From the NFC championship game lost 14-10 in 1974:
5. I think I wanted to take a moment to recognize a Hall of Famer turning 95 on Friday. Bud Grant continues to be a national treasure. The former Vikings coach still contributes to the Vikings as an adviser, still is an avid outdoorsman and hunts and fishes regularly, and has the kind of attitude about football and life that makes you want to be around him. Listen to his former quarterback, Fran Tarkenton, still an entrepreneur and successful business operator at age 82, talk about the influence of Grant on his life. The Vikings traded with the Giants for Tarkenton in 1972, and immediately became Super Bowl contenders. Tarkenton said:
“First, Bud’s the most underrated great coach of all time. Talk about all of ‘em: Lombardi, Landry, Shula, Walsh, whoever. All great. None like Bud. He never raised his voice, not once. By the time I got to Minnesota, I really understood how to play. Bud recognized that. He said to me, ‘I want you to work with [offensive coordinator] Jerry Burns, combine the best of your thoughts and best of his thoughts, and build a great offense.’ I never had an argument with Burnsie, or with Bud.
“Bud was so bright. He understood all the personalities, and he knew how to get the best out of each player. We’re playing the Rams, [1974] NFC Championship Game, really cold and snowy. Late in the game, tight game, I’m on our own 35, we’ve got a three- or four-point lead, third-and-five or third-and-six. Something like that. I got to the sidelines and say, ‘Well Bud, what do you think?’ And he didn’t give me a play. You know what he said? ‘I don’t think if we played all day they could score on our defense.’ He still doesn’t give me a play, so I go out there, call a running play. We didn’t make it. But we still won the game [14-10]. I trusted him! He had the best instincts. Every great leader is one thing: He is himself.
“I think Bud Grant’s the greatest leader I’ve been around. I’ve had great mentors in business. Sam Walton was a great mentor of mine. I’ve built 24 companies. But if I didn’t have those six years with him, I’d never have had the business career after football that I’ve had.”
NewMexicoRam
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2022 02:01PM by NewMexicoRam.
