The Genius

by Nestor on Jul 30, 2007 5:02 PM PDT in Football

I can't quite put into words how I feel about the news re. Coach Walsh. But I will give it a shot.

Coach Walsh is a legend.

He is my favorite football coach of all time.

I grew up worshipping the Forty Niners (and yes I still haven't given up on them). I know I sound like some old grouch at this point. But to me when it comes to professional sports there were nothing better than the 80s, when Magic, Kareem, and Big James were making some magic at the Forum, while Joe Cool, Flash 80, JT, Craig, Rathman, Jones and rest of their team-mates were creating their own legend up at the 'stick.

Walsh made football pretty. He made it beautiful (notwithstanding the fact his Forty Niners team were some of the toughest teams in the history of the game).

And he made it look all so easy:

Photo Credit: Michael Zagaris

You know it is kind of funny. In this part of the internets WCO is now a caustic term, symbolizing everything that is wrong with our football program.

Yet when I first heard that Dorrell was coming to Westwood with a WCO playbook, I had visions of a rhythmic Bruin offense, with short-precise slant passes hitting athletic WRs in stride, money passes on to TEs juking out overmatched LBs, featuring split-back formations throwing short passes to its RBs, TBs, and TEs who were racking up YACs bulldozing over opposing LBs, high-stepping and carrying opposing DBs for extra gains.

I had the vision of an offense constantly getting into 2nd and short or 3rd and short situations, keeping the opposing Ds on their heels on first down. And I had the vision of an offense which was deadly in the red zone, making need for kickers like Mike Coffer totally moot. Anyways ...

In today's world we hear the term genius thrown around a lot with various coaches in number of sports, who never end up matching the hype. Coach Walsh matched and then some for decades, revolutionizing the game with his philosophy that changed the sport forever. And for me he was fun to root for because he reminded me of Coach Wooden: a simple man with a brilliant mind who came across as a down to earth star in a profession eventually taken over by showoff jerks.

RIP Coach Walsh.

This Bruin (and a die hard Niner's fan) sports world is not going to be same without you.

We will miss you.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

The Niners

As a former LOS ANGELES Rams fan, I hate the red and gold. Still hate them to this day (although the St. Louis Rams are now higher on my hatred list). The pinnacle for the Rams during the Walsh era was a 30-3 beating in the 1989 (I think) NFC Championship Game.

Over the years I built up a grudging respect for some of those darn Niners. I have to respect Walsh for actually being pretty classy while kicking Rams butt (sigh). I never felt he was anything but class (a contrast with Pom Pom and others).

by scalene on Jul 30, 2007 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

that was the game

Chris Everett heard footsteps (of Ronnie Lott). ;-) Lott, the only Trojie I have ever had soft spot for. Then again his son became a Bruin.

by Nestor on Jul 30, 2007 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

not sure

To be honest, I don't remember much beyond the final score. Completely blotted that game out of my mind... Wish I could do the same with Dec. 5, 1998.

On a side note, the highlight of that postseason was Flipper Anderson (former Bruin) catching a touchdown in overtime to beat the NY Giants and running right up the locker room tunnel...

by scalene on Jul 30, 2007 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeap

I remember that Flipper Anderson TD. He had a great season (as did the Rams).

I still remember the Monday night game in Anaheim with the amazing 4th quarter comeback. Just a magical season all around for the Forty Niners.

by Nestor on Jul 31, 2007 4:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Calling Jim Everett ,Chris is insulting...

...To both the woman and the horse, that is.

by Free the 16 on Jul 31, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I second that

I remember when Everett joined the Rams. My old man thought they found their savior. He was never the same after that NFC game.

by bruinbabe2000 on Jul 31, 2007 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm with you, scalene

As a die-hard L.A. Rams fan, I grew up HATING the Niners, and I remember that NFC Championship game very well (the game that turned Jim Everett into "Chris"...good one Rome!). Like you, I have since changed allegiances (now I'm being tortured by the Chargers)

I have a lot of respect for what Walsh brought to the game, and his influence carries on to this day. The game lost one of it's good ones today.

"..you've got to abide by the rules sometimes" -Reggie Bush

by godblesstyus95 on Jul 30, 2007 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh yes

My old man and my dad were die hard Rams fans. That game was over pretty quickly.

Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, and Dwight Clark made a little girl cry on January 10, 1982 (I am a big Cowboys fan) but you can't deny their greatness. Walsh carried himself with confidence and grace, and I think it rubbed off on his team.

My sympathies to his family and friends.

by bruinbabe2000 on Jul 31, 2007 7:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Walsh & the 49ers

A great man & Coach.

He was so good at what he did he actually had me liking an ND player (Mr. Montana)along with the 49ers. Not easy for someone who grew up in Southern California. His teams were fun to watch and were always very classy in victory or defeat.

by artybruin on Jul 30, 2007 7:07 PM PDT reply actions

Classy excellence

My best friends are huge 49ers fans, they sure let me have it when they were good, and I hated the 49ers for that reason, seeing as I was a Dolphins/Rams fan. But I loved them at the same time...they were just...so...damn...good.

Bill Walsh's first draft pick ever as head coach of the 49ers, in 1979, was James Owens, WR from UCLA...in the 2nd round. They had traded for OJ Simpson and thus gave their first round pick to Buffalo...and OJ was subsequently a huge bust in the 2 years with the 49ers. Montana was picked in the 3rd round, and Dwight Clark in the 10th round...

There's a great article on Bill Walsh the architect, describing how meticulous he was in crafting his WCO. Everything KD is not.

by tasser10 on Jul 31, 2007 7:27 AM PDT reply actions

Great article tasser

You should share that with rest of us in the diaries.

by bluestreet on Jul 31, 2007 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Going to miss Coach Walsh

For those of you who missed it KNBR did a trully moving interview with Brent Jones about Coach Walsh yesterday.

http://media.knbr.com/knbr/0730jones.mp3

by jonjon602 on Jul 31, 2007 6:15 PM PDT reply actions

No Doubt Walsh Was A Genius

As an always and forever LOS ANGELES Rams fan (and we'll ALWAYS, ALWAYS be the LOS ANGELES Rams), I hated it when Walsh's 49er teams would embarrass my boys in Royal Blue, Gold and White. But I have to grudginly admit that Walsh's philosophies changed the way the game is played and for that I have to tip my hat to a grand old enemy.

by Minnesota Bruinfan on Aug 4, 2007 7:55 AM PDT reply actions