UT Legend Sam Bailey Hosts Gathering Of Former Spartans
SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. - Former University of Tampa athletic director Sam Bailey, who also served as the head football and baseball coach, hosted a group of former Spartans and supporters on March 21 at his Tampa home.
At the gathering, Bailey welcomed nearly 100 Spartan supporters which included several former football and baseball players. Former UT cheerleader and tennis coach Joyce Traina helped organize the event and raise funds for the Sam Bailey Endowment at The University of Tampa. Spartan athletic director Larry Marfise was also in attendance.
Bailey was an accomplished athlete and professional football player in the 1940's, and later went on to serve as an award-winning coach at UT. He also served as the University's athletic director from 1962-71. Born and raised in Sanibel Island, Bailey recently authored a book titled A Sanibel Son Looks Back.
In his book, Bailey paints a vivid portrait of the harsh reality of playing football in the early years of the NFL, and offers up a revealing account of his old-school disciplinarian years at The University of Tampa where his star players included John Matuszak, Freddie Solomon, Noah Jackson and Lou Piniella.
Among the attendees were Lenny Altamura, Charlie Bailey, Charlie Downie, Billy Howell, Charlie McCullers, Ken Nuznoff, John Perry, Ray Reynolds, Billy Turner and Joe Zalupski.