Outside Topic RIP to the Kansas Comet - Printable Version
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RIP to the Kansas Comet - Papa John - 09-23-2020
Gale Sayers, born in Wichita, KS, passed away earlier today at the age of 77. I was too young to follow Sayers during his time as running back and kick returner at the University of Kansas or with the Chicago Bears--he retired due to injuries in 1971. But I heard plenty of stories about him from my fellow Kansans, and by the time I started following sports around 1973 he was already spoken of as a legend. There are probably folks on this board who had the privilege of seeing him play in person. By all accounts a great person--and this coming from a K-State fan. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I cried when I finally saw Brian's Song.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - Brickcity - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 04:30 PM)Papa John Wrote: Gale Sayers, born in Wichita, KS, passed away earlier today at the age of 77. I was too young to follow Sayers during his time as running back and kick returner at the University of Kansas or with the Chicago Bears--he retired due to injuries in 1971. But I heard plenty of stories about him from my fellow Kansans, and by the time I started following sports around 1973 he was already spoken of as a legend. There are probably folks on this board who had the privilege of seeing him play in person. By all accounts a great person--and this coming from a K-State fan. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I cried when I finally saw Brian's Song.
I saw Brian's song as a kid in the late 70s and am sure I shed a tear. Hell, I might now! Watching his highlights I'm reminded that he was truly one of the most electric running backs in history, right up there with Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and...I don't know who else.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - Papa John - 09-23-2020
Thanks, BrickCity. The way it was told to me was that Gale Sayers didn't score every time he touched the ball, but every time he touched the ball you thought he would score up until he got tackled.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - Spiny_Norman - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 04:40 PM)Papa John Wrote: Thanks, BrickCity. The way it was told to me was that Gale Sayers didn't score every time he touched the ball, but every time he touched the ball you thought he would score up until he got tackled.
Sounds like another Wichita running back, Barry Sanders.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - Phogge - 09-23-2020
Sat in front of the tube the day he ran around, thru and over the Niners. Superman in a black jersey.
lex24 - lex24 - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 06:01 PM)Phogge Wrote: Sat in front of the tube the day he ran around, thru and over the Niners. Superman in a black jersey.
One of the most graceful runners. And exciting. Never was quite the same after he tore his knee when tackled by Kermit Alexander. I read his biography when I was a yute. I believe it was called: “I am Third”. Behind God and family. Not certain, but I think Brian’s Song was based on that book
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - CowboyIndian - 09-23-2020
A few years after he left Kansas, the Jayhawks came to Stanford Stadium and lost to the Indians 21-20 in one of the first games I witnessed as a freshman. Their coach was Pepper Rodgers, a real unusual personality in a profession that didn't take kindly to "oddballs". He died recently with not enough fanfare, IMO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/05/16/pepper-rodgers-never-fit-football-coach-mold-didnt-try-that-made-him-great/
lex24 - lex24 - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 07:03 PM)CowboyIndian Wrote: A few years after he left Kansas, the Jayhawks came to Stanford Stadium and lost to the Indians 21-20 in one of the first games I witnessed as a freshman. Their coach was Pepper Rodgers, a real unusual personality in a profession that didn't take kindly to "oddballs". He died recently with not enough fanfare, IMO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/05/16/pepper-rodgers-never-fit-football-coach-mold-didnt-try-that-made-him-great/
Didn’t Rogers run the wishbone? Remember him from his years at UCLA. I think Mark Harmon was his QB. One of my HS alma maters greatest athletes, Brad Lyman, was a WR. His son Chase was a WR at Cal. Brad was a sprinter. Could fly. But both he and Chase were derailed by knee injuries.
RE: lex24 - 82lsju - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 06:07 PM)lex24 Wrote: I read his biography when I was a yute. I believe it was called: “I am Third”. Behind God and family. Not certain, but I think Brian’s Song was based on that book
it was
lex24 - lex24 - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 07:03 PM)CowboyIndian Wrote: A few years after he left Kansas, the Jayhawks came to Stanford Stadium and lost to the Indians 21-20 in one of the first games I witnessed as a freshman. Their coach was Pepper Rodgers, a real unusual personality in a profession that didn't take kindly to "oddballs". He died recently with not enough fanfare, IMO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/05/16/pepper-rodgers-never-fit-football-coach-mold-didnt-try-that-made-him-great/
Didn’t Rogers run the wishbone? Remember him from his years at UCLA. I think Mark Harmon was his QB.
RE: lex24 - Red80 - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 08:03 PM)lex24 Wrote:(09-23-2020, 07:03 PM)CowboyIndian Wrote: A few years after he left Kansas, the Jayhawks came to Stanford Stadium and lost to the Indians 21-20 in one of the first games I witnessed as a freshman. Their coach was Pepper Rodgers, a real unusual personality in a profession that didn't take kindly to "oddballs". He died recently with not enough fanfare, IMO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/05/16/pepper-rodgers-never-fit-football-coach-mold-didnt-try-that-made-him-great/
UCLA played at Stanford in '73 in what was anticipated to be a competitive game. Led by Mark Harmon, Kermit Johnson and James McCalister, Rodgers and his wishbone offense rushed for 621 yards in a 59-13 victory.
Didn’t Rogers run the wishbone? Remember him from his years at UCLA. I think Mark Harmon was his QB.
RE: lex24 - Griffins78 - 09-23-2020
(09-23-2020, 06:07 PM)lex24 Wrote:He was my favorite running back of all time. "Graceful" is a good description that isn't associated with many running backs. He moved so smoothly, shifting direction mid-stride. George Halas said, "He was poetry in motion. His like will never be seen again." And I agree. When I was a kid playing football, I tried to run like he did.(09-23-2020, 06:01 PM)Phogge Wrote: Sat in front of the tube the day he ran around, thru and over the Niners. Superman in a black jersey.
One of the most graceful runners. And exciting. Never was quite the same after he tore his knee when tackled by Kermit Alexander. I read his biography when I was a yute. I believe it was called: “I am Third”. Behind God and family. Not certain, but I think Brian’s Song was based on that book
I loved Brian's Song. Tear jerker, especially because it was a true story. And yes, it was based on Sayers' book, "I am Third." A black man and a white man that loved and respected each other.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - 82lsju - 09-23-2020
Gale Sayers highlight video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcll_wwpT6I&feature=emb_err_woyt
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - Nan3cy - 09-23-2020
He was a great running back and a good guy. About 20 years ago, he and his wife founded the Gayle and Ardythe Sayers center at The Cradle, an adoption agency in Evanston, IL. (Full disclosure: the agency was founded by my grandmother in 1923.) The Sayers center is set up to encourage African-American adoptions. He had adopted a child from the agency in (I think) the 60s.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - PVTree - 09-24-2020
As a young boy growing up in Chicago, I was a hu-ge fan of Walter Payton (still am). My dad told me that, as great as Payton is, Sayers was even better, more elusive. Sayers was his favorite player.
I wished I had been able to see Sayers, Butkus, and Ditka play for DA Bears.
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - Mick - 09-24-2020
Bob Berry was U of Oregon's All-American quarterback, and played on the West team in the 1/2/1965 East-West Shrine game. This was back in the days when there was comparatively little media and almost no knowledge of the players. Bob was my dad's quarterback at Willow Glen HS in San Jose, and some former members of the WGHS team were sitting in my grandparents' kitchen after the first East-West shrine game practice. The conversation centered around the best players, and Bob said, "Well, they're all really good. But there's this running back from Kansas named Gale Sayers who is just unbelievable."
That all-star game had Dick Ragsdale, Jack Chapple and Bob Nichols from Stanford and Craig Morton and Jack Schraub from Cal. East had Staubach and Butkus among others. Game was played at Kezar. West won, 11-7.
https://www.shrinegame.com/Uploads/Public/Documents/NewShrineGame/Files/PastRosters/40_January_2_1965.pdf
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - BobK - 09-24-2020
I used to go to the East West game every year late 50s at Kezar then Stanford
Knew all the players. Big stories in the chronicle for a week. Lots of PR abd big crowds.
Certainly remember Berry from HA abd of course college
RE: RIP to the Kansas Comet - PalmTree - 09-24-2020
Wow - I just watched Brian's Song a few nights ago. What a story - and I LOVED watching Sayers - such a treat when his video highlights first started appearing on Youtube, just so smooth on the field.
lex24 - lex24 - 09-24-2020
(09-23-2020, 11:31 PM)Nan3cy Wrote: He was a great running back and a good guy. About 20 years ago, he and his wife founded the Gayle and Ardythe Sayers center at The Cradle, an adoption agency in Evanston, IL. (Full disclosure: the agency was founded by my grandmother in 1923.) The Sayers center is set up to encourage African-American adoptions. He had adopted a child from the agency in (I think) the 60s.
What a wonderful thing your Grandmother did. Fantastic!
(09-23-2020, 09:07 PM)82lsju Wrote: Gale Sayers highlight video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcll_wwpT6I&feature=emb_err_woyt
Video blocked by the No Fun League. Concerned they won’t squeeze out every dollar....
RE: lex24 - BostonCard - 09-24-2020
(09-24-2020, 10:27 AM)lex24 Wrote: Video blocked by the No Fun League. Concerned they won’t squeeze out every dollar....
You can watch it at Youtube; it just doesn't allow embedding because, the NFL.
BC