Comments on: THE OPTIMIST: The Greatness Of Culverhouse

By: PaceMaker

PaceMaker — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:30:20 +0000

Very interesting – thanks.

By: Gus

Gus — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:12:47 +0000

2 Points NOT Here that are important: Williams’ contract expired as his wife was dying in January 1983, leaving him to care for his infant daughter. Hugh tired to squeeze him then, after he was the lowest paid starter in the NFL in 1982 (and had made the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years). It was terrible PR and just wrong; he was the team leader and had made the Bucs enormously popular locally and among african american fans nationwide (“Black America’s Team”). Instead of negotiating with him, the Bucs traded their first round draft pick for Jack Thompson (who had a big contract, and was making more than Williams as a back-up in Cincinatti); that ended the negotiations. Williams was forced to sign with the USFL (no real free agency in the NFL those days).

Culverhouse was probably a racist personally, and certainly operated the team with a plantation mentality. But his original hires (Wolff and McKay) were the most progressive men in their roles in football at the time (McKay’s thrashing of Bear Bryant is credited with integrating the SEC), and the early Bucs teams gave more chances to black players than any other team in the league. To this he deserves credit. Culverhouse went to the dark side after the 1982 strike and when he had to siphon off Bucs profits to his mistress in New Orleans, on whom he spent lavishly in his later years.

By: niko (The Optimist)

niko (The Optimist) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:30:14 +0000

Buzzsaw, again, you prove my point. From the 80s… as you say, your correct.
But before that, in 1975 when he took over the franchise that was lost when McCloskey let it go, through the building of it, it was a different story.

After the 80s started, I couldn’t agree with you more.

Hey BigMacAttack, thanks. Please contact me if you can on my website.

By: Capt.Tim

Capt.Tim — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:19:29 +0000

In the very beginnig, I might believe Culverhouse wanted the team to be a contender. But for the majority of the time he owned it, he cared only about one thing- impressing his buddy’s on the NFL Financial committee. He proved every year how to make the most money. That was his goal. He made both the Team and the community a laughing stock for decades.

I have no fond memories of him. The best thing about his ownership is that it ended. Like Buzzsaw, I have heard first hand the Glazer’s passion to win. Thank the lord for our current ownership

By: Buzzsaw

Buzzsaw — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 01:35:43 +0000

Niko,
Sorry, I can’t agree with you. I lean more toward Gringo Dave. I’m not sure who you think looked upon Culverhouse as a class owner. I know the fans here thought he was a no-class owner. He might have been a brilliant tax attorney but he was a MISERABLE NFL owner. So please do not attempt to re-write history. I didn’t have season tickets back then but I went to almost every home game in the 80s (it wasn’t hard to get tickets). I finally got so disgusted with Culverhouse that I swore I would never give him another dollar of my money. I watched the team on TV and listened on the radio but I never went to another game until the ownership turnover in the mid-90s. The guy was so cheap he wouldn’t even hire a real General Manager. He had a know-nothing flunky known locally as Dr. Death who filled that role. You probably remember who I’m talking about. (I’ve tried hard to forget him and apparently it worked.) I met the Glazer brothers on a flight from Dallas to Tampa shortly after they bought the team. We talked for about 2 hours and I was really impressed with how badly they wanted to build a winning team in Tampa. What a breath of fresh air! I still believe that. Culverhouse was a piece of Bucs history I’d just as soon forget.

By: BigMacAttack

BigMacAttack — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:03:29 +0000

@BucsFan941,

I have to disagree with you on another 10-6 Season, but I love the optimism. I’m saying they’re going to go 13-3 this season and straight to the Big Show.

@Niko,
Nice post and a good history lesson. As far as the little twerp goes above, you’d be better off beating your head against a block wall repeatedly than trying to convince him. He speaks a different language, something along the lines of Farsi, Hakka, Igbo and Patwa combined. Be content knowing the rest of us get it and appreciate your work.

By: niko (The Optimist)

niko (The Optimist) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:54:41 +0000

Also, Id like to point out, we all know about the cheapness that is Hugh, the point of this article is to point out that at one point, Hugh was NOT looked upon that way, and was in fact looked upon as a class owner.

By: niko (The Optimist)

niko (The Optimist) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:52:23 +0000

Thomas 2.2, what are you talking about? The reason there is a Vince Lombardi trophy in One Buc is because the Glazers spent money. They bought every free agent the coaches asked for. We need a WR, they got Bert Emmanuel. We need linemen, got Randall McDaniel and Jeff Christy. Bert only helped create a new rule, so they paid 53 mil for Keyshawn. The list goes on. Your forgetting only two years ago the Bucs went out and spent money to get the best Tight End (and renegotiate his contract, when everyone on boards bitched about that too), best running back available (Ward), best kicker out there and paid him 2.5 million. The problem is, these guys didn’t pan out. Thats why the Glazers are going back to the way they laid the foundation before, Draft your core players, Spend money to resign the good ones, THEN buy free agents to augment your roster.
Redskins spend the most money of any team, what do they have to show for it?

Vince…check out the history section on my site, Bucstop.com. Its a 10,000 word history on the team. McKays men is an awesome book by Denis Crawford.

By: Espo

Espo — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:42:24 +0000

I just checked Amazon. $15. Not bad.

http://www.amazon.com/McKays-Story-1979-Tampa-Buccaneers/dp/0979112508

By: Espo

Espo — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:41:20 +0000

Vince, my uncle has a book called Mckay’s Men that you might like. It’s about the ’79 Bucs.

By: BucFan941

BucFan941 — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:39:44 +0000

i love the bucs win or lose..but i hope we always win..mark my words..10-6 again

By: Vince

Vince — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:52:06 +0000

Also a college guy and it’s nice to read about the history. Are there any books out there on Bucs history that anyone can recommend? I wish the Bucs had stuff on their website.