Having one son who is a football star can make for fun weekends. Two star sons can be a bit hectic. Would you believe five? And while you’re at it, might as well add a football coach husband, too! Matriarch of a Tennessee football dynasty, Elizabeth Majors had arguably the busiest weekends of any mother in the state. An avid supporter, “The First Lady of Football” once attended four football games in one weekend to watch her children play or her husband, Shirley, coach at the University of the South. An elementary school teacher for thirty-one years, Mrs. Majors was also the kicker in family football games! Daughter Shirley Ann described her mother as “energetic… like a piece of dynamite.” Even though she stood only four feet, ten inches tall, Mrs. Majors had to be energetic to keep up with all those football-playing boys. Former Vols All-American and later Head Coach John Majors is her oldest son. Son Joe was a quarterback at Florida State. Bill played for UT and became a Vol coach under Doug Dickey. Larry played for his dad’s undefeated Sewanee team of 1963. Bob was an All-American safety at UT. And of course, Mrs. Major’s husband of almost fifty years, Shirley, had a thirty-six year coaching career. Elizabeth Majors passed away in 1996, but will always be remembered by Tennessee football fans as the great lady with the big smile rooting for her family from the stands.
