Don Coryell

Today, I had a brush with greatness. I won't say where but I ran into Don Coryell, the football great and architect of "air coryell". He was looking pretty good for 80. Just the glance of him sitting there brought back all the memories of watching the San Diego Chargers in the 1980s. What a team they were. Lots of excitement. Lots of heartbreak. Lots of fun.

It was a pleasure to see him. I wish I had known more about him. Reading his bio on Wikipedia I ask myself "how is this guy not in the pro football Hall Of Fame?" I read the arguments, but still... his contributions alone should warrant admission.

I just found out that he was the coach at Whittier College in Whittier, CA. My daughter goes to Whittier. I would have liked to talk to him but I just smiled and nodded. It was not the venue to converse.

Don Coryell looked like a real class individual. And those rings. He had several rings. I remember the Chargers winning several division titles, so they must have been division rings. He sure won enough of those. It was good to see him. He means a lot to a lot of San Diego Football fans. A very pleasant surprise, for me anyway.


Update Dec. 1, 2009 (thanks to Dan Mc.):
Don Coryell is 80 years young. I don't remember where I got my original information. I have corrected my post.