This Rabbit Knows Football From A to Z
By Gordon Pynes

With the start of every football season emotions run high as we support our team and predict game outcomes. Eager fans engage in conversations and prepare for a winning season. From Atlanta, there’s one individual who stands out for their deep knowledge and ability to discuss football in detail. John Dees Barr will enter the Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame at the Rabbit-Jefferson game on October 3rd. His football background spans more than 55 years. He began as a high school player followed by college at the University of Oklahoma. After his playing days, his career would take him all around the country, including high schools and major universities. Johnny Barr possesses an exceptional understanding of the great gridiron game of football.  

As a quarterback and defensive back for the Rabbits in the mid-1960s, Barr led his team to an eleven-game winning streak in 1964, culminating in a berth in the State Quarterfinals. This unprecedented undefeated run remains unmatched by any subsequent Rabb team. Former Atlanta ISD Superintendent Roger Hailey, who played alongside Barr and received several key passes from him, stated, “Johnny provided us with an additional offensive threat in the passing game. He certainly merits inclusion in the Rabbit Hall of Fame.” Barr returned for his senior season in 1965, once again serving as team captain and contributing to another successful season. In both 1964 and 1965, he was selected as an All-District player for both offense and defense. Additionally, Johnny earned All-District honors in basketball and track. He was also distinguished as the Most Athletic Boy.  
 

Barr’s journey into coaching began with his 1965 Rabbit coach, James Moffatt, at Lufkin High School. This launched an impressive career. After a stint at Clear Creek High School from 1971 to 1974 as a varsity assistant, he moved to college coaching, continuing until his retirement in 2021. Johnny began his coaching career as the Offensive Coordinator at Navarro Junior College, advancing to Secondary Coach at Lamar University. He then progressed to Defensive Coordinator at Texas State University before joining Oklahoma State University as co-Defensive Coordinator and linebacker’s coach.  Subsequently, he returned to his alma mater as the linebacker coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. His career included coaching tours with the Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas Jayhawks as a linebackers coach. He later moved back to Texas to coach safeties for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
     

In 1966, Barr accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where played as a wide receiver. He played a pivotal role in helping the Sooners secure the Big Eight championship twice. His most notable performance occurred during the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl on December 31st, 1968 held at the Astrodome in Houston. In this record breaking game against Southern Methodist University (SMU), Barr made eight receptions for 138 yards and scored two touchdowns, despite Oklahoma narrowly losing to SMU 28-27. Due to his record setting performance, Barr was selected for the UPI All-Bowl team. Johnny also participated in the Orange Bowl on January 1, 1968, in which the Sooners triumphed over Tennessee 26-24.
 

Recognizing Johnny’s extensive experience, Texas A&M Coach Dennis Franchione appointed him as the Coordinator of On Campus Recruiting. Upon Johnny’s joining the Texas Aggies, Coach Franchione praised him, stating:”I am pleased to have Johnny join our staff. He is a terrific recruiter, and he will do an excellent job. He has recruited the state of Texas for many years and is well respected.” This acknowledgment underscored Barr’s vast football expertise. His career culminated in 2009 with a return to Oklahoma State University as their Recruiting Coordinator, a position he held until his retirement in 2021. Johnny now resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
 

Throughout his college playing and coaching tenure, Johnny participated in 24 Bowl games. His lifelong passion for sports and aspiration to be a football coach led to a varied and highly successful career, fulfilling his dreams. Known for his integrity, Johnny prioritized honesty with prospective recruits, earning their trust and respect along with that of their families. His decades-long involvement in football from diverse perspectives provided invaluable experiences, particularly his interactions with athletes.
 

One notable athlete Johnny coached at Arizona State was Pat Tillman, who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and subsequently played in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals. Following the tragic events of 9/11, Tillman left professional football to enlist in the Army, where he became a Special Forces soldier and was ultimately killed in Afghanistan.
 

Johnny grew up in Atlanta, holding fond memories of playing for the Rabbits. The Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame proudly inducts John Dees Barr into the Class of 2025, recognizing him as an outstanding Rabbit athlete and highly accomplished coach.