There was a time, before the records and the Super Bowls and that jaw became famous, when Don Shula was the youngest head coach in the NFL. He was the new kid on the NFL block. Very intense. Definitely motivated. Highly organized. Yet, just 33 years old when the Baltimore Colts took a stab on a relatively unknown assistant coach. Today is his birthday. Now he is 85 years old. A sprite 85. A tough-minded 85. Still, it is hard to imagine. For so many of us, Donald Francis Shula will always be Coach Shula and will always be standing on the practice field, in total command of everything, shouting instructions to his players with an unyielding passion. Even today, as he waves to the crowd so often at Sun Life Stadium from his end zone suite, as he gets around in a motorized scooter, as his physical problems take their toll, it is hard not to close your eyes and think back those glory days, those piercing eyes, and all those victory-dominated seasons. If there was anyone who could figure out how to go back in time, it is Shula. But until that happens, we are blessed that he is still going strong, still as caring a Dolphins fan as anyone youll find. As much success as he enjoyed as head coach of the Dolphins, I find that the years that pass make his accomplishments even more meaningful, even more noteworthy. Some thought when Shula retired following the 1995 season — has it been 20 years already? — that the next coach and the one after that would just pick up where Shula left off. But, in truth, the struggles of this organization to get back to the Super Bowl since Shula left, as well as the list of head coaches who tried to get them there, only underlined, in my mind, how special Shula was. We took for granted all those winning seasons under Shula until we had to swallow what losing seasons were all about. We took for granted how few times his teams were penalized, how there were so many right decisions on draft day, how he methodically ruled this franchise and in the process never let even the smallest of details fall through the cracks. We took for granted 10-win seasons like they were nothing out of the ordinary. How wrong we were. feel, a mutual respect. But you, Dolphins fans, were lucky as well. For having him as your coach for so many years. For benefiting from his enormous coaching talents. For being able to share in all those victories. Happy Birthday, Coach Shula. You are truly one of a kind.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:51:39 +0000
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