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Michigan State and the Bullough Family

Over the past three seasons national powers such as Alabama posted a 35-5 win/loss record. 2013 national champion Florida State has produced a 37-3 record over those same three seasons. The defending national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, are 37-4 in the same period. Almost quietly compared to the rest, the Michigan State Spartans have won 36 games over the past three years while suffering only 4 losses.

Part of that is due to the offense with Quarterback Connor Cook leading the way. Their Offensive Line led by the likes of Left Tackle Jack Conklin and Center Jack Allen has been impressive. Plus, their running game with Jeremy Langford in 2013 and 2014 and this year’s group of LJ Scott, Madre London and Gerald Holmes have been steady. Then, there’s the Receiver group with Aaron Burbridge and Tony Lippett which has been fantastic at times.

But, a lot of the success behind the Michigan State Spartans in recent seasons has been without a

doubt on their defense.

For two out of the last three seasons, a Linebacker named Bullough has been one of the better players on the team and a leader on the defense.

 

 

Three generations of the Bullough family has played for the Michigan State Spartans and many of them have been outstanding Linebackers.

Hank Bullough played Offensive Guard for the Michigan State Spartans from 1951 through 1954 and was a starter for the Spartans when they beat UCLA, 28-20, on January 1st, 1954.

This had nothing to do with Hank Bullough, but that Rose Bowl was the very first football game shown in color on television. People take that for granted these days, but I grew up with a black and white television and two channels to choose from.

Hank Bullough was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round of the NFL Draft, but played there only briefly. Bullough was supposedly 6-0, 230 which is tiny by today’s standards, but he was apparently large enough back in those times. After playing in the NFL for a short time, Bullough went back to Michigan State but this time as an assistant coach. He made the jump to the NFL in 1970 being named the Linebackers coach for the then Baltimore Colts.

Hank Bullough is credited as being one of the inventors of the 3-4 defense while he was an assistant coach for the New England Patriots. He was something of a defensive guru and an early innovator of the game.

Bullough also tutored Dick LaBeau who is one of the top NFL Defensive Coordinators of all time.

Hank Bullough was more than just a football player and an ingenious football coach and an inventor of new defenses. He was also a family man and  he had 2 sons, both of whom grew up to be football players as well.

His older son Shane played Linebacker for the Michigan State Spartans from 1983 through 1986. His other son, Chuck, also played Linebacker for the Spartans from 1988

through 1991. Chuck still holds the Michigan State tackles record with 175 during the 1991 season.

Older brother Shane may have been outshone by his younger brother, Chuck, but he was good as well.

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Shane may be more famous for being the father of Hank’s grandsons Max, Riley and Byron.

 

Max graduated last year and was the Spartans leading tackler in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Max was one  of the leaders of one of  the top defenses in the entire nation, but he finished third on the team in total tackles.

Max, Riley and Byron Bullough have connections to Notre Dame, also. Their other grandfather is Jim Morse a former Running Back for Notre Dame. Morse shared backfield duty with the legendary Paul Hornung.

His son, Jim Morse Jr, played Cornerback for the Irish but neither of them were able to sway the youngest Bulloughs from attending Michigan State. Just like their father, uncle and grandfather.

Jim Morse’s other son, Bobby, played for Michigan State at Running Back. Bobby Morse was never a great player, he rushed for only 651 career yards. But, he also caught 102 passes and he returned punts and Kickoffs for the Spartans. Bobby Morse was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and he played for the Eagles and the Saints for a few years and he was mostly a return man in the NFL.

Michigan State and college football were naturally in the blood of brothers Max, Riley and Byron Bullough.

The oldest of the brothers, Max, was a highly recruited Linebacker when he signed with the Spartans out of Traverse City, Michigan.

Max played as a freshman in 2010, but mostly as a reserve. In 2011, Max Bullough led the Spartans in tackles and he accomplished that again in 2012.

The Spartans won the Big 10 in 2013 while compiling an impressive 13-1 record with wins over Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship game and over Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

Last season, middle brother Riley played some as a sophomore while the Spartans cruised to an 11-2 overall record. 2014 was something of a disappointment for the Spartans as they were expected to contend for a playoff spot by many.

You know you have made it as a program when an 11-2 season is a let down.

During the 2015 season, Riley Bullough led the Michigan State Spartans in tackles and a Big 10 Championship, plus an awaiting playoff game against the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide.

Youngest brother, Byron, was a redshirt freshman this season and he did not play. But, I would be surprised if he doesn’t earn playing time in the not too distant future.

When you think of Alabama, you might think of Bear Bryant, or Nick Saban. When you think of Florida State, you probably think Bobby Bowden or maybe Jameis Winston. When thinking of Ohio State, you may think of Woody Hayes, or Urban Meyer.

But, when you think of Michigan State, you should consider thinking about the Bullough family.