Pride from the Past: Phillips once coached both schools

By DENNIS KUTAC
Published 12:00 am, Wednesday, October 10, 2007
He is a native of Orange who attended school in Beaumont, but Nederland, Port Neches and Groves take pride in knowing that before he coached professional football, O.A. “Bum” Phillips coached at their high schools.

Coming to Nederland in 1950, Phillips became the head coach the following year. This was his first head coaching job, which he refers to today as a learning experience for him.

“When I first started at Nederland I didn’t know all that much about coaching. I had to learn to coach,” Phillips said.

“Luckily I knew some things about football having played in the backfield in high school, but when I started coaching I had to learn with the players.”

Phillips was head coach there for six seasons compiling a record of 53-16-3 and capturing four consecutive district championships. During that time he led the Bulldogs to the AA quarterfinals in 1953, 1954 and 1955 and the AAA state finals in 1956.

“Nederland has had a good program over the years and it all started with Bum Phillips. A lot of the plays we used then were later developed and used in college and professional levels,” said former Nederland coach Neal Morgan who first played and later coached under Phillips.

Phillips credits other coaches in the area at that time with the success he experienced.

“I learned a lot from Emmett McKenzie. Emmett was a fine football coach,” Phillips said.

“Gene McCullom also taught me a lot. He coached at Port Neches when I started at Nederland and later became superintendent. All the coaches back then knew each other pretty well. I remember while at Nederland,we didn’t have a vehicle to travel to out of town games at that time and Gene used to arrange transportation for us to be able to do that.”

Phillips left Mid County in January 1957 to serve on the coaching staff of Paul W. “Bear” Bryant at Texas A&M, but would later return to the area.

“It was after I left Nederland and was coaching at UTEP that Gene (McCullom) called me and said ‘why don’t you come back home?’ So I started coaching at Port Neches for a couple of years. I didn’t have quite the same relationship with the players at Port Neches that I did in Nederland because I wasn’t there as long, but I knew all their mothers and fathers,” he Phillips said.

Phillips was head coach at PN-G in 1963 and 1964 and compiled a record of 12-6-2. During that time his son Wade, current head coach for the Dallas Cowboys, quarterbacked at the Reservation.

Phillips would eventually coach in the National Football League becoming head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1975 through the 1980 season and then head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1981 through 1985.

Several residents agree that the connection Phillips has had with Mid County is as strong today it was back then.

Gordon LaBoeuf, who played football in Port Neches in the 1950s said he was always well aware of who Phillips was.

“I knew Bum when I was playing football in high school because he was coaching at Nederland at the time. He later coached me for a couple of years when I was playing at Texas A&M. It’s always been a real delight for me to have known him and he was such an influence. When he tells you something, he tells it like it is,” LaBoeuf said.

PN-G head coach Matt Burnett was another Indian football player who would cross paths with Phillips in later years.

“I’ve personally been coached by both Bum and Wade Phillips,” Burnett said.

“In 1979 I came right out of Lamar’s football program and was picked up as a free agent by the Houston Oilers for a while. Wade was a defensive line coach and I played three pre-season games for them. I think my connection with Mid County football was a factor in me getting that far.”

Everett “Tootie” Litchfield, who played football at Neder- land in the 50s, said even years later Phillips still remembers players, coaches and other members of the Mid County community.

“Bum never forgets anyone he meets. He recognizes you and calls you by name. He’s gone a long way in his career from the time he was coaching high school and he has always credited Nederland for putting him in the position he was in,” Litchfield said.

Even those who have not been coached by him still agree Phillips has had quite an impact.

“Bum Phillips is highly thought of in the community. Heritage and history are two things that are important to the Mid County community and we’re proud that he is a part of that. He has definitely contributed a lot to this area,” said Nederland head coach Larry Neumann.