Bud Grant - 1978
I agree. The Vikes have never been the same since he left.
Bud’s looking pretty damned good for a guy about to turn 86.
:: played in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, XI ::
And, as a fan of the Black&Blue Conference, I say...
One for the thumb! (Second place rings.)
Bud was nothing without Fran.
The only time I ever saw him display any emotion was when he cried during his HOF acceptance speech.
I remember when Sammy White, I think it was. In his rookie season, he was returning kickoffs, and Grant told him that if the ball comes inside the 10 to let it go into the end zone.
Sammy took the ball at the 5 and returned it for a touchdown. When he came to the sideline after the touchdown, Grant benched him for the remainder of the game, because he did not do what Bud told him to.
Bud retired, because he saw the way the future was turning with the big attitudes and big salaries of the players, and wanted nothing to do with it.
One thing I would like to do before I die, spend the afternoon fishing with Bud while talking football on some backwoods lake in the state of my childhood home, Minnesota.
I would then be ready to go home to my Father in heaven.
Bud Grant - 1978
If any coach deserved a Super Bowl trophy,, but alas.. the Chiefs, Dolphins, raiders and one other team, to be named soon enuf.. shut them down super sunday.. oh vell, the bills of the midwest live.. Thanks for all the thrills Bud.
Bud Grant is not only a great figure in the history of the NFL and a Minnesota sports icon, but he’s also one of the biggest hunting, fishing and outdoors supporters you will ever find.
Skol, Coach Grant. This longtime Vike salutes you.
Ironic picture near the end of the Wisconsin win:
A man’s man.
I grew up rooting for his Vikes. I recall him then being an old man. Now, in the photo above (from ‘78) he looks so remarkably young and handsome.
