Melvin Lane Vines (February 20, 1904 – December 26, 1984) was an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
player and coach. He was a
high school football
High school football (french: football au lycée) is gridiron football played by high school teams in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both countries, but its popularity is declining, part ...
head coach for 28 seasons in the state of
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
during the years from 1930-1941 and 1944, 1946 and 1948-1961 where he compiled a record of 135-101-21. Vines also served as the head football coach at the
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa (UT) is a private university in Tampa, Florida. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. UT offers more than 200 programs of study, including 22 master's degrees and a broad variety of majors, ...
in 1942. As a
college football player, he was a member of two national championship teams at the
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the publi ...
where he played on the first Southern teams to compete in
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
He graduated from Alliance High School in rural western Jefferson County, Alabama. The school no longer exists. During his time at Alliance High School he was "All-State" in both basketball and football.
During his time in college at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa a bizarre incident occurred following the 1926 season. While strolling across the campus he spotted a gang of young men attempting to force a young woman into an automobile. He ran to the car and fought with the driver through the window of the car until it came to a stop and the woman was able to escape. However, having foiled the kidnapping Vines was stabbed in the arm several times and missed the entire following football season. He had limited use of his right arm for the remainder of his life. He did return to play for the Crimson Tide in 1928.
In 2003, to honor his memory Gilmore Stadium where he coached the
Hueytown High School Golden Gophers for 14 years, was re-named "Gilmore-Vines" Stadium.
[ASHFHS.org]
Head coaching record
High school
*
Athens High School (1930–1941): 53–43–9
* Jackson CountyHigh School (1944): 1–6
*
Mortimer Jordan High School (1946): 4–4–1
*
Hueytown High School (1948–1961): 77–48–11
References
External links
*
1904 births
1984 deaths
American football quarterbacks
Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Tampa Spartans football coaches
High school football coaches in Alabama
People from Walker County, Alabama
Coaches of American football from Alabama
Players of American football from Alabama
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