Larry Lacewell

[sunnyvol79]

Larry Lacewell, former Arkansas State head coach, SEC assistant, passes at 85. Always thought he was a very good DC while he was at UT coached some great talent here as well. RIP sir and prayers to his family.

 

[wmcovol]

He was a great DC. Great coach everywhere he was. God bless him.

 

[volsforever27]

He was a good DC on my opinion. Had a lot of talent here. I forgot he was the first to bring the 4-3 defense here. He was the first to do it in the SEC apparently.

RIP

 

[Volfan1000]

Larry Lacewell, former Arkansas State head coach, SEC assistant, passes at 85. Always thought he was a very good DC while he was at UT coached some great talent here as well. RIP sir and prayers to his family.

RIP and condolences to his family.

 

[butchna]

Brilliant football mind. Barry Switzer had an affair with his wife and he remained married to her...and friends with Barry. Not exactly a tribute but telling of how football guys ran different back in the day.

 

[sunnyvol79]

He was with the Cowboys when they had their super bowl run in the 90’s director of personnel I believe. A well respected and well liked guy.

 

[JohnWardForever]

RIP Coach Lacewell. You acquitted yourself very well....

 

[BowlBrother85]

Larry Lacewell spoke to the Knoxville Quarterback Club at Calhoun's on the River several years ago, and spent the whole hour talking about the Miracle at South Bend, and his halftime adjustments. You could tell that he took a lot of pride in that win. He pulled the defense out of the 4-3, and really flustered Lou Holtz with some alignments that Tennessee had never shown before.

Just something to think about :

If Lacewell had stayed at Tennessee for the 1992 season, it is very likely that he, instead of Fulmer, would have been named the interim head coach, following Majors' bypass surgery. That is because, unlike Fulmer, Lacewell had prior head coaching experience at Arkansas State... and Lacewell would have never taken the head job, forcing out Majors. They were too close. If Lacewell hadn't left for Dallas after the 1991 season, Majors would almost definitely have coached Tennessee through the end of the 90's.

RIP Coach Lacewell.

 

[Hacksaw]

We are indebted to him for some priceless memories. RIP and Go Vols!

 

[BowlBrother85]

Cy-onara: Assistant Coaches Climbing the Ranks After ISU

^^^^ Link to pictures of the 1968 Iowa State coaching staff, which included Head Coach Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill, Jimmy Johnson and Larry Lacewell. Not a bad young staff.

 

[OffTackleVol]

He was a good DC on my opinion. Had a lot of talent here. I forgot he was the first to bring the 4-3 defense here. He was the first to do it in the SEC apparently.

RIP

I think the first coach to bring the 4-3 to Tennessee was Doug Matthews during the '88 season. Majors fired Donahue and replaced him with Matthews, who switched our defense from a 5 man front to the 4-3.

 

[JohnWardForever]

I think the first coach to bring the 4-3 to Tennessee was Doug Matthews during the '88 season. Majors fired Donahue and replaced him with Matthews, who switched our defense from a 5 man front to the 4-3.

That had to be a very sad day for Johnny; He Loved Ken Donahue. Majors was coming off a bad season and Somebody had to be fired. And it was the Man who made Bear Bryant at Alabama.

 

[OffTackleVol]

That had to be a very sad day for Johnny; He Loved Ken Donahue. Majors was coming off a bad season and Somebody had to be fired. And it was the Man who made Bear Bryant at Alabama.

Yep, Donahue was a Neyland guy, UT grad and the architect of some great Bama defenses.

 

[butchna]

He was with the Cowboys when they had their super bowl run in the 90’s director of personnel I believe. A well respected and well liked guy.

Head of scouting until Jimmy left. He got grief for the he following lackluster drafts even tho Jerry was making the calls.

 

[tennrich1]

That had to be a very sad day for Johnny; He Loved Ken Donahue. Majors was coming off a bad season and Somebody had to be fired. And it was the Man who made Bear Bryant at Alabama.

Ken and Johnny had a sibling type relationship. If Ken said the sky was blue Johnny would argue it wasn’t actually blue and they were very competitive with each other. Their wives were close friends too. Ken technically resigned. I LOVED talking football with Ken while sitting on the couch watching the game after he retired. As far as Lacewell…the dumbest thing Memphis State ever did was NOT hiring Larry when he was at Arkansas State. He would have been as successful as a coach could possibly have been at Mem State.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Larry had a good game plan for Virginia in the Sugar Bowl; with even better adjustments at the half. As I recall, we were down 15-0...came back to win 16-15. Or some such...??? Been a long time ago.

 

[TOUCHDOWN!!TN]

RIP, coach

 

[sunnyvol79]

Larry had a good game plan for Virginia in the Sugar Bowl; with even better adjustments at the half. As I recall, we were down 15-0...came back to win 16-15. Or some such...??? Been a long time ago.

Yea I he did that was a great comeback we trailed 16-0 and looked dead in the water only to come back to win 23-22 on a last minute TD drive with a Tony Thompson TD run. Hard to believe that was our last appearance in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Ken and Johnny had a sibling type relationship. If Ken said the sky was blue Johnny would argue it wasn’t actually blue and they were very competitive with each other. Their wives were close friends too. Ken technically resigned. I LOVED talking football with Ken while sitting on the couch watching the game after he retired. As far as Lacewell…the dumbest thing Memphis State ever did was NOT hiring Larry when he was at Arkansas State. He would have been as successful as a coach could possibly have been at Mem State.

I met Donahue on a recruiting trip to Mobile. Had Dinner and listened to some stories. What a Great Man! I used to call his wife at home while Ken was working at the complex until late in the night; She was amazing also. Great Memories I'll forever cherish.....