Posted on 10/29/2008 6:02:33 PM PDT by 3Lean
Bob Lurtsema remembers seeing Bud Grant break down only once during the six years he played for the Hall of Fame coach.
The Vikings were set to open training camp in 1973 when Grant got up in front of his players. Grant informed the team that safety Karl Kassulke had been in a motorcycle accident hours earlier and could possibly die.
"Bud broke down and started to cry," Lurtsema said. "Tears were coming down my cheeks. You could hear a pin drop. ... That says more for any individual of being the total package for a coach to respect him that much."
Kassulke, who was paralyzed in that accident, died Monday after suffering a heart attack at his Eagan home. He was 67. A member of the Vikings from 1963 to '72, Kassulke is the second member of the team from that era to pass away in just more than a month. Linebacker Wally Hilgenberg (1968-79) died after a battle with ALS in September.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
sorry to hear of this and condolences to his friends and family.
Purple Pride!
trivial....the Cowboys running back, # 43 is who ?????
On another note, personally, Bud Grant always personified what it is to be a Minnesota Viking. One of the greats.
Don Perkins?
If it’s the same guy I’m thinking of, Karl faithfully attended an Assembly of God church in Eagan. I remember asking a relative about him because he always seemed very cheerful. He told me about the cycle accident and that he was a Viking.
Sad news indeed.
I loved watching those Viking teams from like 1969 to the mid 70’s or so. Recently the NFL Network ran these programs called Missing Rings about great teams that didn’t win the super bowl. They profiled the 1969 Vikings. It was really neat to see.
Sad news indeed.
I think he married a lady Dr. He was a great safety and had a wonderful laugh.
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