It's been a little over two weeks since the passing of legendary coach Don Coryell on July 1, 2010. But the praise and remembrance for the man who helped revolutionize the modern passing game continues to pour in.Earlier this week, the equally legendary coach and a former defensive assistant for Don Coryell's staff at SDSU during the early 1960's, John Madden shared some emotional words about his former coach and subsequent rival...
"He got me started really, I was at Hancock College and Don hired me back 40 years ago," Madden said. "I learned everything from him. I learned how to be a head coach."
"You know, I'm sitting down there in front, and next to me is Joe Gibbs, and next to him is Dan Fouts, and the three of us are in the Hall of Fame because of Don Coryell," Madden said, pausing to compose himself while delivering a eulogy at San Diego State's basketball arena. "There's something missing."
"You know, I'm sitting down there in front, and next to me is Joe Gibbs, and next to him is Dan Fouts, and the three of us are in the Hall of Fame because of Don Coryell," Madden said, pausing to compose himself while delivering a eulogy at San Diego State's basketball arena. "There's something missing."
Said Dan Fouts as he began his eulogy: "I'm Dan Fouts, and I never thought I'd ever say, 'Good job, John Madden..."
Said Madden before the service: "Sometimes it's just getting there, and I feel in Don's case, he will be. So it's not, 'Is Don a Hall of Fame coach or not?' It's just, 'When does he go in?' It's just a shame that he didn't go in before now."
I appreciate John Madden's thoughts about his former coach. Personally, I became a die-hard fan of the blue and gold lightning bolts because of Don Coryell. His high-flying offense is how I was introduced to the Chargers. I was hooked as a young kid watching Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Wes Chandler, Charlie Joiner, Bobby Scales and John Jefferson run Coryell's innovative offense to perfection.
Don will always be my all-time favorite Bolts head coach for obvious reasons. He will be missed and this fan is extremely sad that he wasn't inducted into Canton sooner.
A true loss for not only Charger fans but anyone who knows about football. The last 5 years have been tough. We have lost a lot of the pioneers.
ReplyDeletefouts said it best good jod madden ! coryell was the first to open the passing playbook that today is the nfl ! he should have already been hof inducted . i could go on forever about his acolades but i will end with this one of my favorite coaches is madden , and who gave him thie break to be the hof guy he became , AIR CORYELL !! TO QUOTE MADDEN AS FAR AS THE HOF , "SOMETHINGS MISSING" ! R.I.P. COACH CORYELL , IF THE BOLTS HAVE AN AFTER LIFE TEAM WE ALL KNOW WHOS COACHING , YOU !!
ReplyDeletei thought gillman and john hadl were the first to really open the passing game up, however, theres absolutely NO DOUBT coryell revolutionized it to the form it currently takes in a few of todays offenses
ReplyDeletewhats up guys this is superCHARGED68/ deathfromabove, i got banned w bunch of weeks ago and the espys never answered my re-instatement request so i just started over.. when u see deathfromabove on espn thats me.. good day everyone, props on the forum dino i like.
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