The Mattress Kid

Life can be difficult, cruel and unfair. There are times when I want to talk to my Daddy, but he has been gone for more than ten years. I know what he would say; I know how he would say it. I can almost hear his voice.

There are times I need to hear a “Daddy voice.”

Today was one of those days.

Who do I call?

I decided to call the fellow who knew me when I was full of …. Well, I was full of myself. I called my high school football coach. He seemed to always know the right thing to say when the situation was difficult.

It has been 30 years now since I donned the maroon for The Donoho School in Anniston, Alabama.

The situation was often difficult for our high school football team. I transferred to a small private school in the tenth grade from a large public high school football powerhouse. I went from a team that had no trouble dressing from 80-100 players to one that rarely could find 20 bodies to put in a uniform.

There was a reason. I wanted to play football for Coach "Cliff" Grubbs. My brother played for him, I wanted to play for him.

The wins, the losses, they didn’t matter. I appreciated the other things that Coach Grubbs had to offer.

When the going got rough, he gave advice. Things like, “Don’t you have a chemistry test tomorrow? You don’t need to be practicing football.” He also taught me to throw spaghetti against the wall to see if it was done. Those were the fun things.

Coach Grubbs also gave a lot of heart to heart advice that a teenage boy needed to hear. Sometimes I didn’t know what he was saying until I really thought about it. He made a difference and he still does.

I was disappointed when I first called Coach Grubbs, who is 85 and retired in Florida. He didn’t answer the phone, I was concerned. Knowing that he was in poor health, I thought the worst. Coach never quit on us, even when the score was a whole lot to nothing (Us being the nothing). He never quit.

About an hour later, my phone rang. He said, “This is Clifford Grubbs, I got a call from this number.” I said, “Aw Coach, it’s me.” He perked up and asked me all the normal questions you would expect him to ask.

Coach asked about my job, where I was living, the children and how some of the other fellows were. We made small talk and he made a comment about how much I always livened things up. This comment was his nice way of saying that he remembered how I really was (without going into details).

After the small talk, Coach Grubbs told me what I already knew. He told me about the cancer. He told me how they had “cut him open and just sewed him back up.” We discussed that a little and he noted that he was 85 and had lived a wonderful life. It was more than I could take, I couldn’t hold it together.

But Coach Grubbs just kept on talking, just like he used to when a teenage boy would sit crying in his office. He understood (and so did I).

We finished and then he hit me with the only thing I really needed to hear. He said, “I love you.” I said, “Coach, I love you.”

Later in the day, I was looking at my wall at a black and white copy of an Auburn – Mississippi State game summary from 1947. I realized what the day was. It was November 8, 2011. The dateline on the game summary was from November 8, 1947.  I found it years ago on the internet and put it on my wall.

I had to call him back. I said, “Coach, do you know what today is?” He said, “It’s the 7th, no it’s the 8th of November.” I asked him, “Where were you on November 8, 1947?” Before he had a chance to answer, I started reading the excerpt on my wall to him.

"With injuries still forcing men to remain on the bench, Auburn's crippled team, led by sophomores Clifford Grubbs and Johnny Liptak, battled Mississippi State furiously before losing a 14-0 ball game. The Tigers, who entered the game a four touchdown underdog, played gallantly to hold the score down. Grubbs looked terrific in the ground gaining department and Liptak, who caught six passes, was the outstanding lineman on the field. Harper Davis, State's fleet halfback, was the thorn in Auburn's side as he reeled touchdown runs of 22 and 50 yards to give the victory to the Maroon eleven.”

Coach started laughing. He said, “Oh, yes.”

He then told me the story, a story he had never told me. I had no idea. I’m from Alabama, I’m an Alabama fan. However, let it be known that my favorite college football player is “The Mattress Kid,” who played for Auburn University in the 1940’s.

Not Cam Newton, Bo Jackson or Pat Sullivan, but Clifford Grubbs (The Mattress Kid).

It was around 1940; Clifford Grubbs was 14 years old and on his own. He had left home, we didn’t discuss why. People would see him in Chewacla State Park near Auburn, Alabama toting a mattress (his home). They called him “The Mattress Kid.” In the summer, he would lifeguard at the state park, sleeping in the park under the stars at night. Coach Grubbs noted, “There was shelter when it rained or got cold.”

In the summer before his senior season at Auburn High School, he was lifeguarding at the state park, living on his mattress. He was approached by the Auburn Police and folks from Auburn University. “I knew I was caught and in trouble,” Coach Grubbs remembered. "They were going to make me leave the park."

Evidently, Clifford Grubbs was one of the best high school running backs in the south, playing for Auburn High School. He had been offered scholarships by many of the prominent football powers in the south. The policemen and the school officials had come to get him; they wanted him to play football at Auburn (a year early).

The university helped him finish out his high school credits that summer, and he entered as a 17 year-old freshman at Auburn University in 1943. I didn’t ask him what happened to the mattress.

Due to World War II, Auburn didn't field a team in 1943, but they did in '44.

He stayed at Auburn for a couple of years and then joined the war effort as a paratrooper in January of 1945. Clifford Grubbs came back to play for Auburn University in 1947 and on one cold and wet November 8th Saturday afternoon at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, Clifford Grubbs and the outmatched Auburn Tigers battled Mississippi State furiously. It was a rough year for Auburn football, but that thought of my coach fighting and being a four touchdown underdog keeps me going.

An amoeba infection contracted while serving overseas and a bum knee slowed him down when he came back to play in 1947 - but he never quit.

He’s just that way. Clifford Grubbs went on to coach high school football in Florida and Alabama, making a stop for a number of years at a little school in Anniston, Alabama where he had one perfect season in 1978, a few good ones and more than a few mediocre and losing seasons.

I’m here to tell you that my coach is not defined by wins, trophies or having fields named after him. I remember him because he cared. Once again, after the second phone call, he told me he loved me.

I cried. 

I cried because I had the joy of playing for one of the toughest men ever to strap on a helmet for Auburn University, who would listen, who cared, who knew how to tell when spaghetti was done and who genuinely loves me.

Roll Tide and War Eagle.

Now you know the story of The Mattress Kid.

 

Coach Cliff Grubbs passed away on November 25, 2011 - "Finding the end zone."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

If you enjoy Cranks My Tractor

Share this story with friends.

Visit the Cranks My Tractor Facebook  Site, click the "Like" button and you can share this story from there. I truly appreciate this .  You will see links to future stories in your newsfeed.Another way you can help is simply by clicking the Facebook like button there. This helps me a lot, a whole lot.

Kindle owners, give me a try on the Kindle.  I truly appreciate this and Cranks My Tractor continues to be ranked in its categories. 

Follow me on Twitter or "tweet" this story, I would appreciate it. 

Cranks My Tractor now appears in newspapers across the southeast, Ohio, LA (Lower Alabama) and select stalls in the Denver airport restrooms. 

Street Talk America now runs Cranks My Tractor in every issue.

Tell 27 people you love them today; something good will happen.

I'm BN Heard and I like semicolons, dogs and hearing voices from the past.

Comments

[Bo Williams]

I fear we don't have enough people of this fiber anymore. I mean, surely it takes some minimum percentage of folks like this to keep a society functioning, doesn't it?

I didn't realize you and I had Donoho in common as well. I attended first through fourth grade, when it was Episcopal Day School, at Grace. That was 1976-1980.

[Henry King]

That was a good story. Enjoyed reading it. I played football under Coach Grubbs also in 1974 along with David Smith, John Bryan, Kim Moore and Joe Pitard to name a few. We had another coach: Wes Dumas. I can't remember if he only coached soccer or if he coached football and soccer. We also had a running back from Oxford named Bill Heard who was really good. Coach Grubbs coached or "chaperoned" the golf team also. I had no idea he played at Auburn or that he was know as the "Mattress Kid." That is a great story!

[BN Heard]

Bo, you are right! I enjoy reading your thoughts at www.bowilliams.com.

Henry, I remember them all well. My brother did gallup in the backfield for the Academy Falcons. His name was "Bud." All the guys you mention were great athletes.

[BN Heard]

Special thanks to the folks at Auburn and Alabama (TiderInsider) for linking to this story.

Folks outside of Alabama see the ESPN documentary and think we (Alabama and Auburn fans) are all nuts. If we are all nuts, I like the bowl we call home.

Regards,
BN

[Bryan Read]

You gotta love the Mattress Kid. I remember Coach telling us the story of parachuting at night time during the war. He landed in a tree--being afraid to move in the dark and not knowing how far from the ground he was; he decided not move till daylight. Hours later, when dawn came, he saw that he had been only 6 inches off the ground.

Thanks Brent and Thanks Coach.

[Lee Grubbs]

Thanks Brent for writing about my Dad he is truly a amazing person and loved all the players he coached. War Eagle!!!

[David M. Smith]

Bo,
My main disappointment in leaving Johnston Jr. High in 1970 was that it meant I would not get to play football anymore. The Academy was where I needed to be, but football meant a lot to me. Pat Sullivan was my idol at that time and I loved trying to pretend to be him on the sandlots. Suddenly, Cliff Grubbs came to the Academy in 1971 to replace Coach Dumas as the Athletic Director and Coach Grubbs wanted to start football. In the spring of '72, we had spring training, learned about how to put on our uniforms and then had an inter-squad game as our jamboree. I got to play for Coach Grubbs for 3 full seasons (4-5-1, 2-7, and 4-5 records) and he had a major, positive impact on my life. He was the driver's ed teacher and, in 10th grade, we would drive all over town talking about football and life. I know that over the years at the Academy I disappointed him a few times, but he never acted like he didn't still love me. I would love to talk to him if you would be comfortable emailing me his phone number. Give my best to Bud Heard, the most determined and effective slow running back ever. Thanks for sharing this story!
David Smith

[Bill Grubbs]

Dear Brent or Bo,

My Dad, The Mattress Kid, has gone home. He passed away about an hour ago in his home in Mary Esther, Florida. My sisters and I were on the road to see him when we got the call from his son-in-law, Patrick, who had been serving him in his last hours with love, kindness and dignity. He did not suffer and passed on to his new eternal life with the Father and his Savior, Jesus Christ, peacefully.

We will keep you informed of the upcoming services. Thank you for your blog. It meant a lot to his family. Any stories you or others may have would be be appreciated and cherished.

[BN Heard]

Bill,
I'm so sorry. I knew it was close. We loved him and we always will. How appropriate was it for him to go home on a Friday. He touched many lives.
Regards,
BN Heard
(#5 for Coach Cliff Grubbs' Donoho Falcons)

[Alex Sexton]

Hi Brent, You are right Coach was exactly as you portrayed him.
He and I were very close and shared many good times. When I
lost Mike in 97 he reached out. To me and helped me through
a very tough time in my life. He helped Mike get a partial scholership
to Auburn. I will miss him. Remember the White Plains game
13-0. We did not have a chance but we shut them out.
WAR EAGLE Coach. Alex Sexton '70

[Virginia Hayes]

I found the link to your blog post on FB and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this. As a Donoho alum (c/o 97) I heard many fond stories of Coach Grubbs over the years. Such a wonderful tribute:)

[Doug West]

Thank you so much for this article. I found it from a post by @wareaglereader on twitter.

My brother and I both played for him at Randolph School in Huntsville, Alabama in the 60s. He was a wonderful man, great coach, and the perfect mentor. He will be missed.

I wish somebody would write a book on his life.

[Fan of the old coach]

Do you remember how he kept the pickled pigs' feet on his desk at Donoho? (100% serious) I was a waterboy for him for a while. I never realized he was such a legend.

[John Barrow]

Haven't heard from uncle Clifford in a long time. I was just thinking the other day about him and how I looked up to him when I was a kid. At thanksgiving or christmas he would come into my grandmothers house with that deep voice and those eyebrows and ask " son,how are you doing in school?". Him being a football coach, I figured he would ask about that(football). I guess school was more important. Also, I was always amazed at all the "hot peppers" he could eat. Wow! Wish I would have kept in touch.

[Fred Lybrand]

Thanks for the good memories here...we all are indebted to Coach for many great lessons. I hope we are all taking to heart the value of passing the heritage of wisdom along to younger folks!

Grace and peace,

Fred Lybrand (Anniston Academy / Donoho 1972-1977)