Derrick Weatherford, defensive tackle on two of Doug Dickey’s better Tennessee football teams, has died at 81 following a prolonged illness.

Derrick grew up in Darlington, South Carolina, played for the Volunteers in 1965-67, had a career in public education as a teacher, coach and administrator, and retired as high school principal in Dillon, South Carolina.

Coaching stops included LaFollette and Tellico Plains. He was a line coach at Ferrum College and Virginia Tech.

“Derrick was one fine football player and a really good human being,” said old Vol Dick Williams, a teammate and fellow tackle. “He was built low to the ground (6-0 and 224) and had an explosive first step. He could really deliver a blow. He was a bad afternoon for a lot of offensive linemen.”

“Derrick made me a better football player,” said Charles Rosenfelder, Tennessee all-American offensive guard, in reflection on long sessions on the practice field.

“We had some interesting one-on-one encounters.”

George Silvey, Vol running back, remembers the original scouting report on Derrick Weatherford.

“I had signed with Tennessee and was preparing to join the team. I knew I would be running against the first-team defense. I asked my friend, Bobby Morel (tough nose guard), who I should try to avoid on the practice field.

“He said the best players on defense were both named Weatherford. He said try not go where Derrick was and run fast if I saw Jim (defensive back) coming.”

Former Vol Robbie Franklin has a story from a Georgia Tech game.

“Line coach Charley Coffey was a stickler for technique. Making a play wasn’t good enough. You had to do it right.

“Derrick jumped over a Tech offensive lineman and made a tackle in the backfield.

On Sunday in the film review, Coach gave him a plus grade for the stop and chewed him out for giving up position responsibilities, for not playing the way he had been coached.”

On Monday, Weatherford told Franklin he believed he “could do better if Coach wouldn’t holler at me so much.”

Franklin’s response was “Derrick, yelling at you is what he is paid to do.”

Derrick Weatherford had some famous teammates – Steve Kiner, Jack Reynolds, Paul Naumoff, Bob Johnson, Richmond Flowers, Dewey Warren, etc.

Those Vols won some big games. The 1967 team was national champion (according to Litkenhous). It beat Alabama in Birmingham and went 6-0 against Southeastern Conference foes. Alas, it lost to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Weatherford is survived by wife Linda, daughters Monica Putich and Amy Lima, son Alvin, 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Derrick was a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as branch president for eight years.

Visitation with the family is set for 10-11 a.m. Thursday at Belk Funeral Home in Darlington. The funeral service will follow. After that, a graveside dedication is planned for Society Hill LDS Cemetery.