Being from Detroit, I remember the champion Detroit Lions
with coach Buddy Parker, George Wilson and players like Bobby Lane, Tobin Rote,
Doak Walker, Les Bingaman, Cloyce Box, [Tom the Bomb Tracy, John Henry Johnson,
Leon Hart, Lou Creekmur, Harley Sewell, Joe Schmidt and of course Chris and his
crew [Jack Christiansen, Jimmy David, Terry Barr and Yale Larry] to name a few.
In fact, the 1957 season had the Lions winning the Western
Conference playoff game in an exciting, 31 to 27 victory over the San Francisco
49ers. In the NFL Championship Game, the Lions whipped the Cleveland Browns, 59
to 14 in front of over 55,000 fans. Incidentally, Tobin Rote was the Lion’s quarterback
in that game at Briggs Stadium. On a side note, during that football season, I
played for Denby high school and we were undefeated, ready to play for the
public school championship when our athletic director Greene announced that one
of our players Ed Hood falsified his medical evaluation. The result was that we
had to forfeit the games in which he played. Ed Hood was a junior, and played
the next year in 1958. He then received a scholarship to play for the
University Michigan.
The radio announcer for the current Detroit Lions Jim
Brandstatter was an offensive tackle for Bo Schembechler. I asked Jim about the controversial call
[Brandon Pettigrew was interfered by linebacker Anthony Hitchens and was unable
to catch the pass thrown by Matthew Stafford. Initially, the flag was thrown
for pass interference and then referee Pete Morelli picked up the flag-thus
there was no penalty]. On the radio, Jim said to his radio audience, “What just
happened?” I am not going to repeat what
Jim said off the air. Further, Jim, the radio announcer, has been joined this
year by Dan Dierdorf. Hear them on the University of Michigan Wolverines radio
network.
The Lions had a good season this year, and likely will
improve for the 2015 season. Likewise, with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, the
University of Michigan is in a great position to return to its football
greatness. Jim Harbaugh has brought in 45-year-old Tim Drevno 45 as his offensive
coordinator/offensive line coach. Tim was an offensive lineman at Cal State
Fullerton in 1989 and 1990. Tim became the offensive coordinator and offensive
line coach at the University of San Diego; coached tight ends and was the offensive
line coach at Stanford University; and coached the offensive line with Mike
Soleri for the San Francisco 49ers.
Wherever Tim coached, his record speaks for itself. Each of these three teams were very successful
under his tutelage. Further, Tim’s head coach was Jim Harbaugh. Obviously, Jim
has had a successful history with Tim that has contributed to Jim’s success. If
past history is a look into the future, then Michigan is in good hands with Tim
Drevno.
Go Blue!
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