I’m hearing “Gone too soon” much too often.
John Bruhin, one of the best football players ever at Powell High, a very good offensive guard for the Sugar Vols of 1985 and a warrior for three seasons in NFL trenches, has died at 57. Obituary info here.
John Bruhin
Bruhin considered himself high-mileage and had scars as evidence. He endured an assortment of afflictions. He struggled to get up from his TV chair. He hobbled when he walked. His knees were wrecked and he had a bad back but he had said, if given a chance, he’d do it all again.
“John was very special in a great group of guys,” said former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer.
Years ago, Bruhin gave Fulmer extra credit.
“He changed me from a boy to a man.”
Maturation came with growing pains. Sometimes player and then line coach had differences of opinion. Some disagreements were serious.
“John needed guidance,” said Fulmer.
That is code for same-day combinations of a hug and a boot on the bottom.
“He was such an outstanding talent. He was really a great player, unusually athletic and fast for his size. He may have had the most ability of anyone I had coached up to that time.”
John was painfully inconsistent in attention to details.
“I had to be tough at times. He almost quit. I remember him going to Georgia to check on some hunting dogs. We had to go get him.”
The effort paid great dividends.
For the magical 1985 Tennessee season, Bruhin was a starter with future pros Bruce Wilkerson, Harry Galbreath and David Douglas as close associates. Todd Kirk and Jeff Smith weren’t too bad. Daryle Smith, David Douglas, Johnny Hibbett and Tony Williams were part of that line.
The offense was built around quarterback Tony Robinson. Alas, he suffered a season-ending injury in the Alabama game. The Vols could have collapsed. John Majors wouldn’t let it happen. He plugged in Daryl Dickey. Tennessee won the Southeastern Conference championship. The Vols were invited to the Sugar Bowl.
That was cause for careful celebration. Miami was a heavy favorite. The Hurricanes, from coach Jimmy Johnson on down, were as brash as they were talented.
Bruhin once said nothing he had experienced in football, certainly nothing in the NFL with Tampa Bay, could match the excitement of that Sugar Bowl.
“When we came out for the kickoff, the Superdome seemed solid orange. I got chill bumps.”
The remarkable season, the SEC crown, the stunning victory over Miami was a dream come true for John Bruhin. He grew up on stories of the Volunteers. He went to a few games when a Powell neighbor, Ray McCloud, had a spare ticket.
Somewhere along the way John got the idea that he might sometime play for the Volunteers.
“I wanted to so badly.”
Others scoffed at the idea. Bruhin kept thinking maybe. He tried to make a deal with his dad.
“My father had a drinking problem. I asked if he’d stop drinking if I made the team at Tennessee.”
John did.
His dad didn’t.
Marvin West welcomes reader comments or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com