yale Lary and Jack Christiansen, but he really wasn’t cut out to be a head coach,” said Larry Felser, retired sports editor of The Buffalo News, who covered the Ramsey years for the Courier-Express.
As a coach, Ramsey was old school and rough-hewn. He liked his whiskey — the team doctor kept a supply in his medicine bag along with a couple of hundred dollar bills for liars’ poker games Buster liked to play on flights to and from games.
In training camp, Ramsey would line up his players and dare them to try to block or tackle him.
He was born in Walland, Tenn., and grew up in Knoxville. Ramsey was a guard at William & Mary, which at the time was a Southern Conference power. He made firstteam AP All-America in 1942 and was all-conference three times.
After serving in the Navy, Ramsey joined the Chicago Cardinals in 1946. In 1947, the Cardinals won their first and only NFL championship.
Ramsey is survived by his two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren. Graveside services will be Saturday in Maryville, Tenn.
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Now I wonder if there will be either a patch on the team jersey or a sticker on the helmet to honor this coach.
Sure his record wasn't great but he still part of the history of the Bills and the old AFL.
First coach of Bills was old-school guy
<!-- Begin /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_byline_and_copyright_or_creditline.comp -->By Milt NorthropNEWS SPORTS REPORTER <!-- Begin /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_copyright_with_dash.comp --><!-- Begin /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_creditline_with_dash.comp --><!-- End /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_creditline_with_dash.comp --><!-- End /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_copyright_with_dash.comp --><!-- End /PubSys/Common/Decisions/if_byline_and_copyright_or_creditline.comp -->
Updated: 09/19/07 11:35 AM
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<DL id=story-pic><DD class=story-pic-byline><DD class=story-pic-caption>Buster Ramsey had an 11-16-1 record in two seasons as Bills coach. <!--dd class="story-pic-bigger">Click to view a larger picture (http://media.buffalonews.com/smedia/2007/09/19/07/454-bn-20070919-D001-busterramseydea-200213-MI0001.standalone.prod_affiliate.50.jpg)</dd--></DD></DL>
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<!-- End /PubSys/Story/MediaBox/MediaBox.comp --><!--endclickprintexclude-->Garrard “Buster” Ramsey, the bombastic, sometimes profane and always colorful first head coach of the Buffalo Bills, died Sunday in Signal Mountain, Tenn., his family announced Tuesday.
Ramsey, 87, died of pneumonia in a Chattanooga-area retirement center.
Ramsey was a successful defensive assistant coach with the Detroit Lions when Ralph Wilson brought him to the Bills in 1960. The Bills needed a trainer, and Ramsey remembered a young man at the University of Detroit who worked at the Lions’ training camp each summer. He hired Ed Abramoski, who stayed 36 seasons.
“Buster was a unique character, but above all else he was a good guy,” Abramoski remembered Tuesday.
Ramsey had an 11-16-1 record in two seasons as Bills coach. He was on his way out when the 1961 season ended with a loss at San Diego. Lou Saban already had signed on as player personnel director and soon would become coach.
“Buster made his reputation as a defensive coach with the Lions with Hall of Fame players such as Joe Schmidt, Yale Lary and Jack Christiansen, but he really wasn’t cut out to be a head coach,” said Larry Felser, retired sports editor of The Buffalo News, who covered the Ramsey years for the Courier-Express.
As a coach, Ramsey was old school and rough-hewn. He liked his whiskey — the team doctor kept a supply in his medicine bag along with a couple of hundred dollar bills for liars’ poker games Buster liked to play on flights to and from games.
In training camp, Ramsey would line up his players and dare them to try to block or tackle him.
He was born in Walland, Tenn., and grew up in Knoxville. Ramsey was a guard at William & Mary, which at the time was a Southern Conference power. He made firstteam AP All-America in 1942 and was all-conference three times.
After serving in the Navy, Ramsey joined the Chicago Cardinals in 1946. In 1947, the Cardinals won their first and only NFL championship.
Ramsey is survived by his two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren. Graveside services will be Saturday in Maryville, Tenn.
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Now I wonder if there will be either a patch on the team jersey or a sticker on the helmet to honor this coach.
Sure his record wasn't great but he still part of the history of the Bills and the old AFL.