Mike Singletary, The Eyes Have it
I just put Monday Night Football on and the 49er’s are handing it to the Cards 17-0 in the third quarter. It sounds like Arizona has done all they can to give it away. Whatever the case, I would be pulling for San Francisco anyway. I want Mike Singletary to succeed as head coach, for lots of reasons, but more on that later.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Mike Singletary. It was the season opener in 1978 and we were playing Baylor University. It would be a great day for the Dawgs and for me personally, but I also remember #63 making a tackle on the sidelines right next to me. That’s when I saw them. Those eyes! Dang, who is this guy? He’s possessed!
I have no idea how many tackles he made that day, but later that year he made 35 against Arkansas. Look it up. We were both sophomores, so no one outside the Southwest Conference knew who he was yet, but they would. He and I made some of the same All-American teams in 1979 and 1980, but he went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears. Me, not so much.
I really am pulling for Mike to succeed because of what he represents. He is a man of faith and holds on to the old school way of thinking we grew up with. He’s a great guy.
Oh, and in case you were not in Sanford Stadium that day, Georgia upset Baylor 16-14. I had three field goals of 43, 38 and 36 yards and one PAT…I even won the Chevrolet Player of the Game.
Thanks for asking!
Sorry Rex 78 was kind of blurrrrrrrrrrry !
12/16/2009 at 11:12 PM
I remember that game well, Rex. It was on ABC regional coverage that day, and Willie McClendon scored a late touchdown (going toward the old tracks, I believe) on a little sweep to the short side of the field. Not a whole lot was excpected that season considering the way the team fared in 1977. Then a few weeks later, we stunned LSU in Red Stick and I guess the “Wonderdogs” of ’78 was born. That was a helluva fun year!
It’s funny how one game or one play can really stick with you after all these years…but for some reason that one did. Now, don’t ask me where I placed my car keys 15 minutes ago…
12/15/2009 at 12:58 PM
The Cardinals coach is a GA native from Augusta. He went to ARC and was well liked there.
12/15/2009 at 11:52 AM
Yeah, but he’s a Tech guy and not a peer of mine. Hence the omission.
12/15/2009 at 12:16 PM
I forgot he went to Tech.
12/15/2009 at 8:33 PM