[Blue Hawk (Mizzou) Card]

Thought the board might be interested in this story about the coach from my days at Stanford: Soon to be 88, Paul Wiggin, one of the NFL’s ‘true treasures,’ still working for Vikings - InForum | Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo news, weather and sports (thedickinsonpress.com)

Loyal Stanford football alum. NFL coaching experience. Really good person, apparently. Struggled as a college coach. I remember strongly believing Stanford needed to move past him, though it is mighty painful to let an alum who is also a good person go.

[Note: Though there are parallels to current circumstances, it should be noted that Coach Wiggin never went to a single bowl game, even with a cannon-armed quarterback some consider the best at the position in college history. So there are parallels, but, as usual, there is not a complete overlap.]

Seems happy to have had a role in the game he loves for a long time. Glad to see that.

[I think you can see a few stories from my local paper without a subscription. Apologies if I am incorrect--i.e., if this is behind a paywall.]

[Blue Hawk (Mizzou) Card]

Thought the board might be interested in this story about the coach from my days at Stanford: Soon to be 88, Paul Wiggin, one of the NFL’s ‘true treasures,’ still working for Vikings - InForum | Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo news, weather and sports (thedickinsonpress.com)

Loyal Stanford football alum. NFL coaching experience. Really good person, apparently. Struggled as a college coach. I remember strongly believing Stanford needed to move past him, though it is mighty painful to let an alum who is also a good person go.

[Note: Though there are parallels to current circumstances, it should be noted that Coach Wiggin never went to a single bowl game, even with a cannon-armed quarterback some consider the best at the position in college history. So there are parallels, but, as usual, there is not a complete overlap.]

Seems happy to have had a role in the game he loves for a long time. Glad to see that.

[I think you can see a few stories from my local paper without a subscription. Apologies if I am incorrect--i.e., if this is behind a paywall.]

[slide]

it's a good piece on Wiggin.  some good player feedback.  laughed at the 1975 draft board he inherited.  almost sounded like the OL room Tyrone left Buddy...

[slide]

it's a good piece on Wiggin.  some good player feedback.  laughed at the 1975 draft board he inherited.  almost sounded like the OL room Tyrone left Buddy...

[Phogge]

He was unfortunate to have John Matuzak on his KC roster. Disruptive in the extreme. Paul visited John’s room one night (as was related to us in an interview) during training camp to “discuss” responsibility. Big John had a woman and a dog hiding in the closet. The dog kept quiet.

[Phogge]

He was unfortunate to have John Matuzak on his KC roster. Disruptive in the extreme. Paul visited John’s room one night (as was related to us in an interview) during training camp to “discuss” responsibility. Big John had a woman and a dog hiding in the closet. The dog kept quiet.

[newguy]

Paul was the head coach my freshman and sophomore years.  he was popular with the players who lived in my dorm.
good man.

[newguy]

Paul was the head coach my freshman and sophomore years.  he was popular with the players who lived in my dorm.
good man.

[Maple Leaf]

Paul Wiggin transferred into Stanford from Merced JC.  He is among others who transferred into Stanford from a JC who both graduated and did quite well out in the real world.

[Maple Leaf]

Paul Wiggin transferred into Stanford from Merced JC.  He is among others who transferred into Stanford from a JC who both graduated and did quite well out in the real world.

[81alum]

Paul was the head coach my freshman and sophomore years.  he was popular with the players who lived in my dorm.
good man.

Yes, everyone raved about him as a good person, and so much was made of his connection born out of being an alum of the program and his time in the pros.  There was a lot to like about him, but Walsh had set the standard, Dowhower had disappointed with a 5-5-1 season, and so Wiggin's consistent losses happened when the program was already impatient for a turnaround.  Once you fire someone for a 5-5-1 record, there is not a lot of patience for someone who is even worse.

[81alum]

Paul was the head coach my freshman and sophomore years.  he was popular with the players who lived in my dorm.
good man.

Yes, everyone raved about him as a good person, and so much was made of his connection born out of being an alum of the program and his time in the pros.  There was a lot to like about him, but Walsh had set the standard, Dowhower had disappointed with a 5-5-1 season, and so Wiggin's consistent losses happened when the program was already impatient for a turnaround.  Once you fire someone for a 5-5-1 record, there is not a lot of patience for someone who is even worse.

[gailtate]

Paul was the head coach my freshman and sophomore years.  he was popular with the players who lived in my dorm.
good man.

Wiggin was a "player's coach", as was an earlier predecessor who was also fired and also a former NFL head coach, Jack Christensen. Neither could succeed at Stanford although Christensen had nothing comparable to the offensive talent on Wiggin's roster in 1980, '81 and '82.

[gailtate]

Paul was the head coach my freshman and sophomore years.  he was popular with the players who lived in my dorm.
good man.

Wiggin was a "player's coach", as was an earlier predecessor who was also fired and also a former NFL head coach, Jack Christensen. Neither could succeed at Stanford although Christensen had nothing comparable to the offensive talent on Wiggin's roster in 1980, '81 and '82.