Bramlett played for the Tigers in the 1960s then went on, although he weighed only 170 lbs, to star in the NFL. His number is going to be retired at the half of the Duke - Memphis game. Bramlett, according to the stories, was super mean --- bordering on psycho, or so it seems. Almost killed a guy in a bar fight. Knocked out a teammate for cutting in line. Folks who were there at the time apparently have heard the stories. Now a preacher.


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Interesting --- played two sports in the big leagues -- Wiki article for those interested >>>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bramlett

Bramlett was an All-State and All-American at Humes High School in Memphis and played college football at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), where he was named an honorable mention All-American his senior year. Bramlett signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals but was kicked out of baseball after a few years after getting into trouble. Bramlett then signed a contract with the Denver Broncos and was named runner-up AFL Rookie of the year behind Joe Namath in 1965.

Bramlett only lasted two seasons with the Broncos, making one appearance in the Pro Bowl before being traded to the Miami Dolphins for a fourth round pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with Miami, making another Pro Bowl appearance, before being traded to the Patriots along with quarterback Kim Hammond in exchange for Nick Buoniconti in 1969[1].

With the Patriots, Bramlett was named the Most Valuable Player for the team in 1970 but also got in more trouble and was nicknamed the "Meanest Man in Football." [2]. Bramlett was then traded to the Green Bay Packers for Rich Moore.[1] However, he balked at reporting to Green Bay[2] and was released by the Packers before the 1971 season.[3] He was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons and played one season for them before retiring.

I was around back then, and remember Bramlett well. Maybe the best player in my memory who was high profile (Translation: not an AA lineman or TE). And I'll be at the Duke game.

As it should be. Bramlett was a helluva player.

I am a few years younger than him and grew up in north Memphis in the same neighborhood as John. He was a legend in high school and in the neighborhood. He is by far the toughest football player I have ever seen. Anyone who has ever been around him in those days has a story to tell. When he became a born-again christian is when a major transformation occurred in his life and he became a powerful witness for the Lord.

The raging bull was part of a group of Tigers that just knocked who ever they played flat. John Fred Robilio, Dave Casinelli, Harry Schuh, etc. I only got to see him play his last game against Detroit (Detroit Mercy maybe?) and it wasn't surprising that the game ended in a fist fight. The song Big John preceded his playing days by a bit and fans adopted that nickname for him, but he really wasn't that big....just tough as nails.

I was around in those days also. In the stands at football games there was a chant that would go through the stadium that was "Kill, Bramlett, Kill. and sure enough he would knock the living L out of one of the opposing players soon afterward. I also fought in the Golden Gloves at the same time that he did but I was several weight classes under him thank God. He was one mean motor scooter in high school and college.

He spoke at my church when I was about 19. Powerful man with a more powerful God.

(08-22-2013 11:09 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I was around back then, and remember Bramlett well. Maybe the best player in my memory who was high profile (Translation: not an AA lineman or TE). And I'll be at the Duke game.

John was a neighbor and our children attended the same school. Long before we became friends, I saw most of his games at the U. My best memories are those of his hits in the Mississippi games. John will be remembered as the Paul Bunyan of UM FB.

I was friends with his brother Charlie. Lets just say John wasn't too Christian like after Charlie died. Lost a lot of respect for him.

Happy to say I saw him and the Tigers play a bunch---back in the day.

I believe it was the 62-63 season, I was in the tiger band, we were playing football at Crump Stadium against Ole Miss. I remember the "kill-bramlett-kill" cheer. I seem to remember him sacking the Ole Miss quarterback on 3 consecututive plays . . . before the ball was snapped! I think Ole Miss was ranked pretty high, and the game was a tie . . . I think.

(08-24-2013 08:08 AM)mistert Wrote:  I believe it was the 62-63 season, I was in the tiger band, we were playing football at Crump Stadium against Ole Miss. I remember the "kill-bramlett-kill" cheer. I seem to remember him sacking the Ole Miss quarterback on 3 consecututive plays . . . before the ball was snapped! I think Ole Miss was ranked pretty high, and the game was a tie . . . I think.

We played to a 0-0 tie in '63 in a driving storm. If I remember correctly the only scoring opportunity for either team was a field goal attempt by Billy Fletcher. Seems like it was only about 30 yards, but the wind was blowing so hard it almost came back to him.

I was only 13 at the time, but I remember hearing stories about Bramlett. If even half of them had a grain of truth to them, he was a mean SOB. Heard he was the one person in Memphis the Tillers wouldn't F with.

(08-24-2013 12:32 PM)UofM_Tiger Wrote:  

(08-24-2013 08:08 AM)mistert Wrote:  I believe it was the 62-63 season, I was in the tiger band, we were playing football at Crump Stadium against Ole Miss. I remember the "kill-bramlett-kill" cheer. I seem to remember him sacking the Ole Miss quarterback on 3 consecututive plays . . . before the ball was snapped! I think Ole Miss was ranked pretty high, and the game was a tie . . . I think.

We played to a 0-0 tie in '63 in a driving storm. If I remember correctly the only scoring opportunity for either team was a field goal attempt by Billy Fletcher. Seems like it was only about 30 yards, but the wind was blowing so hard it almost came back to him.

I was only 13 at the time, but I remember hearing stories about Bramlett. If even half of them had a grain of truth to them, he was a mean SOB. Heard he was the one person in Memphis the Tillers wouldn't F with.

The '63 game was outstanding and was indeed 0-0. I think that you may have the weather that game confused with another one; there were so many really big wins/games in that era that it's easy to do. That was a Crump stadium night game without a storm.....except for the goal line storm that John Fred Robilio & company unleashed on the rebels.

I thought that John's last game was in '62, but my memory isn't perfect.

It was reported John was playing third during a an Ole Miss/Memphis baseball game. After hearing a lot of razz from Ole Miss fans / players, he ran off the field of play, grabbed a bat and chased the heckler. Saw him play a few times. O J Simpson said he received his hardest hit while in the pros by Bramlet.

(08-24-2013 01:03 PM)Gman Wrote:  It was reported John was playing third during a an Ole Miss/Memphis baseball game. After hearing a lot of razz from Ole Miss fans / players, he ran off the field of play, grabbed a bat and chased the heckler. Saw him play a few times. O J Simpson said he received his hardest hit while in the pros by Bramlet.

Isn't there also a story about him playing 3rd an inning or two without a glove in a baseball game against the rebels to prove he could handle their hits gloveless? I've always mostly doubted that one, but I've heard it a couple of times.

I worked with Tommy Eldred at FedEx for years. He and his brother Darrell both played for the Tigers when Bramlett and Robilio played. Tommy was a running back. He used to tell me that in practice, after Spook blew the whistle, he would always look around to find out where Bramlett and Robilio were as they liked to "play through the whistle."

Bramlett once spoke to my class in elementary school. His cousin was my teacher. He was funny when he talked about the first time he smoked a cigarette.