Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Byron Bullough Feature: It’s A Family Tradition
10/11/2018 8:13:00 PM | Football
Family. That's what it's all about. Family is tradition.
Within the Michigan State football program, family has been a component of the brotherhood for decades. One, in particular, has donned the Green and White for three generations. The Bullough family.
The Bullough name first appeared on a Spartan roster in 1951. In 2018, The Bullough name still appears on the Spartan roster in fifth-year senior linebacker, Byron Bullough.
Byron's grandfather, Hank, played guard from 1951-54, and was the first Bullough to put on the Spartan helmet. Twenty-nine years later, the Bullough name returned to the back of a jersey inside Spartan Stadium when Byron's father Shane played from 1983-86.
"Uncle Chuck" as Byron calls him, a linebacker from 1988-91, became the third Bullough to play Spartan football. Byron's uncle, Bobby Morse, also was a Michigan State running back from 1983-86.
The third generation of Bullough's first earned their jersey in 2010. Byron's oldest brother, Max, became a four-year letterwinner, and three-year starter at middle linebacker. Other brother, Riley, was also a four-year letterwinner at linebacker at MSU from 2013-16, earning a team captain honor in 2016.
The Bullough name has been on the Spartan roster for each of the last eight years, but it isn't just synonymous with the football program at Michigan State. Byron's sister, Holly, is a junior on the Spartan cross country team.
"We always talk about family here at Michigan State," Byron said. "We have a ton of guys on the team right now who are actually blood-brothers. It's a cool thing. There are legacies, and several brothers on this team, so that's pretty special."
The 2018 Spartan roster features four sets of brothers, including a trio of Dowell's, two Panasiuk's, two Sokol's, and a twin set of Slade's. All combine to tie for the second-most sets of brothers in NCAA Division I football. At MSU, football truly is family.
In February, Uncle Chuck became Coach Bullough as Chuck returned to his alma mater, accepting the position as defensive ends coach on head coach Mark Dantonio's staff. A 22-year coaching veteran, Bullough has experience in college and the NFL, spending the past two seasons as defensive line coach at Eastern Michigan.
"My Dad told me, actually, when I first heard about it, and I was like 'wow, that's awesome,'" Byron said. "I called up Uncle Chuck, told him congrats, and that I can't wait to get to work with him. He's always been an intense guy, and to bring him onto the staff as another family member, and another intense coach, brings a new element to our team that I think will help us."
Growing up in the Bullough household, a close-knit family, Byron saw Uncle Chuck often. Whether it was at holiday family gatherings, or throughout the year, Byron and his two brothers always looked up to Uncle Chuck and had a strong relationship with him.
Byron has been able to add another level to that relationship, something he will be able to take with him well past his playing days and time at Michigan State.
"Whenever I step in the football building it is Coach Bullough, but outside of the football building he's still Uncle Chuck," Byron said. "On a more personal level, I'll always think of him now as my coach. That's something I will take with me the rest of my life."
"When I showed up and started to go to work, and he was there, it was Coach Bullough," Chuck said. "He didn't call me Uncle Chuck; it was Coach Bullough. Down the line, it'll be something special. Right now, I'm coach, and he's player. Later on, years from now, when he's out of football, he'll still be able to call me Coach Bullough, which Max and Riley can't call me because I never coached them."
At Michigan State, it's a tradition that every senior has to get up and speak in front of the team. When Byron took the podium in front of his teammates, one of the things he told them was that he would bring a ton of energy to every practice, and every time he steps on the field.
"He definitely has done that," Chuck said. "He's going one hundred miles an hour once he hits that field, and it doesn't stop until coach says practice is over. He's really done a great job of holding up his side of the bargain."
The coaching staff has called Byron the most improved player they have on the defensive side of the ball this season. He's appeared in all four games to this point, making a tackle at Arizona State on September 8.
Byron's father Shane, uncle Chuck, and brothers, Max and Riley, all were known for being high-energy, vocal leaders among their teammates. That hasn't changed with Byron. It's part of the family tradition to bring some energy.
"There's been a Bullough playing for us since 2010," Dantonio said. "It's 2018, and the last one is playing. I'll tell you what every one of them had, which, we need to have. Fearlessness."
While Byron might be the last Bullough to wear an MSU jersey for a while, the name is a permanent fixture around Spartan Stadium. At least one Bullough is on every Big Ten Champion plaque except two in the large collection of plaques on the southwest corner of the stadium.
For Byron, playing at Michigan State is a family tradition. He takes pride in putting on the Spartan jersey with the last name that graces the hallways around the Skandalaris Center.
"I came here wanting to better myself both in my education, and as a football player, while growing as a person," Byron said. "I came in here as an 18-year-old, and I'll be 23 in a while. In a lot of ways, I came in here as a boy, but I'll be leaving as a man."
As the 2018 season goes on, and Byron starts to think about those last few games he gets to put on the Green and White, he will know he left his own mark on the Bullough name. Closing the book on eight-consecutive years of Bullough's in the MSU football program.
That is, until the next generation of Bullough's decide it's time to carry on the family tradition and leave their own mark at Michigan State.
Within the Michigan State football program, family has been a component of the brotherhood for decades. One, in particular, has donned the Green and White for three generations. The Bullough family.
The Bullough name first appeared on a Spartan roster in 1951. In 2018, The Bullough name still appears on the Spartan roster in fifth-year senior linebacker, Byron Bullough.
Byron's grandfather, Hank, played guard from 1951-54, and was the first Bullough to put on the Spartan helmet. Twenty-nine years later, the Bullough name returned to the back of a jersey inside Spartan Stadium when Byron's father Shane played from 1983-86.
"Uncle Chuck" as Byron calls him, a linebacker from 1988-91, became the third Bullough to play Spartan football. Byron's uncle, Bobby Morse, also was a Michigan State running back from 1983-86.
The third generation of Bullough's first earned their jersey in 2010. Byron's oldest brother, Max, became a four-year letterwinner, and three-year starter at middle linebacker. Other brother, Riley, was also a four-year letterwinner at linebacker at MSU from 2013-16, earning a team captain honor in 2016.
The Bullough name has been on the Spartan roster for each of the last eight years, but it isn't just synonymous with the football program at Michigan State. Byron's sister, Holly, is a junior on the Spartan cross country team.
"We always talk about family here at Michigan State," Byron said. "We have a ton of guys on the team right now who are actually blood-brothers. It's a cool thing. There are legacies, and several brothers on this team, so that's pretty special."
The 2018 Spartan roster features four sets of brothers, including a trio of Dowell's, two Panasiuk's, two Sokol's, and a twin set of Slade's. All combine to tie for the second-most sets of brothers in NCAA Division I football. At MSU, football truly is family.
In February, Uncle Chuck became Coach Bullough as Chuck returned to his alma mater, accepting the position as defensive ends coach on head coach Mark Dantonio's staff. A 22-year coaching veteran, Bullough has experience in college and the NFL, spending the past two seasons as defensive line coach at Eastern Michigan.
"My Dad told me, actually, when I first heard about it, and I was like 'wow, that's awesome,'" Byron said. "I called up Uncle Chuck, told him congrats, and that I can't wait to get to work with him. He's always been an intense guy, and to bring him onto the staff as another family member, and another intense coach, brings a new element to our team that I think will help us."
Growing up in the Bullough household, a close-knit family, Byron saw Uncle Chuck often. Whether it was at holiday family gatherings, or throughout the year, Byron and his two brothers always looked up to Uncle Chuck and had a strong relationship with him.
Byron has been able to add another level to that relationship, something he will be able to take with him well past his playing days and time at Michigan State.
"Whenever I step in the football building it is Coach Bullough, but outside of the football building he's still Uncle Chuck," Byron said. "On a more personal level, I'll always think of him now as my coach. That's something I will take with me the rest of my life."
"When I showed up and started to go to work, and he was there, it was Coach Bullough," Chuck said. "He didn't call me Uncle Chuck; it was Coach Bullough. Down the line, it'll be something special. Right now, I'm coach, and he's player. Later on, years from now, when he's out of football, he'll still be able to call me Coach Bullough, which Max and Riley can't call me because I never coached them."
At Michigan State, it's a tradition that every senior has to get up and speak in front of the team. When Byron took the podium in front of his teammates, one of the things he told them was that he would bring a ton of energy to every practice, and every time he steps on the field.
"He definitely has done that," Chuck said. "He's going one hundred miles an hour once he hits that field, and it doesn't stop until coach says practice is over. He's really done a great job of holding up his side of the bargain."
The coaching staff has called Byron the most improved player they have on the defensive side of the ball this season. He's appeared in all four games to this point, making a tackle at Arizona State on September 8.
Byron's father Shane, uncle Chuck, and brothers, Max and Riley, all were known for being high-energy, vocal leaders among their teammates. That hasn't changed with Byron. It's part of the family tradition to bring some energy.
"There's been a Bullough playing for us since 2010," Dantonio said. "It's 2018, and the last one is playing. I'll tell you what every one of them had, which, we need to have. Fearlessness."
While Byron might be the last Bullough to wear an MSU jersey for a while, the name is a permanent fixture around Spartan Stadium. At least one Bullough is on every Big Ten Champion plaque except two in the large collection of plaques on the southwest corner of the stadium.
For Byron, playing at Michigan State is a family tradition. He takes pride in putting on the Spartan jersey with the last name that graces the hallways around the Skandalaris Center.
"I came here wanting to better myself both in my education, and as a football player, while growing as a person," Byron said. "I came in here as an 18-year-old, and I'll be 23 in a while. In a lot of ways, I came in here as a boy, but I'll be leaving as a man."
As the 2018 season goes on, and Byron starts to think about those last few games he gets to put on the Green and White, he will know he left his own mark on the Bullough name. Closing the book on eight-consecutive years of Bullough's in the MSU football program.
That is, until the next generation of Bullough's decide it's time to carry on the family tradition and leave their own mark at Michigan State.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballA New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 24 2025
Monday, November 24