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A Football Life: Barry Sanders - Printable Version

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A Football Life: Barry Sanders - Griffins78 - 12-10-2012

The NFL Network played a documentary on Barry Sanders as part of their "A Football Life" series. It is really well done and worth watching. It shows some highlights of him running that show why many (me included) consider him the greatest of all time. But what is even better is seeing the kind of person he is - the things that shaped him - particularly his father - and at the end transitions to his son - BJ and fatherhood. Very moving and illuminating.

Here is a preview:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/a-football-life/0ap2000000105287/Barry-Sanders-A-Football-Life-extended-preview

edit: I found a copy on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGQp90Rzj9M

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - fullmetal - 12-14-2012

Finally got around to watching this, and I'm glad I did.  I didn't get interested in football until well after Sanders retired, but now I know that Sanders would have been the type to choose Stanford had he been in a place to earn that opportunity, and I'm glad BJ Sanders is getting that chance now. 

It's almost eerie how rarely Sanders smiled in the NFL footage.  He wasn't glaring like Blake Griffin, but that emotionless front seemed like it was pretty impenetrable.

Can't wait to see BJ take a crack at filling Stepfan's shoes.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - Griffins78 - 12-14-2012

I agree. But I have seen BJ smile a lot.

One thing that stood out to me was that Barry Sanders chose OSU even though he had to wait two years behind Thurman Thomas, an All-American and future NFL Pro Bowler. Puts BJ red-shirting this past year in a different perspective.

Both seem mature beyond their years. Subject to extreme scrutiny, high expectations, and no shortage of advice and opinions, they both have a strength of character to be thoughtful, to make up their own minds, and to live with their convictions. Highly admirable.

I can't wait for Spring... After the Rose Bowl, that is.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - yvonne - 12-14-2012

Barry spoke at a Council meeting this year. He seemed more at ease than many seniors. He seemed to have no problem whatsoever with redshirting. "We're like six deep at wide receiver running back," he said.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - fullmetal - 12-14-2012

Why not attend a school that's proven a commitment to running the football? :)  You know there's some semblance of good OL coaching there...

As for being six-deep at WR, boy I sure hope that pays off.  (But BJ is going to try to make it at RB, right?....RIGHT? :p)

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - teejers1 - 12-14-2012

Agree that this was a great story.  Knew Barry Sanders was a terrific RB, but knew very little of his (or his dad's) backstory.  Am an even bigger Sanders fan now.

BTW, anyone else think that Barry talks an awful lot like Joe Morgan?  Greatest RB ever having same mannerisms as greatest 2B ever?  Hmmmm.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - Griffins78 - 12-15-2012

(12-14-2012, 10:50 AM)Yvonne link Wrote:Barry spoke at a Council meeting this year. He seemed more at ease than many seniors. He seemed to have no problem whatsoever with redshirting. "We're like six deep at wide receiver running back," he said.
Yvonne - can you tell us more about the Council meeting? I can't find any info on it on the web.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - yvonne - 12-15-2012

The Council, formerly the Council of Chiefs, is a group that meets in the press box the day before all regular season home games. It's inexpensive, only $35 or $40. Because it meets at lunchtime, it's members tend to have more life experience than I do. Let me see if I can send you an invitation on Facebook.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - washingtonismoney - 12-15-2012

(12-15-2012, 03:33 PM)Yvonne link Wrote:Because it meets at lunchtime, it's members tend to have more life experience than I do.

Takes a lot of life experience to get three square meals a day in.

I usually skip breakfast though.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - terry - 12-15-2012

The Council of Chiefs goes back many years. For a long time, it was a 7 am breakfast meeting in Palo Alto on the Friday before each home game. Bob Murphy was the moderator and the attendees were mostly men in their 70s and 80s who seemed to have known each other for a long time. Very clubby. Around the time of Murphy's retirement, the meetings were moved on to campus. A couple of years ago, the meetings were switched to lunch instead of breakfast. The "Chiefs" part of the name was dropped about two years ago. I think there are probably 60 to 80 people at most of these meetings, but that's just a guess. The attendees include more people under 70 and more women than in the Bob Murphy days, but it's still a mostly older, mostly male group.

The format of the Council meetings is pretty much the same as it was in the Bob Murphy days, except there are no long, rambling digressions about people Murphy knew and things Murphy did a long time ago. The meetings still are held on the day before each home game. Council meetings include lunch (the lunch costs about $15 or so each week, I think) and then a short program (maybe half an hour or 45 minutes). The program usually includes a short highlight video of the previous game, several interviews, and a raffle at which Stanford gear is given to the winners. Todd Husak does the interviews, which are the heart of the meeting. He usually interviews 2 or 3 players and one assistant coach. Under Harbaugh, the players who were chosen to attend were mostly players who were injured or redshirting. Under Shaw, we see a variety of players. After each interview, there's an opportunity for those in attendance to pose questions to the player or coach in question.

The guy in charge of the Council is Ron Lynn in the football office. You can send him an email at rwlynn@stanford.edu and ask him to put you on the Council email distribution list for next season.


Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - yvonne - 12-15-2012

The week Sanders came all three players were those who were either redshirting or injured. Usually, it's one offensive player, one defensive player, and maybe a third. 

Thanks for the Ron Lynn email.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - Griffins78 - 12-15-2012

Very cool. Thanks for sharing such detailed info. Sounds like fun!

Re: The Council - Spiny_Norman - 12-17-2012

I attended the Council lunch as a guest before the AZ game this past season.  Guest cost was $20 which I thought was a fair price.  No prior RSVP required.  Just show up and pay your money!  We got to hear from Trent Murphy, Zach Ertz and inside LB coach Kotulski.  Highly recommended.  Next year will be a reunion for me.  I'll be planning my Friday events around the Council lunch, which I do not want to miss.

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - fullmetal - 12-17-2012

Anything special we need to do before the Friday lunch if we'd like to attend? (Assuming this is the Friday before the Rose Bowl...)

Re: A Football Life: Barry Sanders - yvonne - 12-17-2012

Unfortunately, the Council holds meetings before regular season games only.