SUPER BOWL XIV

If you were one of the lucky 93,000 people to get a seat at the Coliseum, you were in for a good show. The people at home – the Nielsen Rating Service said one hundred million watched on television – had an even better view of the action.

The shots from the Jumbotron camera fed to the video walls in the stadium and to home viewers saw Tommy Ryan and his friends in the Terriers owner’s suite. Nick Vance could be seen behind Ryan. Another shot in a box a few doors away showed assistant Terriers’ coaches Fred Gray and Joe Harbach in the spotters box with an empty chair between them.

If you were watching closely you might remember a moment just before the game started when Coach Hanson turned in the direction of the Boston spotters box and tipped his cap. That was all there was to it.

Prime Seats 1, 3, & 5 in section 107A on the Terriers’ side of The Coliseum were empty. Jane, Jack and Annie were in a taxi caught in, of course, an LA traffic jam.

At two o clock Pacific Time, the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Terriers took the field. The energy in the stadium was electric.

Dallas won the toss and elected to receive. Ravitz kicked and Super Bowl XIV was underway.

The Cowboys returned the ball to their own 26-yard line and quarterback Roger Staubach (real name) went to work.

Staubach made football look easy.

On the first play from scrimmage, he found wide receiver Tony Hill open. They connected and the play covered 38 yards.

Dallas had a first down on the Boston 32. On the next two plays, running back Tony Dorsett ripped off eight yards through the strong side of the line and running back Preston Pearson picked up another eight on a pitchout for a Dallas first down on the Boston 16-yard line.

Staubach had his pick of two receivers on the very next play and Billy Joe Dupree pulled it in on the 3-yard line and went in for the touchdown. The extra point was good and the score was 7-0, Dallas.

Boston fans and players were stunned.

Thousands of latecomers, including the Hansons, missed the first scoring drive. It had happened that fast.

Septien’s kickoff for Dallas was fielded by Bergenson on the 9 and he managed to find his way to the 24.

Behind the Boston line was the now famous backfield of Murphy, Rollins, Thompson and Anderson.

Rollins, not to be outdone by Staubach, went to the air to Ryan on the first-down play and picked up five yards on a short pass to the flat. It was Dallas linebacker Aaron Kyle who stopped Ryan.

On second down, Rollins set up a draw play to Anderson, who picked up another five and a first down.

Thompson found a hole on the next play and picked up four. The progress was steady, but the going was slow.

Rich switched off Murphy and Rollins at quarterback. He sent in a new play with Silvers. It was the first play he had worked out for the game. It was nothing fancy. “22 Power.”

Anderson led the way. Murphy handed off to Rollins who ran

12 yards to midfield.

Hanson sent in a new play with Ballou.

Murphy dropped back into the famous Staubach shot gun offense as he set the line, took the snap from Jaspers and started moving forward to his right. It was both a play action pass, which might be called a perfect flea flicker to Rollins who unloaded the ball to Silvers. The play was good for 21 yards to the Dallas 29-yard line.

Murphy handed off to Anderson who plowed for another eight and then kept it himself for another three on a sneak and a first down on the Dallas 18.

Gray, Harbach and Hanson talked it over and the Coach sent in new plays.

Rollins dropped back after the snap and faked to Ballou, but then found himself being chased by linebacker Tony Henderson. Rollins reversed himself, running in a complete circle; he saw Murphy on the 5 and Ryan cutting toward the left corner of the zone. He led Ryan with the pass and Ryan found it and hung on before being shoved out of the end zone by Dallas strong safety Charlie Waters.

Dallas tried to protest that Ryan was out of bounds when he caught the pass but the officials called it Boston’s way.

Ravitz’ kick was good and the game was tied 7-7.

The Boston adrenaline was flowing and the fans went out of their minds.

Ravitz kicked into the end zone and Staubach took over on the 20.

On the first play, he handed off to Tony Dorsett but Dorsett did something he does not do. He fumbled and Anderson fell on the ball on the Dallas 18.

After three plays Murphy was only able to move the ball three yards, and Ravitz came in for the field goal. It was good and at the end of the first quarter Boston led a surprised Dallas 10-7.

Staubach didn’t take long to get moving in the second quarter and passes to Hill, Billy Joe Dupree, and Butch Johnson and some beautiful running by Dorsett and Pearson moved the ball to the Boston 8.

The play that followed was not a repeat of the famous “dropped pass” of the 1979 Super Bowl.

This time Staubach threw a little harder and right end Jackie Smith caught it a little better. Septien’s kick made it 14-10 Dallas.

The game settled down but Rollins, Murphy and Staubach were having trouble with their passing games and Dorsett and Anderson couldn’t move on the ground.

Late in the second quarter a Rollins pass intended for Silvers was picked off by Dallas defensive end Harvey Martin who ran it down to the Boston 5 before Reilly nailed him.

On the next play Dorsett took it in. Septien made the extra point and the half time score was Dallas 21, Boston 10.

As both teams cleared the field and headed to the locker rooms, there was brief shot on the Jumbotron of Coach Hanson reaching into his pocket and taking out a cell phone, almost a real novelty at the time.

At that very moment, Jane, Jack and Annie were arriving at the Coliseum – all wearing dark glasses. Jane fished out the tickets from her handbag and presented them to the lone ticket taker, as crowds streamed to buy hotdogs, beers, Cokes and souvenirs.

Chrystal Silvers examined their tickets saying, “You know it’s already half-time, hon.”

Jane was too quick to and ask, “How are we doing?” Silvers responded with a big smile, “Well honey, it depends what side of “we” you’re on.”

Jack, seeing his mother was flustered shot in, “We’re from Detroit, to which Silvers responded, “Well Detroit’s not playing today.

“What’s the score?” “ 21-10.”

“Who’s winning?” “Dallas.”

“Oh no!”

Annie chimed in, “I told you Dad might need you.” Silvers looked at Annie, “What do you mean?”

Jane took over and kept them moving, “Oh, my husband does some PR work for Boston.”

Chrystal yelled after them, “Behind every successful man is a very surprised woman or something like that, I don’t know. Just trying to be helpful.”

Jane and the kids were fighting the half-time human traffic trying to figure out where to go to get to their seats.

Annie was lagging a few steps behind and grabbed Jane’s arm screaming “I want one, I want one.”

They were standing in front of one of the souvenir shops and women were lined up at the cash register, others were checking sizes and some doing try-ons. All were holding jackets and sweatshirts emblazoned with – “Mrs. Coach.”

“Oh, my God,” gasped Jane.

She opened her bag, fished out the VIP passes, put one around her neck and said in a very low voice with a mix of mystery, secrecy and paranoia, “Put these on now. Let me think.”

Jack had an idea. “Mom, why don’t we go to the spotter’s box and say hello to Mr. Gray and Mr. Harbach and figure out what’s what”

“Good thinking, Jack. Let’s go.”

They found the elevator to the suite level and when it stopped, Jane went straight for the door with an official sign designated, Boston Terriers. She knocked gently. A voice yelled, “Come on in.” Jane opened the door.

And there, packed in the suite were Terrier owner, Tommy Ryan, his wife and family, a group of his drinking buddies and their wives, and girlfriends. Against the wall was a stunned Nick Vance.

A slightly sloshed Tommy Ryan got up and held out his hand. “Oh Mrs. Hawkins. I’m surprised to see you. I heard you were staying in Michigan to watch the game on television.”

“It’s Hanson. Jane Hanson. These are my children, Jack and Annie. We decided to come to the game at the last minute.” Jane was tap dancing. She stumbled for a quick exit, “We just thought we’d come up and say hello to Mr. Harback and Mr. Gray. We’ve gotten to know them a little bit during the season. I guess we just knocked on the wrong door.”

“Why don’t you join us for a drink and watch the second half, with us Mrs. Hankerson?” offered Ryan.

“Thank you, Mr. Ryan, “We’ve got good seats, right behind the Terriers’ bench, about 20 rows up. Could someone offer us directions to the spotters box so we can say a quick hello and get back to our seats?”

Nick Vance spoke up, “Let me show you the way, Mrs. Hanson.”

Jane wanted to talk about the “Mrs. Coach” jackets and smelled a rat; but once in the spotter’s box, Fred Gray, Joe Harback and Nick convinced Jane that their secret was still a secret. “OK,” she said as she took the center chair between the coaches, “but we’re here just to watch.”

Halftime ceremonies with Aretha Franklin lasted almost an hour, as they do at any Super Bowl.

Rich gave a very short pep talk, turned things over to Gray and Harbach and left the room.

In the hallway, he pulled out his cellphone and dialed his home number. A recorded message came on after four rings. It was his own voice saying, “This is Rich Hanson. Thanks for calling. Nobody’s here to take your call. Please leave a message and we’ll give you a call as soon as we can. Thanks for calling. Have a real good day.”

Rich was not having a real good day. He was losing the game and he was losing his confidence. At the beep, he looked around to make sure nobody was listening and in a low voice after the beep tone and said, “Jane please call me, I need you. We’re losing and I’m scared.”

Halftime was about over and the TV control room crew was running out of shots to show on the Jumbotron. To kill time the TV crew was roaming for celebrity shots in the VIP suites.

As Jane, Jack, Annie, Fred Gray and Joe Harbach were delving into the mystery of the “Mrs. Coach” jackets, this one shot, which lingered on the Jumbotron was the door to the Terriers’ spotter’s box opening.

It was Tommy Ryan.

(Of course, there was no audio but what we would have given to hear what was said?)

“Oh, Mrs. Hutchings, still here? I thought you were heading back to your seats. Well, if you’re still here when the team gets back on the field; let Gray show you how to work one of those headsets and tell your husband to get it in gear and win this thing.”

Ryan slammed the door on the way out, just as the teams took the field for the second half of Super Bowl XIV.

As this happened, Coach Hanson was still in the hallway outside the locker room and never saw it.

When in doubt, Rich ran. So, when Boston took the field before the second half, the Terriers with Rich Hanson leading the team, took a lap around the field as cameras cut to John Madden and Pat Summerall trading commentary on the sidelines. “What’s going on”

“21-10 Dallas, Boston down 11.” “I think the Coach is worried.”

The whistle blew and the second half was underway.

On the second half kick off, Maxwell took it on the 5-yard line and returned it to the 32.

Boston was charged up.

Rollins called the now famous “Trips Right 29 Reverse.”

Anderson nailed down thirteen yards as the Cowboys had spread out to cover Murphy, Silvers and Thompson.

Bergenson ran in a new set of plays from Rich and Murphy moved over to quarterback.

After the snap, Murphy dropped back to pass, Rollins moved to his left behind Murphy, executed a perfect “Statue of Liberty” play – grabbing the ball from Murphy’s raised arm.

Rollins found Thompson who had side stepped a block at the line and moved down the left side of the line. The play covered 28 yards and Boston was sitting in a nice position on the Dallas 27-yard line.

Murphy handed off to Anderson for five to the 22. Thompson ground out four to the 18 and Murphy kept it himself on the sneak to the 15 and another first down.

Murphy threw his first pass over center to Anderson and it was good for six. A Murphy-Thompson draw was good for another four.

It was first and goal. Dallas put up a wall. But three plays later at fourth and goal, Anderson couldn’t be stopped.

The Ravitz point after made it a tight 21-17 ball game with Dallas holding the edge.

It remained that way through the end of the third quarter. As the last fifteen minutes of Super Bowl XIV ticked off, defenses dug in. Each team turned the ball over once. Nobody went anyplace. Henderson, Furness and Kyle were outstanding for the Dallas defense. Anderson, Page and Ruffins were equally outstanding for Boston.

Midway through the fourth quarter Landry and Septien gambled with a 49-yard field goal that went wide, but the Terriers gave up the ball again.

Late in the fourth quarter however, with four minutes left on the clock, Dallas moved the ball into Boston territory.

Rich shifted Rollins into the defensive unit. It was getting down to the wire and Boston needed the football.

Staubach was cool, chipping away for a few yards here and there, eating up the clock.

With 3:20 left and a third and five situations, Staubach went into his shotgun offense. It was a debatable play.

Rollins and Anderson read it perfectly.

Rollins moved across to cover Billy Joe Dupree. The pass was low. Dupree had moved out about nine yards, stopped, and was doing a curl in route along the Terrier’s sideline.

Both Dupree and Rollins dove at the ball.

Author’s note: If you watch football on television, you’ve seen some of what happened along the sidelines many times. This is exactly the way it happened, seen by millions.

The collision between Rollins and Dupree happened on the Boston 32-yard line in front of the Terrier’s bench. Both players rolled past the sideline as Terrier team members, photographers, a TV cameraman, staffers, assistant coaches and a sideline ref scattered to save themselves as a tangled Rollins-Dupree wrecking ball of about 500 pounds came directly at them.

Everyone ran to get out of their way, as they always do, except for one person – obviously distracted – who was knocked to the ground. Boston Coach Rich Hanson, who at the very moment of impact was on his cellphone calling his home in Michigan, trying desperately to reach Jane and get help.

Rollins came up with the shoestring interception. And all hell broke loose as Rollins and Dupree got up. Whistles blew, the game was stopped, and team trainers and the team doctor rushed to care for the man, Coach Hanson, laying on the ground, unconscious.

Timeout was called with 3:10 on the clock.

Jane jumped up from her seat yelling, “Dad’s been hurt. I’ve got to get to him. Nick, can you help us?” as she frantically signaled to two very scared children. “Let’s move.” Nick Vance cooly looked at the stunned Gray and Harbach, “I’ve got to get her to the coach.”

Rich Hanson was put on a stretcher and ushered into the medical tent.

“Looks like a concussion to me,” Pat Summerall told the TV audience.

With help from stadium security, Nick Vance’s press credentials and their VIP passes – Jane, Jack and Annie got from the spotters box, onto the field, and into medical tent in minutes. Nick Vance reported that he witnessed a dazed Rich Hanson laying on his stretcher, opening his eyes, looking up and seeing his relieved wife Jane smiling down at him -- as if he were seeing a vision – and asking, “How are you here? I’ve been trying to call you.”

A couple of minutes later a reunited Hanson family came out of the medical tent to the applause of the stadium fans, the Dallas team and all the referees.

Someone on the staff handed Rich his headset. The crowd roared.

But before play resumed, Rich held up his hand to quiet the cheering and asked for a microphone. The crowd became silent as Rich spoke.

“Thank you, thank you. I got pretty banged up there, but I’m happy to say, I’m OK.” The crowd cheered. “Before we finish the game, I want to introduce you to my wife, Jane, my son Jackson and my daughter Annie.” The crowd gave them a thunderous ovation.

“When the Hanson family began this football journey five months ago, I knew next to nothing about football. Remember, I won this chance of a lifetime, because my wife entered my name in the contest to coach one game. The truth is I still know just about next to nothing about football, but my wife knows everything about football. Her dad was a coach and her brothers played in college. My wife Jane knows more about football than just about everybody.

“So with me here on the sideline, and the magic of these headsets, my wife Jane Hanson has been calling all the plays from the spotters box, for this entire season.

“My wife Jane is the reason – the brains behind our Hanson team effort – that got us here today. My son Jack, who plays football in high school has come up with a few plays during the season and Annie is our number one cheerleader.”

As they say, you could hear a pin drop, as Rich continued.

“I’m a runner. When I don’t know what to do or I’m nervous or scared , I run, which is how we started this second half.

Jane and I had a little miscommunication, and that’s why we’re behind. Jane is the reason Boston and this amazing team we’re so proud of is here today.”

With that, Rich took his headset, put it on Jane, kissed her and said, “It’s yours!” The crowd went out of its mind.

Jane was calling the game now as Rich stepped away and joined the team along the sidelines.

It was Jane’s game for real. The crowd was delirious.

Jane huddled with Gray and Harbach who had come down from the spotter’s box. The whistle blew.

As both teams took the field, Jane yelled “Let’s get it in gear and let’s win this thing.”

The clock started running.

Murphy to Anderson for four. Murphy to Anderson for another four. Murphy to Thompson for four more.

It was a Boston first down on their own 44 with 2:10 on the clock.

A screen from Rollins to Murphy picked up six to mid-field.

An official time out was called with the two-minute warning.

Jane, Gray, Harback, Murphy and Rollins huddled and Jane called the next set of plays.

Runs by Anderson and Murphy, and a sneak by Rollins just made the first down.

They were running Jane’s plays at the line without a huddle as the clock was running down.

Jane called another time out. There were 58 seconds left, Boston was on the Dallas 40-yard line, and Jane pulled Murphy and Rollins aside to plan the final drive.

On the first play of the series, Rollins faked the handoff to Anderson and hit Murphy with a perfect sideline pass on the 28. Murphy kept moving until he was shoved out of bounds at the 19. The clock stopped.

There were 21 seconds left in the game. It was almost over.

Jane decided now was the time. It was her own play and she sent it in with Ryan.

It was a “42 Reverse Option off a 33 Dive.” Imagine the play.

It was beautiful.

Rollins under the center.

The snap from Jaspers. Rollins turned to his left and faked a handoff to Anderson who charged the line with his arms wrapped around himself with his head low.

Thompson was cutting to his right across the backfield. Rollins handed the ball to Thompson.

Thompson handed the ball to Murphy who was moving left.

Ryan and Silvers had run a criss-cross pattern into the end zone.

Murphy threw on the run just before he got to the line. Silvers jumped up at the last second and in a crunch of Dallas Cowboys held on.

Touchdown. Extra point.

There were 12 seconds on the clock on the kickoff. Dallas returned to their 24.

Staubach tried a desperation pass. The ball never got out of his hand.

Rollins and Anderson sacked him for an 8-yard loss. Final score: Boston 24 Dallas 21.

That was Super Bowl XIV. January 20, 1980.

MONDAY

The Hansons arrived at Detroit’s Metro Airport early Monday morning.

As they passed through the main terminal, a newsstand was opening. Rich picked up a copy of the Detroit Free Press and offered the cashier a $5 bill. As she handed him the change, she looked at the family picture on the front page and then looked up at him.

“Aren’t you Coach Hanson?”

“I was. Not anymore,” said a smiling Rich Hanson.

The banner headline read:

FAMILY COACHING TEAM WINS SUPERBOWL XIV

BOSTON NIPS DALLAS 24-21

Below the Free Press logo was another headline that Rich really liked:

HANSONS TURN DOWN MILLION DOLLAR OFFER

Rich liked the by-line on the story, too.

(Exclusive to the Boston Globe: By Nick Vance, WBOS-TV, Boston)

Outside the terminal, it was easy to find a taxi.

As they headed for home, Rich read the story out loud.

The jogging coach from Michigan, Rich Hanson and his wife Jane turned down a three-year, $6 million dollar contract to coach the new Super Bowl Champions, the Boston Terriers.

Boston beat Dallas yesterday in Super Bowl XIV, 24-21.

After a sideline collision that sent a distracted coach into the medical tent for a concussion evaluation, Rich Hanson returned to the field and revealed to a stunned Coliseum crowd and an international TV audience that he was only a frontman as Boston’s coach but it was really his wife Jane who dictated practices, created game plans and called in the plays from the spotters box throughout the entire season.

Hanson told the crowd, “My wife Jane comes from a football family. Her father coached high school football in Minneapolis, and her two brothers played football at the University of Maryland and Michigan State.

“The truth is I don’t know anything about football, but Jane knows everything about the game. In real life, I’m a public relations guy and I got the team to trust me -- and believe in themselves.

“Jane sent my name into the coach contest as a joke. When I won, we cut a deal, I’d be on the sidelines, but she’d really be the coach. The joke was supposed to be for one game. But we won that first game and Mr. Ryan asked me to coach the next game. He didn’t know it was a family affair, but we won and won and won and here’s where we are today.

“Just Jane, my kids Jack and Annie, coaches Fred Gray and Joe Harbach in the spotters box with Jane, and sportscaster Nick Vance, who discovered our team effort, and myself were in on the secret.

“There were several times during the season we thought that someone was on to us.”

Rich Hanson won The Pro Football Coach Contest last October and continued to lead the team through a victorious season.

Under the Hansons, the Terriers won ten straight games in regular season play, posting a 10-6 won/loss record, and a wildcard spot in the playoffs.

The season climaxed yesterday with Boston’s victory over Dallas, after playoff wins over Seattle, Miami and Pittsburgh.

Immediately after the game and jubilant locker room victory celebration, Terrier owner Tommy Ryan had a closed-door meeting offered a $6 million deal to the Hansons to continue coaching.

The Hansons did not meet with the press after the Ryan meeting but issued the following statement through the Terriers front office.

“Mr. Tommy Ryan has made my wife Jane and me an amazing offer to become the permanent coaches of the Terriers. We sincerely appreciate his generous offer. My association with the Terriers during the past five months has been exciting for me both professionally and personally.

“I hope that among my life-long friends will be the team players and members of the coaching staff.

“The reality of our lives, however, is that we are a family.” Rich Hanson stated, “My responsibilities are to my wife and children. Over these past months we have spent too much time apart. My real coaching job in life is to be a good husband and a good father.

“I have come to understand that fame and publicity and money are not as important as enjoying our happiness together as a family.

“I have had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Gerald Meyers of American Motors and we will meet next week to discuss a new position, he’s offered. Our immediate plans call for a family vacation and a return to a normal life.”

The Hanson family took a flight last night to Detroit, Michigan soon after the game and their meeting with Ryan.

The only reporter the Hansons talked with before they left was Boston WBOS-TV sportscaster Nick Vance whose TV contest Hanson won in October.

Vance said he had received a call from Rich Hanson before the family boarded their non-stop flight home and said he and the Hansons talked on camera for about 30 minutes, off the record for now, which will be broadcast on a future 60 Minutes program. Rich Hanson’s only on the record comment was: “Thank you Nick, thank the Terriers, the Boston fans and the American people. Please thank the press for us and let them know our decision final – and mutual.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

When the Hansons and Nick Vance met at LAX before their flight, Nick brought along his TV crew and got an exclusive interview with the Hanson family. Rich again gave Jane total credit for the winning season and there were laughs and tears. WBOS-TV is and affiliate station of the CBS Television Network. Because of that relationship you’d think an exclusive interview with one of their own local reporters would be a laydown for the following week’s 60 Minutes. But wouldn’t you know, one of the well-known CBS anchors – now retired – wanted to insert himself into the interview, asking the questions.

Jane Hanson was quick to insist that if Nick weren’t on 60 Minutes, they wouldn’t agree to their interview being aired on the CBS Network and that Nick should broadcast it on his own local Boston newscast on TV 6 in Boston.

Executive producer Don Hewitt stepped in and settled the matter quickly in Nick’s favor.

The following Sunday – with on-air teases plugging the big follow up story, half of America tuned in to watch.

Jane, Rich, Jack and Annie sat together in the family room. Of course, the Hanson interview was the lead story. Mike Wallace set up the story with Nick Vance on set. . . .

6 months later, CBS offered Nick the anchor job of The CBS Evening News. He passed saying, “I’m a family man. I like my life exactly as it is, here in Boston.”

PS Nick tried, but he never was able to find out who came up with the idea of the “Mrs. Coach” jackets. Somebody knows.

THE END

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

When Jane told Rich he was a national hero after the Tucson game, it proved to be an understatement, for sure.

During the regular season and then the playoffs, Rich Hanson appeared on the covers of Time, Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, and Football Digest. He had been a television guest on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show. Bob Costas hosted a Monday night TV special on Rich and the Terriers. He also appeared with David Letterman. All three networks had done features on him on their nightly news shows. “60 Minutes” did a profile. Every sportswriter in the country wrote a story about Rich Hanson. Each game he coached was covered by the national media.

Rich became a media star. The more he won, the more press he got. Publishers were bidding for his life story. Seven figures was being mentioned as an advance.

Rich loved every minute of it.

As agreed in their family deal, every Friday night, Jane and the kids caught a plane out of Detroit’s Metro airport to meet Rich.

They had dream weekends in Philadelphia, Oakland, Miami, New York, Seattle and even Pittsburgh. There were frequent trips to Boston for home games.

During the week, Rich and Jane were on the phone daily.

Jane would set the practice schedule, review the game films with Rich on Friday night, work up a game plan on Saturday, and sit along side of Fred Gray and Joe Harbach during Sunday’s game and call the plays.

During the week Jack would invent new plays at Southfield Junior High, which very often found their way into the Sunday game. Annie spent every Monday in front of her class giving her latest travel report.

As well as anyone can determine, during the entire season, only the Hanson family, Fred Gray, Joe Harbach, and Nick Vance knew that Jane was calling the shots.

At one point, Gray thought Murphy and Rollins knew what was going on. The three of them had a little private meeting. If they did know, they played dumb. As it turned out, they didn’t know at all.

Rich made it home a few times during the regular season.

At Thanksgiving, the whole family went as fans to the Silverdome in Pontiac to see a football game themselves. Dallas, as usual, whipped the Lions 42-13.

Rich was introduced at half time and 65,000 fans gave him a standing ovation. Detroit’s Mayor Coleman Young, not one to miss out on the chance for some good publicity, gave Rich the key to Motor City at half-time.

The pressure of instant stardom was too much to handle.

For most of the season, Rich was away from his family. Even on weekends it seemed Jane and the kids were always saying hello and goodbye and trying to cram a whole week of football facts and family emotion into forty-eight hours.

The strain was beginning to show.

Every once in a while Rich and Jane were getting into petty fights. Surprisingly or not, some of those clashes were centered around football and game strategy.

Any psychiatrist could tell you that these “football fights” were just a symptom for two major underlying problems: Rich was missing and Jane was stressed. Their marriage was headed for trouble.

Jane was running the house and family alone and working full time. Rich was always on the road. Constant travel and hotel living were also taking a toll.

Rich wouldn’t take any money for coaching. He said he wanted an escape route, if necessary. Even though Tommy Ryan picked up all expenses for Rich and the family, money was becoming a problem too. The unemployment checks had stopped because Rich “was unavailable for work in his field.” The severance pay had been spent. Jane’s salary wasn’t enough.

Jack was taking advantage of his father’s absence by spending less time at home. Annie was having difficulties with various sitters in the afternoon. In both cases, their schoolwork began to slide.

Some of those problems might have been tolerated, but a much bigger problem was very close to the surface.

Success and winning were going to Rich’s head.

Rich was well convinced of his football abilities after Boston made bean soup of Seattle in the first round of the playoffs, 35-13. Even though the scores against Miami (24-17), and Pittsburgh (21-17), were close, Rich believed that he had learned the game. He began to disregard some of Jane’s advice and plays.

After all, he was the “Coach.” He could do it. That’s what he thought.

Christmas 1979 and New Year’s 1980 should have been the best and happiest times for the Hanson family. They were the worst.

At their annual New Year’s Eve party at their house, Jane and Rich hardly spoke to each other.

Maybe in fairness to Rich, Jane was changing, too. After all, she had been responsible for the winning season and nobody knew it. She was doing the work and Rich was getting the glory. At the beginning it was a private joke between them. Now it was pulling them apart. Jane was not only angry, but jealous too.

Their annual holiday ski weekend was cancelled. Rich begged off social obligations and invitations, saying he was preparing for the Super Bowl.

Rich had his own notebook now and spent hours looking at the films of every Boston game and every Dallas game.

There was tension in the Hanson house, and nobody put the cards on the table until it was too late.

Rich was scheduled to meet the Terriers in Phoenix on January 9th and put in a week of practice there before moving on to Los Angeles for the last five days before the Super Bowl.

The night before Rich was to leave, it fell apart. It was the worst argument Jane and Rich ever had. In some way it was good that Jack and Annie were in on it. They probably prevented first-degree murder.

Rich had been reading his press in the Sunday papers and making little jokes about himself and Ryan and the Terriers. Dallas was obviously up for the game to avenge their 35-34 loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIII.

Tom Landry’s team had finished the regular season with a 14-2 won/loss record; and with the exception of a close game with L.A., the Cowboys had coasted through the season and playoffs.

Coach Landry and quarterback Roger Staubach, usually restrained in their pre-game comments, were calling Boston a “fluke team,” and a “dream team that was going to wake up in a hurry.”

Jack and Annie were playing a game of Othello. Jane was looking over the style section of the paper.

Rich began.

“Under these circumstances, I think that the kids could take some time off from school and we could all spend next weekend together in Phoenix and then move on L.A. Maybe we could take in Disneyland.”

Jane put down the paper. “We aren’t going to Phoenix.” The kids stopped their game.

“What do you mean you’re not coming to Phoenix, I need you there.”

“Since when?”

“What do you mean ‘since when’? This is the big game. The Super Bowl.”

“I think we’re a little tired of following you around.”

“Jane, this is what we’ve been shooting for. In two weeks it’s all over.”

“It’s pretty close to being all over right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m missing a full-time husband and the kids are missing a full time father.”

“Come on Jane.”

“When was the last time you and I went out together alone? When was the last time you did anything with the kids -- skiing, skating, a movie, even a McDonald’s. I work, I cook, I go to bed. You watch films, read your press stories, and spend three hours a day on the phone.”

“Well it hasn’t been easy for me either. I’ve been on the road for almost four months living out of a suitcase and sleeping in a hotel alone.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Wait a minute. If you really want to start something, you’d better know what you’re talking about. You want to hire a private detective?”

“I’m sorry. That was out of line and very unfair.”

“O.K. Let’s calm down. Jack what do you have to say?”

Jack started slowly and picked up confidence as he went along. “Dad, it’s just not fun anymore. You and Mom are fighting with each other and you’re both taking it out on Annie and me. It’s back to ‘how’s school,’ ‘take out the trash,’ and ‘when are you coming home?’”

Rich looked at Jack. “Do you want to come down to Phoenix next weekend?”

“I don’t think so Dad. I’m sorry. It’s just not the same.”

Rich turned to Annie.

She started crying. She ran over to Rich and kissed him and then kissed Jane. Through her tears, she blurted out. “I love you and Jack loves you and Mom loves you. I don’t think you love us like you used to. Don’t let anything happen, please.” She ran out of the room crying.

Rich was shaken. “Nothing’s going to happen. Let’s forget about Phoenix. We’ll meet in L.A. You know I need you for that one.”

Jane knew she was pushing close to the edge. “I don’t think we’ll make it to the Super Bowl, Rich. I think there’s something that’s more important right here at home in Michigan.”

“What do you mean you’re not coming to L.A.? It’s the end of the season. Look I’m sorry I’ve gotten carried away with this and gotten wrapped up in myself, but this is the Super Bowl. We’ve got to win.”

“Why?” said Jane.

“It’s what I’ve been working for.” He realized what he had said. “I mean it’s what we’ve been working for and what the team has been working for.”

“I think you’re going to have to do it on your own, Rich.”

“Are you kidding? Fifty-fifty, remember? Your idea, remember? The chance of a lifetime, remember?”

“That was then, now is now. I remember the past few weeks better than the last few months. I think you should do this one on your own.”

“You really mean that Jane?”

“I really mean that Rich. You’re on your own.” “Jackson?”

Jack began walking out of the room. He stopped and turned. He was crying. “I’m going to stay here with Mom and Annie.” He walked out.

“It’s been building up Rich. The kids and I have talked about it. Either you’ve lost us or we’ve lost you. It really doesn’t matter.”

Rich was dumbfounded. “I guess there’s nothing more to say.”

“There probably is,” Jane answered, “but what’s been said is enough.”

Rich packed and slept in the study. In the morning he kissed Jane and Jack and Annie goodbye. Nothing was said. He left the house quietly.

PHOENIX

In Phoenix, Fred Gray and Joe Harbach met Rich at the airport.

“When are Jane and the kids coming down?” “They’re not coming.”

“When do you meet them in L.A.?”

“I don’t think they’re coming at all.”

“What happened?”

“We had a terrible fight. I hope you’ll help me out, I’m kind of in a daze. As it stands right now, Jane won’t be there for the Super Bowl and you know what that means. What time is practice tomorrow?”

“Ten o’clock at the Civic Center Stadium.”

“I’ll see you there, I’m going to check into the hotel and go for a run.”

For the next week, Jane and Rich talked on the telephone nightly. The conversations had nothing to do with football or the game. The calls were short and strained.

After most of these calls Rich thought that “long distance was the next worst thing to nothing at all.”

A couple of times he talked with the kids, but those conversations were thin too. The “I love you a lot Dad,” sounded mechanical.

Rich was frightened and lonely. It was a terrible time. For him, practice week was meaningless. He had no interest in anything. He ran. He was doing ten miles a day and thinking. Gray and Harbach handled the team. His lack of caring was coming across loud and clear to the team.

On Friday, Rollins asked when the family was coming.

“They’re not.”

“Are they coming for the Super Bowl?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You got problems at home Coach?”

“Yeah.”

“Can we help?”

“No, I don’t think so, but thanks anyway.”

Word got out among the other players that Coach Hanson was having family problems. The coach was very “into himself and down.”

If the team didn’t know about Jane’s role in the winning season, Rich never knew about the team meeting held in Phoenix before the team moved on to LA for the Super Bowl.

Fred Gray did the talking.

“Let’s get it out into the open guys. The Coach is having big problems at home. Remember he’s led this team to our first successful season in years. He’s why we’re here. Now his personal business is his personal business. It’s not ours and keep it away from the press. Our business is football. I hope Coach Hanson pulls himself together. Right now I want you to bust your humps out there.

“We’re here to give Dallas a run for their Texas money. Nobody is going to let down. If we gave it 100% before, we’re going to give it 200% now.”

Practices went pretty well for the rest of the week. After a day off, the team moved on to L.A. and worked harder than they ever had before. They made it a point to keep it light when Coach Hanson was around.

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, Nick Vance made a phone call to Jane Hanson.

“Mrs. Hanson, Nick Vance here. I’m heading out to Los Angles tomorrow to meet up with the team. Can I stop by and pay visit?”

“Sure. OK,” said a surprised Jane. Then she laughed, “I’ll call the office and say I’m taking a mental health day. The kids will be at school. So just the two of us. Will late morning work?”

Vance replied, “Perfect. See you at 11:00.”

Newspaper stories and TV clips had quotes from some of the players and coaches on both teams. Rich Hanson was “not available for comment.” He spent almost no time with the team. Since practices were closed, the press didn’t get wind of Rich’s frequent absences. Most sessions found him in his hotel room “working on the game strategy” Harbach said or running. Nobody could get to him.

Nick Vance was a good reporter and that made him a very good listener. Jane talked and talked and talked. She finished in anger and hurt and tears, “. . .but it’s more than I’ve done the work and Rich gets the credit; this whole thing has killed our marriage Nick and wrecked our family. It was supposed to be a joke, just for fun and now it’s a nightmare.”

It appeared that Jane had finished, but then a flash of anger tinged with a bit of jealousy came out of nowhere, “He can do it on his own. I’m not going. The kids and I are staying here.” Then she added softly fighting back tears, “I wish him well.”

Nick said quietly, “I understand. Thank you for sharing all of this with me.” He glanced at his watch, “I’ve got to run.” They both stood up to say their goodbyes.

Two things happened almost simultaneously: Jane went over to a side table and picked up an envelope and handed it to Nick Vance. “When you see Rich, will you give him this?”

As he was saying, “Of course,” he reached into his shoulder bag, took out a large brown envelope that had “Jane Hanson” next to the WBOS-TV logo and said, “If you change your mind, here are 3 first-class plane tickets for you and the kids for Friday, reservations for the three of you in LA at the Ritz Carlton, there’s Saturday passes for the four of us at Disneyland – I’m included, if you’ll let me join you – It’ll be my pleasure – VIP passes for the Coliseum and Super Bowl tickets for you and Jack and Annie – that is, if you still only just want to watch the game. It’s all paid for.”

Jane was speechless. “Thanks, Mrs. Hanson. I can find my way out.”

Mid-week, it was Annie who discovered the envelope on the side table with the WBOS-TV logo. Being a normal ten-year-old, she peaked inside. Jane was in the kitchen getting dinner ready and Annie, not quite knowing what to make of it, quickly ran upstairs to show Jack.

After dinner, but still at the table, Jack cleared his throat and began, “So when are we going to the game?”

Jane played dumb. “We’ve decided two weeks ago, we’re staying here.”

Jack was prepared, lifted his plate and – as a magician would – produced the 3 Super Bowl tickets and held them up with a flourish. Annie was quick to join in, “Mom, please. I can’t wait to see Daddy.” The emotional back and forth lasted for a half hour. The kids made their case. Jane was weakening.

Jack played his best card. “Mom, this is your game. You did the whole season. You really are the coach. Or both of you are -- Mr. and Mrs. Coach. We know you’re mad at dad. It hasn’t been great for us either. But let’s just go. He doesn’t even have to know we’re there.

Annie had the last word, “He might need you.”

It hung in the air.

Silence.

“OK.” said Jane, ”but we’re just going to watch.”

On Saturday morning – the day before the Superbowl – Rich got a call from Nick Vance.

“Nick here. I’m downstairs, can I come up?” “Sure.”

Nick and Rich talked for two hours.

Nick knew the story from Jane’s point of view. Now he got Rich’s side. He let Rich pour out his guts and his heart. “I love her Nick. Jane and the kids are my world. This coaching thing got way out of hand and it went to my head. Between us and off the record, no matter what happens tomorrow, I’m heading back to Detroit right after the game. No press, no interviews, maybe just one with you to tell the whole story.”

“The game is tomorrow,” said Nick, “The team needs you, with or without Jane. You took the job. You’ll handle it.”

“I’ll try,” said Rich.

“There’s no such thing as trying, Rich,” said Nick, “You either do it or you don’t.”

As Nick stood up to leave, he handed Rich Jane’s envelope.

“See you tomorrow, Coach.”

As they walked toward the door Rich said, “Thank for the pep talk Nick, I needed it and I’ve got work to do. How does a reporter kill the afternoon before the Super Bowl?”

“Well, it’s kind of a day off. I’m taking some friends to Disneyland.”

After Vance left, Rich sat down on the sofa and opened Jane’s letter.

Dear Rich,

I miss you so much. I’m sorry this is such a mess.

If you are miserable and feel alone then you should know I feel the same way. I don’t know if I did the right thing not coming, but I thought it was the right decision at the time. It is no fun here without you. Jack and Annie miss you I know, but the kids could never miss you as much as I do. When they’re not here, I find myself so alone, crying.

I hope you win on Sunday. I wouldn’t have done what I did if I didn’t think you could win. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I am sure you will, and on your own.

You can do it. I know you. I believe in you. I love you. I am sorry if I have hurt you. We all love you very much.

I’ll be praying for you on Sunday. When are you coming home?

I love you,

Jane

Rich sat holding the letter, crying.

Rich called Fred Gray.

“What time do we meet tomorrow?”

“Eleven o’clock at the Coliseum. The game is at two o’clock. How do you feel?”

“Fred for the first time in two weeks I feel great.” “Do you want to get together for a drink?”

“Thanks Fred, but I’m going to run. When I get back I’ll have some dinner. I’ve got a lot of work to do for the game and Fred, I want to thank you and Joe for picking up the slack during this whole time I’ve been missing in action. Everything is fine. You can spread the word.”

“Are Jane and the kids coming in for the game?”

“No Fred, they’re not coming, but everything is O.K. You and Joe and the team and I are going to win this one ourselves. You all deserve it.”

Rich ran ten miles, ate dinner, sat down with his notebook and worked on a game plan for Super Bowl XIV.

He knew what he wanted to do and what had to be done.

Before he went to bed, he booked a flight for the next night. It would be the 11:00 PM redeye arriving at Detroit Metro Monday morning at 5:00 AM.

For the first time in two weeks, Rich fell asleep with no trouble at all.

SUPER BOWL XIV

If you were one of the lucky 93,000 people to get a seat at the Coliseum, you were in for a good show. The people at home – the Nielsen Rating Service said one hundred million watched on television – had an even better view of the action.

(Final installment coming very soon…)

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

On the kickoff Anderson did what he was told. The Tucson receiver was hit hard by Anderson and was being helped off the field. The whistle blew; the clock started. Jane had arrived and the game was now on for real, as far as Rich was concerned.”

Tucson had possession on its own 31-yard line.

As advertised, Clawson gave it to the Moose for five yards through the middle of the line and then passed to Taylor for eight and a first down on the 44.

Jane liked what she saw, because what she saw was exactly the way she had figured it out. She turned to Joe Harbach.

“Joe, tell Rich to double team Taylor... I mean I think it might be a good idea.”

“Coach, your wife says to get two guys on Taylor.”

Anderson was looking over at the bench and got the drift of what Rich was yelling as Rich pointed at Taylor and held up two fingers.

Clawson set Taylor in a slot right and flipped a little screen pass to Taylor. Page and Watkins were both waiting for him and Taylor barely passed the line of scrimmage. Clawson tried a pitchout to Otis after faking a handoff to the Moose and Otis was stopped at the line.

Jane looked at her notes. “It’s going to Brown.” Harbach and Gray looked over at Jane, stunned.

Anderson also figured Brown and set the defense accordingly. Clawson pitched to Brown who picked up three yards around the right end but was way short of the first down.

Tucson decided to punt from the Boston 49 and Newhouse angled for the corner. He almost made it but Bergenson took it on the 3 and ran it back to the 10.

Jane turned to Fred Gray. “Tell Rich to get both of them out there and follow the game plan. He’ll understand.”

As the offensive line took the field, there was some confusion on the Terrier bench. The referee handed the Terriers a five-yard delay of game penalty.

The new Terrier backfield took the field for the first time. Everyone was checking the program. The backfield was Thompson, Anderson and both quarterbacks, Murphy and Rollins. The crowd went wild. Everyone in Boston had a favorite quarterback. The old-timers and the faithful loved Rollins. The young Turks and the hotshots liked Murphy. Now they would both be playing side by side. What remained to be seen was who was going to call the signals and be the quarterback.

The ball rested on the Terrier 10-yard line.

On the first play Rollins lined up under the center and the long-time fans who remembered ten years ago when Rollins had taken Boston to an AFC title, roared their approval. The fans knew he was “over the hill,” but they also knew he could still throw the ball. Thompson, Anderson and Murphy lined up behind Rollins in the T. Rollins held up his hands to quiet the fans, who were primed for a Rollins pass.

Rollins barked out the signals, the defense shifted, and Rollins neatly handed the ball off to Anderson who plowed through a hole in the left side of the line and picked up 8 yards. On second down, Rollins faked the handoff to Anderson, pitched it to Murphy who scrambled around left end for another eight and a first down on the Terrier 21.

“Switch them,” said Jane.

“She says to switch them Coach.”

Rich turned to Ballou who ran in with the play as Ryan came out.

In the huddle Ballou relayed the message for Rollins and Murphy to switch.

The team came out of the huddle with Murphy under the center. This time, the younger fans in the crowd stood up delirious.

Rollins moved over to Murphy’s position as running back.

Everyone in the stadium, including the Tucson defense knew that Murphy loved his ground game. On the snap from center Murphy dropped back and threw a perfect strike to Silvers who had been set as a very obvious wide receiver. The play covered 17 yards and Boston had moved the ball to their own 38.

Jane sat back looking at her notes and checking the playbook which she had cross-indexed for herself after breakfast. Fred and Joe watched Jane with fascination. Jack and Annie watched the game.

Jane had made up her mind. “Fred, ’23 Cross,’ ’32 Dive,’ and a ‘quarterback sneak.’”

Fred relayed the message to Rich and the plays were sent into the huddle.

A couple of very amazed coaches alongside Jane watched as Rollins faked to Anderson and gave it to Murphy for four yards. Rollins then handed off to Anderson for four yards and then kept it himself for three.

It was first down again on the Terrier 49-yard line. Fred turned to Jane, “Yes Coach?”

Jane was embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I got carried away. I was just trying to help out. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“Why should you do that?” said Joe. “Keep ‘em coming.

Something’s working for a change.”

“Well, I’d send Anderson through the weak side and then I’d go with Thompson on the sweep,” Jane added shyly.

“Coach, Fred here. Jane says ’33 Dive’ and ’29 Sweep.’” It was Anderson through the left side for five and then Murphy on the sweep for another five. The Terriers were in Tucson territory. They moved the ball to the 41-yard line.

The relay system kept going.

Jane to Fred to Rich to the ends to the huddle.

Murphy set up under Jaspers and hit Anderson with one of their favorite seven-yard passes over center. On the next play Murphy faked to Anderson who was charging at the line and put it in Thompson’s hands. Thompson followed Anderson crashing through the hole for another first down on the Tucson 31.

“I guess now’s the time to try it,” said Jane. “Try what?”

“Let Rollins get it out of his system. Let him pass.

Let’s make it a ’66 Quickout, Murphy curl in.’”

Not only was Rollins’ first pass of the game a total surprise, but also the receiver was more of a surprise. Reg Murphy made a nice little move to slip through the line. When he turned around in the center of the field just behind the linebackers, he was all alone on the 21-yard line. The timing was perfect. Murphy and the ball arrived at the same spot at the same instant.

Murphy caught it on the numbers and did a little shuffle and danced his way to the 17 before he was mauled by both Tucson safeties. He got up slowly with a big smile on his face and went back to the huddle exchanging blackslaps with Rollins.

“If he wasn’t dancing out there, he might have scored,” said Jane.

Rollins’ pitchout to Thompson was good for four and a handoff to Anderson picked up another five. It was third and 1 on the Tucson 8.

Gray turned to Jane. She never hesitated. She was ready. “29 reverse pitch.”

Rollins faked to Anderson, pitched to Murphy on the reverse and Murphy went in standing up. Ravitz’s kick was good and Boston led 7-3.

The drive had covered 90 yards in 14 plays.

Fred Gray took off his headset. “It’s for you, Jane.” “Thanks, Jane, I love you.” said Rich.

Forgetting herself, Jane replied, “I love you, too.”

The Ravitz kickoff was a beauty, but Tucson returned it to their own 31.

Clawson gave it to the Moose who only picked up 2 yards.

Jane checked her notes: “Second and 8.” “Joe, tell Rich to blitz.”

Clawson was sacked for an 8-yard loss. It was third and 16.

Jane was trying to figure it out. It had to be a pass. She turned to Joe. “You know it’s a pass, I know it’s a pass and the world knows it’s a pass. Who’s it going to?”

Joe Harbach came up with some options. “I think he’ll stay away from Taylor. That leaves Otis and Brown and their ends, Rafer and Jones. Jones is faster. I don’t know. How about you?”

“I bet he still tries Taylor,” Jane offered. “What should we do?”

“Pray.”

It was a pretty play. Clawson and Taylor were just too good together. The play picked up 13 yards, but Sieko managed to knock Taylor out of bounds at the 38. Tucson brought in Newhouse and the kicking unit.

Maxwell picked off the short punt on his own 36. He got key blocks from Roberts, Marino and Cluretzski. Maxwell zigzagged his way to the Tucson 44. It was a nifty runback of 24 yards.

Jack turned around, “Just like Coach Price says, Mom, blocking and tackling. That’s what the game is all about.”

Gray and Harbach looked at each other in disbelief. “Who’s Coach Price, Mrs. Hanson?”

“He’s Jack’s coach at school. Jack plays for Southfield.” “Is your son good?”

“Yes he’s good, but he’s still learning.”

“Fred, wasn’t it Thursday or Friday when we spent a lot of time on blocking and tackling?”

“I can’t remember, Joe, it’s been a crazy week. I’m sorry Mrs. Hanson, we just did things a little differently with your husband as Coach.”

“I’m sure you did and please call me Jane.”

They went at it again. A Rollins pass to Murphy on a slant pattern for twelve. Rollins to Anderson on a power play for six. Murphy to Thompson on a delayed handoff for four. Murphy to Silvers on a screen for eight. Rollins to Murphy. Touchdown!

Ravitz picked up the extra point and at the end of the first quarter Boston was red hot and led Tucson 14-3.

After the kickoff, Tucson got something going but Anderson’s defense dug in and got tough and the drive fell short of a first down at the Terrier 28. Newhouse came in to kick his second field goal of the day. His 35-yard kick was good, but Boston still held a comfortable 14-6 lead.

The next ten minutes was a tug of war. The game was all defense. It was good, clean and rough. There were four turnovers-all punts. Neither team got inside the other’s red zone.

With less than two minutes to go in the half, Tucson got a big break because of a mix-up in signals on Anderson’s defense. Anderson’s people were not used to their new positions and Clawson missed a handoff to Moose, kept it himself, and picked up fourteen yards putting the ball on the Terrier 37.

Clawson was working against the clock and didn’t waste any time. The Moose picked up six yards to the 31. Clawson pulled off a beautiful double reverse and Otis nailed down 12 yards and a first down.

The Moose picked up two to the 17. “Second and 8,” said Jane, “it’s Taylor,”

The Terriers had three men all over Taylor who still came up with the ball. It was a beautiful 12-yard pass. You had to hand it to the two of them, Clawson and Taylor were a great combination.

Clawson took it in himself on the next play and Newhouse made the extra point.

The first half ended with Boston leading Tucson 14-13. There were still thirty minutes of football to be played.

The fans were already exhausted.

Harbach and Gray left the box to join the team in the locker room. Fred winked. “Any messages for the Coach?”

“Yes Fred. Tell Rich I’m very proud of him. We all are.”

Tell him that Jack and Annie send their love.”

“I think Fred meant, do you have any special instructions about the game,” said Joe.

“No. Maybe, I’ll get some ideas during half time. Oh, will you keep me helping Rich just between us?”

Fred and Joe nodded and smiled, “It’s our secret.

See you in a bit.”

After, the coaches left. Jack asked if he and Annie could get a hotdog and a soda and would Jane like anything. Jane asked for coffee, told Jack to hold onto Annie, and came up with a 20-dollar bill.

“How do you think it’s going, Mom?” asked Jack. “Well, Jack, unless the roof caves in I think we might win.”

Jane went back to her notes and the playbook.

It was Annie. “Mom, you’re taking this game too seriously.

I heard you say that to Daddy. Now you’re not having any fun. It doesn’t make any difference if we win or not. It’s only a game and it’s been the best time of my life.”

Annie and Jack left. Down on the field, the bands were playing and the VIPs were being introduced. Jane was deep in thought when the door opened. It was Nick Vance.

“Enjoying the game, Mrs. Hanson?” Jane was startled.

“Yes we are. I’m very proud of my husband.” “And your children, are they having fun?”

“They’re both very excited to be here and they’re both very happy for their father.”

After a bit of small talk, Nick went on a little fishing trip that good reporters do with a sixth sense instinct.

“Newhouse is a pretty good kicker. Have you ever heard the term ‘hangtime’?”

Jane missed the trap and she bit.

“Sure.” She tried to back off. “I mean they use it on television sometimes. It’s silly don’t you think?” She tried to throw him a curve. “Who cares how long a punt stays up in the air? It’s just sports talk.” Nick gave it another shot.“Your husband had the right idea on Taylor, you know, double coverage. How do you think he caught that last one?”

Jane answered just a bit too quickly with too much information. “He’s got the best pair of hands in the business.”

“You know a lot about football, don’t you Mrs. Hanson?” “My son plays in junior high, and we watch games on television. I enjoy the game.”

“Didn’t you send in your husband’s name to our contest?” “Yes.”

“Why?”

“It was a joke. Rich has been out of work for a few months and I thought he’d have some fun if he won.”

“The contest or the game?”

“The contest.”

“Is he having fun?”

“Yes. I think it’s been a good week for him and for us.” Nick took his last shot.

“When I met you earlier today, you were carrying that playbook and notebook. If they were your husband’s, why didn’t you send them down to the locker room with Gray and Harbach?”

“This time, I guess, I forgot. He’s doing okay without them.”

Nick leaned over and looked at the notes in front of Jane. “I have to say this Mrs. Hanson, but that sure looks more like a woman’s handwriting than a man’s to me. I think I’ve got it figured out. I also think I can keep a secret. I’ll be in touch with you soon. O.K., Coach?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Say hello to your husband for me, I’m sure you’ll be talking to him during the second half. I hope Boston wins, but either way, it’s a good story. I’d say it’s a terrific story.”

“Goodbye Mr. Vance. I’m sure you wouldn’t do anything that would embarrass my husband or my children.”

“No I wouldn’t, or you either.”

Nick made a little bow, showed a wide smile, and left. Jack and Annie returned with the food.

“Mom, you look as white as a ghost, what’s the matter?” Jack asked as he put down Jane’s coffee and change.

“That Mr. Vance, the TV reporter, who came over with us on the bus, he knows that I am helping your father.”

“Isn’t that what wives are supposed to do for their husbands?” asked Annie, “I mean you and Daddy are a team.”

At that moment Joe and Fred walked into the box. “Your husband says hello and thanks and asks for more bright ideas. Say you don’t look too good. Is anything wrong?” “I’m a little in shock right now. A reporter came by and I think he knows I’m helping Rich out. I’m afraid it could be an embarrassing story.”

“Mrs. Hanson…”

“Please call me Jane.”

“O.K. Jane, let me tell you something. This is a great chance for your family and the whole country to enjoy. Your husband is already a national hero and he’s really been a great help to our team. Win or lose nobody can take that away from him. Who is this reporter guy anyway?”

“His name is Nick Vance. The man who ran the television contest.”

“Nick. Nick Vance. Let me tell you about Nick Vance. First of all, he loves the Terriers; second he’s one of the nicest reporters around; third he’s a family man himself; and last, Nick’s only problem is he’d like to be down there on the field wearing your husband’s jacket and coaching this dream come true. He is also sitting and plotting at this very minute how he can get you and Rich and your children to move to Boston to help out our team. Don’t worry, let’s have some fun.”

But Jane did worry. She just sat dazed, stunned, looking into space, lost, emotionally and intellectually paralyzed.

The second half got off to a fast start for Tucson. They received and returned the ball to their own 36. Clawson had a few surprises of his own. He was a professional and the team leader, and his team was looking very bad on national television.

He threw away his first play on purpose with Otis getting a yard or two. On second down, he very deliberately closed the splits in the offensive line and set both receivers wide.

Taylor was in the slot right. You knew it was a pass play, but of course, it wasn’t. Instead, Clawson handed it off to the Moose before anybody caught on to it. The play was good for 21 yards and a first down on the Terrier 33. On his next first down, Clawson sent Otis off the weak side for another 12 and another first down on the Terrier 21.

The next play was a classic. Clawson hit Taylor with a little natural pass right. Taylor made one of the most beautiful moves in the game. Without stopping or breaking stride, Taylor threw a beautiful pass to Jones who was standing alone in the end zone. The extra point by Dick Newhouse made it 20-14. Tucson was back in the lead and looking very good.

Clawson and Taylor had shown a little razzle-dazzle of their own.

Boston received and took over on the 26-yard line.

Rollins and Murphy kept mixing it up, but the Tucson defense was beginning to read the plays and the drive of nine plays stalled at the Tucson 42. Ravitz tried a field goal but it was low and off to the right.

Clawson got rolling again and ten plays later the Moose plunged over from the 4-yard line. The kick was good and now Tucson had turned the game around totally and was leading 27-14.

The roof had caved in. The fans were quiet.

Jane was still in outer space. Fred Gray spoke to her. “I think it’s time for you to get back in the game. We’ve got eighteen minutes of football left and in case you’ve zoned out on us we are behind 27-14. This is no time to bail out. I think you owe it to your husband, don’t you?”

“What?” said Jane. She wasn’t listening.

“I said it’s time for you to get back in the game. We are about to receive and we need all the help we can get.”

“I guess you’re right, Fred.”

Jane had to force herself back into the game. “Let me talk to Rich.”

Fred Gray handed over his headset. “Rich, it’s Jane.”

“Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry Rich. I haven’t been with it. I’ve kind of been out to lunch.”

“Where?”

“Well not out to lunch for real. That reporter, Vance came by during half time. He knows, Rich, he knows.”

“So honey, we’ve got a game going on down here and it’s falling apart. Jane we’re down 13 points.

“Oh.”

“Are you with me or against me?” “I’m with you Rich.”

“Well, Jane, to quote you, ‘let’s get it in gear,’ there’s only three minutes left in this quarter.”

Tucson kicked off and Bergenson ran it back to the 15 and hit a stonewall, but Jane got it in gear.

“Fred have Rich split Ryan to the right, and Murphy and Thompson in the slot. Let Rollins throw to the open man. Call it ‘3 for the road.’”

Fred liked the play and sent it down to Rich.

Silvers ran it in from the bench. It was a new play for the team.

Rollins set his men on a slow count. Tucson tried to make the adjustment in the defense, but an offside was called and flags flew all over the field before the play even got started.

Boston picked up five yards on the penalty. It was second down and five from the 20.

“Same play,” said Jane, “let’s see what happens.”

Rollins took the snap from Jaspers. Anderson moved up to give Rollins extra pass protection. Rollins had all the time in the world.

Thompson cut across the center to the 30-yard line, Murphy moved out to the 50 along the sidelines and Ryan went deep inside Tucson territory. Rollins picked out Thompson who pulled the ball in and turned on the speed. The Tucson defense, trying to cover the three receivers were caught out of position. By the time they got it together, Thompson had picked up 30 yards to midfield.

Fred turned to Jane, “Well welcome back to the land of the living. What’s next?”

Jane looked over her notes. “Let’s go with Rollins and have him keep it on the ground.” She gave Fred the plays.

Rollins handed off to Anderson for six yards, Murphy picked up another three and Rollins gave it to Thompson for two and a first down on the Tucson 39-yard line.

Gray looked over at Jane. “Three for the Road,” said Jane.

This time Rollins saw the defense key in on Ryan and Thompson, so he picked his middleman, Murphy who hauled it in on the 12 and was knocked out of bounds.

A Rollins-to-Anderson handoff on the next play moved the ball to the 6.

Tucson set up their 6-5 goal line defense. Jane saw it and yelled “Time out.”

Fred Gray yelled into his headset, “Time out.” Rich jumped up and down hollering “Time out.” The ref called “Time out.”

Jane double-checked everything.

“Fred, tell Rich the play is ‘Murphy 30 Middle Screen’” Fred relayed the play.

The play was right for the situation.

Tucson blitzed. The offensive line held. Anderson squeaked through and Murphy’s pass over center was right where it should be. The extra point was good at the end of the third quarter Tucson led 27-21.

The teams switched ends and the final quarter began.

Boston was back in the game. The players could feel it on the field and the fans could feel it in the stands.

Ravitz kicked the ball into the Tucson end zone and Clawson began the drive on his own 20.

On first down, Clawson dropped back and caught the Boston defense asleep. It wasn’t a good pass, but it was longer than anybody expected. Taylor got in behind the secondary. Tucson gained 42 yards on the play. Tucson was on the Boston 38.

Eight plays later Brown went through the line from the 3.

The point after was good and Tucson led 34-21 with exactly eleven minutes to go.

“We are in big trouble,” shouted Rich.

“We’ll see,” said Jane. “Remember our magic number is 35. That’s two more touchdowns and two extra points for us and zero for them.”

Dick Newhouse kicked the ball into the end zone and Boston started its drive on its own 20.

Tucson didn’t want to give an inch. Rollins was at quarterback picking up a few yards here and there with handoffs to Anderson, Thompson and Anderson again.

Boston was faced with a critical fourth and two.

It was Rich. “I guess we better get it out of here.” Fred relayed the message to Jane.

“No way,” said Jane, “Go for it. Send Anderson on a power play right at Robinson and tell Jaspers and Comstock to take out Robinson with a double team block. Everything depends on the block. We get the block, we’ll get the first down.”

You could hear the crunch. When the play was over, they brought in the chains. Boston had picked up the first down by inches.

Fenway Park was delirious.

“Here we go again,” yelled Rich. “3 for the Road,” said Jane.

Nobody was open and Rollins had to eat the ball.

“One more time,” said Jane, “Tucson understands the play perfectly so make it ‘Trips Right and a 30 Draw to Anderson.’”

The offense was set. Ryan as a wide receiver, right with Thompson and Murphy in the slot. On the snap they all moved out spreading the Tucson defense. Rollins dropped back to pass.

Anderson moved up as usual for added pass protection. The timing was split second. Rollins faked the pass, turned, moved to his right and tucked the ball in Anderson’s arms. Anderson picked up a perfect block as he went through the line and never stopped moving. He went from his own 31 to Tucson’s 35.

Three plays later they were at Tucson 30 with another crucial situation, fourth and 5.

Jane sent in the play.

It was old, tried, true and spectacular. Maybe not for Dallas or Pittsburgh, or the old Jets, but for Boston to pull it off under pressure was incredible.

The field goal unit was sent in and the crowd booed for the first time in the game. They wanted victory, and Boston was down 14 points with eight minutes on the clock. Ravitz kicked at the air as the teams set up.

Rollins knelt to get the snap from Jaspers. It was on the money. As Ravitz moved through to kick, Rollins stood up, kept the ball, moved to his right as he dropped back out of the path of the blitz and hit Murphy on a slant pattern on the 6 who danced his way over the goal line for the touchdown.

Ravitz made the extra point and the score was Tucson 34 Boston 28 with seven minutes to go.

By now Jane was wearing Fred’s headset and talking directly to Rich on every play.

The crowd was screaming for a miracle. “Did you say Rollins was good on defense?”

“He was in practice. I think he loves it.”

“This is the time to stop them. Put in Rollins and tell him to tell Anderson that it’s now or never. We’ve got to stop them and get the ball.”

Tucson returned the ball to the 19 on the kickoff.

Once again, Clawson began moving the ball and eating up time on the clock. Five minutes later the ball was on the Boston 33-yard line. Tucson was faced with fourth and 4.

Newhouse already had delivered on field goals and extra points. Another 3 points would put the game on ice for Tucson. It was Rollins who slipped through from his linebacker slot and got a little piece of the ball just after the kick. It was just enough of a deflection for the ball to hit the right goal post with a “boink” and go wide by inches.

Boston took over on their own 33 and four plays later had a first down on their own 47-yard line. The going was tough and time was running out. Two plays later after handoffs to Anderson and Thompson, the ball was on the Tucson 45. There were 47 seconds left on the clock. It was third down and 2.

Jane and Boston called a time out.

“Rich. ‘Touchdown.’” That’s all she said.

It doesn’t make any difference whether you’re a football fan or not. You have to appreciate the play. Imagine it in slow motion.

Jaspers snapped the ball to Rollins...Rollins dropped back and flipped the ball to Anderson. Murphy, Thompson, Ryan and Silvers had all moved out on the snap too. They were all yelling and screaming. After Anderson had the ball, Rollins began running downfield too. Anderson rolled to his right and faked to Murphy and then let the ball fly. Rollins caught the ball on the 5-yard line and carried two Tucson players with him into the end zone. Ravitz made the crucial point after.

Boston had hit their magic number and the lead: 35-34.

There were 12 seconds left on the clock, but there were already 20,000 fans on the field. Tucson couldn’t even find an official. Finally the clock ran out and Tucson slipped off the field for self-protection.

Fenway Park was madness. The Terriers and fans carried Hanson, Murphy, Anderson, Thompson, Rollins and any other Boston players they could find off the field.

Television crews and newspaper reporters ran for the Terriers locker room. According to Nick Vance it was one of the greatest moments in sports.

Jack and Jane and Annie were in the booth with Fred and Joe watching the spectacle and loving every minute of it. They were all congratulating each other.

“Where did you come up with that last play?” asked Joe. “Jack invented it and used it in his game on Friday and it worked.”

“It didn’t do too bad for us either,” said Fred, “Congratulations Jack.”

“Thank you, Mr. Gray.”

“How did you come up with that Trips Right?” asked Fred. “I stole it from Dallas,” admitted Jane.

Nick Vance stuck his head in the door. They all turned.

Nick was smiling. “Nice game Coach. Don’t worry about a thing.”

The locker room was insanity. Security had broken down.

Network film crews and live television cameras were already set up by the time the Terriers made their way through the crowd.

There was no champagne, but there seemed to be plenty of cases of Narragansett beer.

Coach Hanson was drenched. His drinking buddy, Sonny Rollins, had seen to that.

With Fred Gray in the lead and Joe Harbach bringing up the rear, Jane and the kids had walked down five flights of stairs after Jane’s decision to stay off the press elevator.

In all the locker room craziness, Rich spotted them and waved. Jane blew him a kiss. Jack gave him a V for victory sign and Annie who was riding on Jack’s shoulders was yelling “Go Terriers!”

Tommy Ryan and his party entered the locker room and were kiddingly attacked by the entire team who seemed to shake up their beer cans a few extra times before pulling the tabs and letting the spray rain all over Ryan. The celebration was being broadcast live on NBC television. Joe Garagiola, trying to get an exclusive interview with Rich, was pushed aside by the Boston press.

But it wasn’t a Boston story, it wasn’t an NBC game anymore; it was a national, an international story.

Anderson, Thompson, Murphy and Rollins led the festivities. Nick Vance spotted his TV 6 crew. It took him three minutes to make his way through the crowd and meet them across the room.

The reporters and radio and TV crews started calling for a press conference.

AP, UPI, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated, and Football Digest, seven local television stations, three networks, and reporters from all over the country wanted to talk to Coach Hanson.

Murphy and Anderson lifted Rich up on a bench.

Microphones were shoved in front of him. The film and tape crews were rolling. The still photographers started clicking away. The room quieted down.

Q: “How do you feel Coach?”

A: “Terrific.”

Q: “Who do you think was your outstanding player?”

A: “How about forty players and seven coaches?”

Q: “How did you come up with the idea of playing both Murphy and Rollins together?”

Rich looked over at Jane who just nodded.

A: “It seemed obvious. They compliment each other.”

Q: “Why did you decide to use Anderson both ways?”

A: “He likes to play football.”

Q: “You changed a lot of players from their usual positions.”

A: “Today was an unusual day.”

Q: “Are you and Mr. Ryan friends or enemies?”

A: “I hope we’re friends. He gave me the chance of a lifetime.”

Nick Vance asked the next question. It was loaded and directed to Tommy Ryan.

Q: “How about it Mr. Ryan, what do you think of your new coach?”

The question was natural. It flowed. In all the excitement everyone thought of Rich Hanson as the real coach of the Terriers. Ryan got up on the bench beside Rich.

A: “I’m glad you asked that question Mr. Vance. Yes this game was for fun, but it was for real too and Boston won. I am going to ask Mr. Hutchins, -- I’m sorry, Mr. Hanson -- right now on live TV if he would like to coach next week’s game against Philadelphia?”

Nobody had expected Vance’s question to Ryan and nobody including Vance expected Ryan’s answer. Ryan was a showman and he had it both ways with national publicity. If Rich said yes, Ryan was a hero. If Rich said no, Ryan still came out on top. And Ryan knew that at least six and a half million people wanted the job. “Ryan was crafty,” thought Rich, “you’ve got to hand it to him.”

Rich paused and looked across the room. Jane was smiling. Rich cleared his throat.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to talk it over with my wife and children. I hadn’t expected this.”

Q: “Would you like to do it?”

A: “To tell you the truth, I don’t know.”

Suddenly Rollins was up on the bench and Murphy was right there after him.

Rollins spoke first.

“I think I can speak for the team and I think it’s a good chance for us to go on the record in public. As far as I’m concerned I think that Coach Hanson is the best thing that’s happened to the Terriers in ten years. If he wants to coach us next week, I think that would be great.”

The team’s applause echoed Rollins’ feelings. Reg Murphy moved toward the microphone.

“It’s not that we haven’t been trying, but we’ve been losing. Coach Hanson made us play together as a team and we won. If Coach Hanson takes Mr. Ryan up on his offer, and I hope he does, I think we just might beat Philadelphia next Sunday.”

The team started chanting, “Hanson, Hanson, we want Hanson.”

Rich looked very worried. Q: “How about it Coach?”

A: “I’ll talk it over with my family and let Mr. Ryan know tonight what we decide. I want to thank all of you for your coverage of the game and I want to thank all the Terriers players and members of the coaching staff and, of course, the great Boston fans. More than anything, I especially want to thank my wife and children for their...er...support and encouragement.”

Nick Vance pulled his crew from the circle around Ryan and Rich, and made his way over to Jane.

Nick had his back to the camera, looked straight into Jane’s eyes, smiled and winked. He was holding a microphone. “Mrs. Hanson, what will you advise your husband about staying on as the Terriers Coach for next Sunday’s game?”

Jane smiled, “Whatever Rich wants is all right with me.” She paused. “Of course, the children and I have to get back home to Michigan. I work you know and the children have school.”

Nick pressed. “Under the circumstances, I’m sure that Mr. Ryan would fly you and the children to Philadelphia next Friday for the weekend and the game.”

“We’ll talk it over; it will be Rich’s decision.”

Ryan’s driver delivered the Hanson family back to the hotel. Nobody spoke during the trip.

Up in the suite it got real serious, real fast.

“Well, Miss Fonda, this is a fine mess you’ve got me into.” “You won. What price glory?”

“What about Meyers and the AMC job?”

“It’ll wait. You’re a national hero, Rich.”

“I think Ryan’s taking himself off the hook at my expense.” “He probably is, but you won.”

“I think I should quit while I’m ahead.” “Winners never quit. You won.”

“I won. You won.”

“We won. It’s fifty-fifty. You supplied the motivation, Rich. Those guys busted their butts for you, not me. They don’t know about me. They did it for you. Sure I helped, but you won.”

“How about it Jackson?”

“What are you afraid of dad?”

“Afraid of?”

“I think you’re afraid of winning more games. If it were me, you’d be giving me a lecture. You’d be telling me to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back in the game.”

“Thank you, Dr. Freud.”

“You asked me. I told you. That’s how you raised me.” “Annie?”

“I think you should do it Daddy. We could all have another great weekend together. Philadelphia is a very famous city.”

Jane got back into the act. “Come on Rich. You said it yourself in the press conference after the game. It’s the chance of a lifetime.”

Rich sat down on the sofa and closed his eyes. Silence.

He opened his eyes. “I will do it on one condition and only if you all agree. Next week goes exactly like this week. I’ll keep doing my homework and learning more about the game and you keep helping me with practice schedules, plays, the game plan...and calling the plays. Deal?”

Jane, Jack and Annie agreed in unison. “Deal.”

Rich called Tommy Ryan and said he would coach one more game providing he would fly the family to Philly for the weekend.

Ryan accepted.

Rich called Nick Vance and told him he had agreed to coach the Philadelphia game.

Vance offered his congratulations. “I bet as long as you keep winning, you’ll keep coaching.”

“Maybe Nick, I don’t want to think about that possibility.

“I agreed to one more game. That’s all we talked about.” “Can I use it at eleven?”

“Sure. If I understand Jane correctly, you’re now a member of the family.”

“Yes Coach, I guess I am. But I’ll sit on it. It’s too much fun on the inside.”

GOOD NEWS

There’s no reason to draw out the story of the rest of the season. You can google “Boston football history” nowadays and look up the record. Nick Vance had called it right. As long as Rich won, he kept coaching. And Boston won and won and won.

Coach Patterson/Boston Opponent

6 New York Jets 36

0 Miami 31

13 Washington 42

3 Chicago 28

0 Pittsburg 35

6 Atlanta 21

Coach Hanson/Boston Opponent

35 Tucson 34

27 Philadelphia 21

21 St. Louis 17

31 Baltimore 28

21 Oakland 17

16 Miami 7

20 Cincinnati 13

27 Buffalo 10

32 Tampa Bay 14

24 New York Jets 14

AMERICAN AND NATIONAL CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

BAD NEWS

Boston won a wild card play off spot in the American Football Conference.

Boston won the AFC title and Dallas won the NFC title. Super Bowl XIV was played in the Los Angeles Coliseum on Sunday, January 20, 1980.

But there’s more to the story.

(Next installment coming soon…)

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

SUNDAY

Game day finally arrived.

The Hanson family went to church at nine o’clock. Each one silently prayed for the same thing in his own different way.

Annie prayed that her Daddy would do a good job. Jack prayed for victory.

Rich prayed that the team would do well, whatever the score.

Jane just prayed.

When Father Terry O’Fallon gave the final blessing at the end of the service, he added, “We pray that The Good Lord is on our side today and looks with favor on our Terriers. Go in peace and God Bless You.”

Rich whispered, “Can I take that personally?” Jane nodded, “I sure did.”

They ate breakfast in the room and went over the final game plan. Mix it up with Murphy and Rollins. Confuse them early.

Nothing fancy. Blocking and tackling. Score 35, that’s the magic number.

It was almost eleven o’clock and Rich had to hurry. Jane and the kids would leave at noon. The cab ride was only ten minutes.

“Remember Jane,” Rich shot back as he was going out the door, “this is your day, so don’t be late. I need you.”

“I’ll be up there with Fred and Joe. I’ll be talking to you,” she laughed.

“I certainly hope so.”

“Good luck Dad,” shouted Jack and Annie.

“See you outside the locker room after the game, win or lose.”

Rich took a taxi to Fenway. He had to ask the security guard for directions to the locker room. He had never been there. He had always met the players on the field.

The players were tense. Fred Gray and Joe Harbach were trying to loosen up the team with some jokes about the crowd and the television coverage. That seemed to make things worse.

Rich sized up the situation quickly.

“Look guys, I know how you feel, but at least you’ve done it before. I wouldn’t tell you this if it weren’t true, but I’m nervous myself. Why don’t you forget about the uniforms for now and just throw on anything. Let’s go out and play a little touch football and have some fun.”

That did it. The chatter started, and the players began to unwind, and they were on the field in minutes. To everyone’s surprise -- there were already about ten thousand fans in the stands. It was like ancient Greece. This game was going to be an all-day affair.

Tommy Ryan and his party were already in his private box. Fred pointed him out to Rich. Rich waved and Ryan gave him a smile and a wave.

The Terriers had taken Rich at his word when he told them to “forget about the uniforms for now and just throw on anything.” Some of them were in full uniform, some wore shorts and sneakers, a couple had football pants and street sweaters or t-shirts. Murphy was wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt.

Rollins was wearing tan slacks and a brown cardigan sweater. For the first time all week Rich was wearing a suit.

The Terriers did about five minutes of stretching exercises and trotted out on to the field. Rollins team went to the fifty-yard line and Murphy’s team went to the goal line.

Tucson, who had been doing some heavy drilling at the other end of the field, stopped and stared.

Ten thousand fans watched too. It was as if the touch game were the real thing. Murphy’s team won 18-12. They didn’t even try for extra points.

Rich had made a note to himself at Jane’s suggestion to get in some kicking with Ravitz, which he had let slide yesterday.

Fortunately, Ravitz was one of the few Boston players wearing his football cleats.

Rollins held and they tried a few points after touchdown. After he had kicked ten, Rich suggested some field goals. He kicked from the 10, 20, 30 and 40-yard lines. If he split the uprights, the team would applaud. If he was wide or low, the Terriers laughed and booed.

He even came close on one from mid-field. Rich had him punt about a dozen from mid-field to the game receivers, Maxwell and Bergenson.

Rich was satisfied and they headed for the locker room. It was time to get dressed.

At noon, Jane left the hotel with the kids. Fifteen minutes later they were still looking for a taxi. Every cab in Boston was filled and headed for Fenway Park. She went back to the desk to get help. The Sheraton staff said they would try. No one had seen anything like it including a Red Sox World Series or a Bruin Stanley Cup Final...

Jack and Annie stayed on the street trying to find an empty cab with no luck.

Just about the same time that Rich and the team were getting back into the locker room laughing and relaxed, Jane was in the lobby of the hotel frantically trying to get help. She even called the mayor’s office to see if they would send a car over. She was told that the whole staff was at the game. There was one driver on emergency standby, but it was doubtful he could make it over there since traffic was such a mess.

Channel 6’s Nick Vance was walking through the lobby and overheard Jane on the phone. He introduced himself.

“The last press bus leaves in a couple of minutes. Why don’t you and your children ride along? It’s a free ride and we’ll be there in no time. By the looks of things, I’m afraid you don’t have much choice.”

Jane collected Jack and Annie out front and they boarded the bus. Most of the press had already gone to the park, so they had the bus almost to themselves. Nick Vance sat with Jane.

“Does the Coach’s wife always carry a playbook and a notebook?”

Jane was caught off guard, but she recovered.

“I’m afraid in all the excitement and rush, that Rich forgot these this morning. I’m bringing them over to him now.”

Traffic was indeed a mess and their conversation continued. “Your husband and Ryan had a run in. Are you sitting with Ryan?

Jane dodged. “No I haven’t met Mr. Ryan yet, but the kids wanted to watch the game from up top, so I guess we’ll be up in the press box or something. We’re going to Gate 3.”

“So am I,” said Vance.

The team was dressed and Rich was finishing his pep talk. “I said yesterday this had been one of the best weeks of my life. I really mean that. If I’m on the record now I just want to make one thing perfectly clear. Winning isn’t everything, but it sure beats losing.”

The team cheered.

“Coach,” said Verge Anderson, “we all want to thank you for what you’ve done for the team this week. We needed someone who believed in us to take charge and pull us together. You’ve done that for us. It’s been a great week for us, too. We have a little presentation for you, Coach.”

Murphy and Rollins came up front. Each carried a gift wrapped box. “These are from the whole team.”

Rich opened the presents very slowly. The smaller box contained a new pair of running shoes. The larger box contained an official Boston Terriers coach’s jacket in Boston’s red, white and blue colors. Across the back of the jacket in large letters was COACH HANSON.

Rich was speechless and fought to hold back the tears. The tears showed, but he didn’t mind one bit. Very quietly he said, “Thank you very much, I’m very proud....” He couldn’t finish it.

Fred Gray finally broke the quiet. “Rich, it’s time for us to take the field.”

At Rich’s suggestion, the team knelt for a moment of silent prayer. At the end of the minute, Rich sat on one of the benches.

“If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to change into my new shoes and put on my new jacket. Let’s go out and do a few laps. That should get them buzzing. Oh, one last thing, I may send in a new play from time to time depending on what I get from up top in the booth. Nothing fancy. You’ll handle it.”

Fifteen minutes before game time, the Boston Terriers took the field in front of 40,000 fans and a television audience of 90 million. The roar of the crowd when the Terriers took the field was deafening.

Instead of going to the bench, the Terriers ran past it and did a half mile with Rich leading the players and the coaches.

It was like the opening of the Olympics. All Rich needed was the torch. Tucson watched dumbfounded.

Fans, sports writers, and broadcasters were trying to figure out the players, their numbers and new positions.

Fred and Joe passed the guard. Fred asked, “Hi Brice, have Mrs. Hanson and the kids shown up yet?”

“No sir.”

“Probably caught in traffic. That’s too bad. When they get here bring them up to us.”

“Yes sir.”

As the team was being introduced, the place was going wild. Half of the Terriers were playing new positions. Verge Anderson was introduced twice.

Rich was trying on his headset.

“Fred, are Jane and the kids up there?” “Not yet Coach, must be the traffic.”

“Let me know Fred, the minute they get here.”

“And now ladies and gentlemen, from Southfield, Michigan, Today’s Coach for the Boston Terriers, Richard Hanson.”

Rich ran out onto the field to join the Terriers. Both teams applauded. Fenway Park gave Rich a two-minute standing ovation. The spirit in the stands was electric; it was going to be some afternoon. The Boston Army Reserve Band played and Neil Diamond sang the National Anthem.

Rich led the team to the bench. Murphy and Anderson stayed out for the coin toss. Boston won the toss and surprisingly elected to receive. Murphy and Anderson came back to the bench.

“What did you do that for?” Rich asked Murphy. “I thought we’d get to them right away.”

“My wife’s not here and my family’s not here. I’ll think about it.”

“Nothing to think about, Coach, we’re gonna receive.” Maxwell and Bergenson lined up on the 5-yard line.

Dick Newhouse, the Tucson kicker, put up his hand to signal the kickoff and the game was on, with or without Jane.

Bergenson took the ball on the 8-yard line and ran it back to the 15.

Rich didn’t even see the play. He was looking toward the spotters’ box.

“Murphy, fall on it three times and kick.” “What Coach?”

“You heard me. Fall on it three times and Ravitz kicks.”

Murphy, like a quarterback who wanted to keep his job, fell on the ball three times. On fourth down Ravitz and the defense took the field. Ravitz got off a good one, Tucson took over on its 25 and ran it back to the 40.

Nobody could believe Boston’s first series of plays.

The hotline rang in the spotter’s booth. Fred Gray answered.

“Yes, Mr. Ryan?”

“Is Hanson out of his mind. Tell him to pick up the red phone by the bench.”

Gray covered the mouthpiece on the hotline phone. “Rich, Ryan wants to talk to you.”

“Tell him, I’m not here. I’m at work. Have him call me after the game.”

Gray relayed the message, word for word. Ryan slammed down the phone.

“Fred is my wife there yet?” “No Rich. Why did you punt?”

“I thought we were back too far.” “Oh.”

In a quick succession of plays Clawson handed off to Moose passed to Taylor twice and kept it himself for 2. Tucson was in Terrier territory on the Boston 44 and the game was less than two minutes old.

On the next set of downs, it was Moose for 4 yards, Otis was stopped cold at the line and Taylor picked up 4 on a sweep. Short of a first down by 2, Newhouse came in and kicked a field goal. It was a 42-yard field goal. Newhouse made it look routine. Tucson was out front 3-0.

Newhouse kicked off and Maxwell ran it back to the Boston 21-yard line.

Rich yelled into his headset, “Fred, is Jane there yet?” When Gray answered, ‘No, not yet.” Rich barked at Murphy.

“Go in there and fall on it three times and punt.” “Why Coach? I’m ready.”

“Well I’m not. That’s an order.”

Murphy fell on it three times as ordered and Ravitz punted to the Tucson 31-yard line. Verge Anderson hit Tucson receiver Jack Lister so hard that the officials called a time out and the Tucson trainer came out on the field.

Jane, Jack and Annie arrived at Gate 3. Nick Vance was still tagging along.

“Mrs. Hanson?” asked Brice. “Mr. Gray is waiting for you upstairs. The game already started. They gave Mr. Hanson a standing ovation. Last time I saw one that long was for Jim Rice last year. He’d get one like that every time he hit a home run late in the season.”

“I’m Nick Vance, TV 6. Can I ride up with you?”

“Sure can, Mr. Vance. Going to the spotters’ box, Mrs. Hanson?”

“I guess we are,” said Jane.

“I know you are,” said Brice, “Mr. Gray left specific instructions to bring you up as soon as you arrived.”

“No seats, I guess,” muttered Jane.

“I’ll be glad to find you some seats in the press box,” offered Nick, “I’m sure the guys would move over for you and the kids.”

“Thank you, but I guess that’s how they arranged it.” “How about the playbook and notebook for your husband?”

“I guess he’s got another playbook by now, and I hope he has his notes in his head.”

“See you later” said Vance, “I’ll be in the press box – same level. If you need any help, I’ll be close by.” As he watched Brice escorting the Hansom family to the Boston spotters box, he could hear Brice making small talk and laughing. “You didn’t give me the password, Mrs. Hanson.”

“Scotch and soda.” “Scotch and soda it is.”

Vance wrote something on his pad and went off in the other direction to the press box. He smiled to himself. “Maybe there’s a little story here,” he thought.

Other than press conferences, Nick had been the only reporter to get close to the Hanson family all week.

Brice got out his passkey and let them into the box. “What did we miss?”

“Fred Gray filled her in. “We’ve had the ball twice. Both times Rich had Murphy fall on it three times and we punted.”

Harbach added, “The defense held them to a field goal, it’s 3-0.”

“It sounds to me like he’s very nervous,” said Jane, “tell him we’re here.”

“They’re here Coach.”

“Let me talk with Jane.”

“Here Mrs. Hanson, it’s for you.” He handed Jane his headset.

“What happened?” Rich was looking up to the spotter’s box with his back to the field.

“Traffic. Couldn’t get a cab so we came over on the press bus.” She turned away from Harbach and whispered, Nick Vance, he smells something.” Then louder, “Fred tells me you keep getting the ball and getting rid of it. What’s going on?”

“You said to keep them confused.”

“Them, not us. Our guys must be wondering if you’ve flipped out.”

“I was waiting for you, if you want to know. How do you like my new jacket? The team gave it to me.” Rich turned away from the spotter’s box toward the field so Jane could see his name on the back of the jacket.

“They’ll be taking you away in a straight jacket if we don’t get in gear.”

“I guess you’re right. What do you think?”

“I’d suggest you tell Anderson to stop this drive and let’s get something going. Has Rollins played yet?”

“No.”

“O.K. The next time we get the ball, get him in there.”

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

FRIDAY

It was one of the most incredible days in the life of Coach Richard Hanson and the Boston Terriers.

It began with a phone call, which Rich expected and accepted, from a very angry Terrier owner, Tommy Ryan. Ryan had gotten the news he was barred from his own team practice. Rich told him that he knew that Ryan had given out the story quoting him and his wife saying, “losing isn’t everything, but it sure beats winning,” which made his wife look bad, and then the Rollins story which had made Rollins look bad. Rich made it very clear to Ryan that he didn’t want to see him or talk with him until after the game on Sunday. If Ryan didn’t like it, Rich said he was prepared to call his own press conference and go back home to Michigan right now. Rich told Ryan that since Ryan had a habit of making other people look bad; he might want to consider the consequences and not make himself look bad. End of conversation.

During breakfast, he reread the chapter on blocking and tackling in Johnson’s book, “High School Football.” As he read he made notes, on the backs of Sheraton Hotel envelopes After breakfast, Rich dressed in his jogging gear and stepped off the elevator into a crowd of reporters. “Yes,” he said, “it is true. I’ve talked to Ryan and there are no hard feelings on my part. Ryan will stay out of the park until Sunday’s game.”

He jogged to Fenway and was both pleased and surprised to find that the team was already halfway through thirty minutes of exercise. The team ran a mile and most of them made it.

Rich delivered a little lecture on blocking and tackling, saying it was time to go back to basics. He worked from his notes and started with the basic three-pointed stance for blocking. Rich was a quick study and blessed with a good memory.

“Right hand on the ground, right foot slightly back, two feet apart...the feet hold the bodyweight, the hand is down on the ground for balance. Put your other hand across your thigh. Good blocking is the key to a good offense. It’s more important than lots of fancy plays.

“Keep your eyes on your target, your head up, your rear low, and your arms close to your body.”

For the next half hour every single player, those on offense and defense worked on face and shoulder blocking, down field blocking, and double team blocking.

“On offense, block, knock somebody down, and then get up and look for somebody else to knock down. The blocker on offense can’t use his hands. Keep them close to your body. Power blocking on the line opens the holes.”

The players were split up into groups of threes and fours. Another half hour was spent with Harbach and Gray calling plays and blowing whistles.

The team worked on blocking, dives, sweeps, pass protection, trap plays, and down field running.

An hour later they turned to the basics of tackling.

“On defense, use your head and use your hands. Keep the blocker away from you. The tackle is a match between you and the guy with the ball. The ball carrier can’t run if you’ve got his legs tied up in your arms.

“There are three basic tackles. The first one is face and shoulders. Put your face on his numbers and drive the ball carrier down. Throw your arms around his legs, pull him toward you, lift and dump him backwards. On a side tackle figure the speed of the man with the ball, dive at him, wrap your arms around his waist, and continue down until you stop him. On a rear tackle, get in close and aim high. If you aim low and miss, you’ll end up with nothing and he may end up with a touchdown.”

They went at it for another hour, splitting up again into small groups. More plays and more whistles.

“If you’ve got eleven good tackles on defense, it’s a hard team to beat. On defense everybody tackles.”

Rich finished his lecture with a worn-out team sitting on the field.

“Blocking and tacking are the whole game,” added Coach Hanson, courtesy of Coach Lombardi, Coach Johnson, and Coach Price, sounding, to his own surprise, a bit like he knew what he was talking about.

Rich and the team ate lunch and watched the Tucson films for the second time. This time the whole atmosphere was different. Everybody had something to say.

“Their quarterback Clawson keeps it on the ground because he’s only got one good receiver and that’s Taylor. Once in a while he’ll pass to Dupree,” said Murphy.

The team went at it for two hours. It seemed to be the first time they had really analyzed game films with the idea they could learn something about the strengths and weaknesses of the team they were going to play.

“You know Coach,” it was Rollins. “ I don’t think Clawson throws long because he can’t put it where he wants or hit his man over 35 yards; he must be as old as me and that’s old.”

Rollins laughed and the team laughed.

This time it was Murphy. “Maybe we should use a 4-5-2 defense. Our two safeties will have a free afternoon unless someone breaks through for a long run.”

It began to dawn on Rich that the Terriers were thinking. One of the things they were thinking, whether they knew it or not, was they just might have a chance on Sunday.

They went back on the field.

“I want to try a little experiment guys,” said Rich. “Trade jerseys with the man next to you and play his position. Let’s see what happens.”

Murphy was at right end, Rollins was a linebacker, Marino was a running back, Jaspers a center, and Anderson a nose guard. Maxwell and Ballou were the new quarterbacks. Everyone was playing a new position. Gray coached the Maxwell team and Harbach coached the Ballou team. Everybody played both offense and defense.

Rich took notes and watched.

At the end of the first half, the score was 0-0.

Partly, it was because the offensive plays didn’t work, but mostly it was because the guys, who had worked on blocking and tackling, wouldn’t give up an inch. It was 100% defense. The ball never got inside either 20-yard line.

Maxwell was sacked so hard by Anderson he had to be taken off the field. Milo got his job.

Milo hit Murphy with a couple of good passes, but Murphy was creamed by Rollins as soon as he got the ball. Rollins seemed to enjoy that. Murphy didn’t.

Anderson was sparking both defenses. “Score one more for Jane,” Rich thought.

At half time Hanson called the team together.

“O.K. back to your regular positions. Switch jerseys.

Murphy and Rollins back in at quarterback.”

“Murphy, you must pass on every play. Rollins you must call a run on every play.”

In the third quarter, both quarterbacks had trouble getting a game plan together. There were six turnovers. Three interceptions of Murphy passes and three fumbles of Rollins’ handoffs.

In the fourth quarter things started to come together.

Murphy invented a little pass play and kept jumping up and hitting Anderson over the line for 6 or 7 yards a pop. He hit Bergenson and Sieko on screens and connected with Ryan for 40 yards on a down and out pattern.

Rollins meanwhile, was pulling reverses and double reverses with Thompson and Cluretzski, and sending Hill from the fullback slot off right tackle and left guard. On one play, after faking a handoff, Rollins kept the ball himself and picked up 29 yards.

The blocking was good: the defense was murder. Today was the day for blocking and tackling.

The game ended 0-0.

Sixty minutes of all out football and no score.

Rich blew the final whistle and called everyone together. “It’s been a terrific day and it’s really coming together.

I’m proud of you and you should be very proud of yourselves.” The team hollered and clapped like school kids.

“Let’s make it eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. We’ll work on offense. I’ve got...or I’ll have a couple of ideas. We’ll keep it simple. By the way, my wife and children are coming in tonight. If it’s O.K. with you, I’ll bring them along to practice. I think they’d like that. I know I would. Any thoughts or questions?”

It was Anderson. “Coach, did you really bar Ryan from the park?”

“Yes, Verge, I did. I like Mr. Ryan, but I want us to do a good job on Sunday. This game may be a joke to him and to lots of other people too, but it’s not a joke to me. From the way you’re all working, it’s not a joke to you either. I want us to look good on Sunday. You’re all professionals and you deserve the chance to look good and be proud of yourselves. I’m afraid Mr. Ryan was getting in the way. We are all trying to do our best. There are no hard feelings between Mr. Ryan and me, at least on my part. I talked to him this morning and I think we understand each other. Sunday’s game belongs to us. We’ll do O.K. I have a feeling. Let’s do a little running and go home.”

Back at the hotel there was the usual stack of messages.

Most of them were wishing Rich “good luck.” There were requests for interviews, and a message from Ryan’s office. A car would meet the Hanson family at the airport. The Hanson family would have a suite, 2120-22. It had already been arranged. His clothes and personal belongings had already been moved. He could trade keys at the desk.

The suite was plush. There were flowers for Jane. The card read, “To Mrs. Coach. Welcome from all the Terriers.”

Rich had a light supper and decided to watch the six o’clock news on TV 6. Sunday’s game was the lead story. President Carter’s trip to China ran second.

Word was out that the Terriers were working very hard.

Nick Vance had some nice things to say about “the jogging Coach from Michigan.” A taped piece showed Rich jogging to the park that morning. Vance’s voice-over covered details about the Saturday afternoon family sightseeing and visit with the Whites. Vance ended up back on camera saying that two hundred sports writers from all over the country would be in Boston to cover the game. Jimmy the Greek was picking Tucson by 28 points.

That’s down from the cab driver’s 35-40 points,” thought Rich.

He went back to reading “Great Moments in Pro Football” and finished it in time to hop a taxi to Logan Airport. Along with Rich in the terminal at gate 17 was Ryan’s driver who introduced himself, and twenty reporters, ten photographers, and six radio and television crews. Nick Vance gave him the thumbs up sign from across the crowd.

Flight 123 arrived on time.

First off the plane was, of course, Annie, followed by Jane and Jack. The cameras went into action. Jane looked horrified. Rich was barely able to get through scrum. The four of them hugged and kissed. Any college journalism student could have called the picture on the front page of tomorrow’s Globe.

They made it out of the airport and were back to the hotel by ten o’clock.

Rich sent down for a bottle of white wine and some Cokes and chips.

After wandering through the rooms and taking in the suite, they all sat down to watch the game films. Jane made notes, Jack made comments, and Annie crawled into her father’s lap and fell asleep.

At midnight, Rich carried Annie into the second bedroom and Jack followed, yawning.

Jane and Rich went to their bedroom. Rich left a wakeup call and placed their breakfast order.

The good news for the day was that Jack’s team had won 13-7. Jack had played quarterback, and his “touchdown” play had won the game.

The best news was they were all together. Tomorrow’s schedule was light practice and sightseeing and supper with the Whites.

“Coach, I think we’re in big trouble,” said Jane.

“What do you mean we? I’m here to have some fun so let’s start now.” Rich put out the light. “You’ll think of something tomorrow.”

SATURDAY

Jane was up early. Rich and the kids slept.

By seven o’clock she had watched the game films again and had written four pages of notes. After that she curled up on the sofa with the Boston playbook. She had never seen a professional playbook before. Every play was diagramed. The offense was divided into the ground game and the passing game. The defense section showed at least ten basic formations with variations for the opponent’s passing and ground game. There were more than one hundred plays shown with each player’s assignment detailed fully.

The plays had names, too. “46 Power,” “30 Draw,” “Screen Right.” Jane knew the game of football, but for her, reading the Boston playbook was like reading a top secret C.I.A. file.

As she read, she took more notes.

At Boston, like many other pro football teams, the coach usually sent in the plays alternating the ends as messengers. The ends and the quarterback were the only players who spoke in the huddle. On defense, the defensive captain, usually a linebacker or nose guard, called the signals. Most of the time on television, thought Jane, the viewers never saw the defensive huddle.

The coach was really the quarterback’s head and the quarterback executed the plays called on the sidelines and run in by the players. The coach and the team spotters were up top in communication throughout the entire game. Jane decided to watch the films again.

She picked out the obvious.

Clawson didn’t throw long and when he did, he favored Taylor. Clawson liked to run it himself. He used the Moose on power plays through the line. Sweeps and reverses went to the left with Otis and to the right with Brown.

Jane’s decided on the 5-4-2 defense. She decided it should be strung out in the Dallas “picket fence” style.

She then started to reread her own notes of her early morning work, notes she made in her phone conversations with Rich, and his notes from the day’s practice which she found on the desk.

Jane had another idea, better than the first about defense.

Use both Murphy and Rollins. She underlined it and then, proudly, circled it.

Jane went back to the films.

Jane knew something that most football fans don’t understand. It was simple math, but everybody seemed to miss it: Ninety-five percent of the time you have three downs, not four, to make 10 yards and a first down. If a team doesn’t make it in the first three, almost always it punts or if you’re close enough, you try a field goal.

Jane also worked out some more simple math. In the six games the Terriers had played, Boston had given up an average of thirty-two points a game. She went back to her notes and wrote:

Score 35. Our magic number is 35.

Her last note was probably her most important. It was in capital letters and underlined.

JACK, ANNIE, ME WITH GRAY & HARBACH

Each team had its own ‘spotters box’ at the top of the stadium. The coaches up there communicated with the coach on the sidelines by headset. Jane wanted to be there alongside Fred Gray and Joe Harbach with the playbook and her notes.

She transferred everything she had written into her own notebook, which she had bought just for the game.

“Good morning Mrs. Hanson, this is Sheraton operator Williams. Welcome to Boston. Your husband left a wake-up call. It’s now nine o’clock.

“Thank you, operator, could you check to see if our breakfast is on the way. I’ve got a lot to do... I mean my husband has a lot to do... I mean he has a busy day today. And operator, could the waiter bring up a paper?”

“There should be one right outside your door Mrs. Hanson. Papers are delivered to all the suites every morning. If it’s not there, call me back. I’ll check on your food order. It should be on its way. Service is excellent, especially for VIPs like yourselves.”

“Thank you, operator, have a nice day.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hanson and good luck, to you, I mean to Mr. Hanson. All of us on the board who handle his messages are hoping for a miracle. We’ll all be watching the game. You really have a very fine husband, Mrs. Hanson. You’re very lucky.”

“Yes, I am. Thank you very much.”

“There’s the usual stack of messages; I’ll send them up.”

Service was indeed special for the suites thought Jane. She wondered about the operator’s comment about what a fine husband she had, just for a second. She let it go.

Jane opened the door and looked down. She could see the front-page picture of her kissing Rich. Lower on the page there was a second picture of the four of them hugging.

They did make a fine-looking couple and family. The headline was so big Jane flinched.

COACH’S FAMILY ARRIVES FOR GAME

The subhead was:

SATURDAY SIGHTSEEING A FAMILY AFFAIR

Jane walked into the bedroom and sat down next to Rich on the bed.

“Coach, this is Mrs. Coach and this is your wake up call.” She gave him a kiss and he opened his eyes.

“The service is much better up here,” he said with a grin.

He sat up and kissed her.

“What are you doing up and dressed?”

“I’ve been working. You told me last night you expected me to come up with some ideas. I’ve got some.”

“How long have you been up?”

“A couple of hours, I guess. I really didn’t look at the time.”

“Are the kids up too?”

“Still sleeping. I’d better get them up though; breakfast should be here any minute. Come on, Coach, into the showers, we’ve got work to do.”

In a few minutes a couple of very sleepy youngsters stumbled into the suite living room. Jack made a straight line for the sofa, stretched out, and went back to sleep. Annie opened all the curtains and looked out over her dream city. It was her first look at Boston in daylight and she was excited.

Breakfast arrived and the Hanson family sat down around the dining table to have their first meal together in five days.

Rich said a prayer and declared that until breakfast was over the subjects of football and the game were off limits.

They laughed and carried on about rushing for the airport after Jack’s game and nearly getting lost, about Annie’s first flight, and Jack’s having a sip of champagne on the plane.

Everyone was excited about seeing Boston and being with the Mayor and Mrs. White.

Jane was worried about what she’d wear and when she’d have time to get her hair done. Rich sifted through the messages.

“Every woman’s magazine and women’s editor in the country wants to talk with you Jane.”

“Thank you, but no thank you. As I said earlier in the week, leave me out of it.” She laughed, “I’d be scared to death.”

“Now you know the feeling, Miss Fonda. It’s been like this all week. The only way I avoid the reporters is I run. I start running as soon as I see them.”

Jack noticed the paper on the desk. “Dad, did you ever have your picture in the paper before all this happened?”

“A couple of times, Jack. Probably in the business section for a promotion at work. I guess in high school and college I was in a couple of times, too.”

“I don’t know if I like it or not. My tie’s crooked. All those reporters, it’s like being the son of the President; all we need is the Secret Service.”

“We don’t get the Secret Service, but I’m sure the mayor will have a couple of police near him all the time.”

“Daddy,” asked Annie, “can I tell Mayor White some of the things I want to see?”

“Yes Annie, but I think we should find out some of the things he’s going to show us first. What did you have in mind?”

She took out a piece of wrinkled paper. “I’d like to see his office, and the State Capitol, Beacon Hill, Copely Square, the Old North Church, the Charles River, Faneuil Hall, The Common, and the Swan Boats.”

“Hold on young lady. You certainly have done your homework. What’s at the very top of your list?”

“My first choice would be to go on board the Constitution.

You know it’s in Boston Harbor.

“I didn’t know that. We’ll ask the mayor if that’s a possibility. Deal. Jackson, any special requests?”

“I can’t talk about it.”

“What do you mean you can’t talk about it? It’s almost a free country.”

“You said it was off limits, kind of.” “Go.”

“I just want to be in the park where the Terriers and Red Sox play. I’d also like to meet Reg Murphy and Sonny Rollins.”

“I think I can arrange that. Deal. Jane?” “I’d like to get down to work.”

“I thought you’d get around to that.”

“O.K. I told them it would be a light workout. Just some offense and I told them I’d probably have a few new plays for them. I figured you’d come up with some goodies.”

Jane and Jack and Rich sat down to discuss the business of the day’s offense and a general game plan. Annie wanted to keep looking out the window at Boston.

By ten-thirty, Rich had Jane’s thinking in his head or her notes on the backs of envelopes.

They went over changes in positions, added some practice time for the new defense, eight plays Jane had chosen for offense, and then Jane dropped the bomb. Murphy and Rollins.

If Rollins quarterbacked, Murphy would be used as a running back. If Murphy quarterbacked, then Rollins would shift over to running back.

They’d use a very old fashion T of split T formation on offense and a 5-4-2 defense. The magic number was 35.

Rich looked it all over and decided that the best thing was to see it on paper.

Annie got a few pages of Boston Sheraton stationery. Jack supplied a penny, and Jane came up with a nail file for a straight edge. When they finished it looked like this.

Rich, Jane and the kids arrived at Fenway Park and went right to the field. It was still fifteen minutes before practice officially began but the team was out running. As the team ran by, Rich called Fred Gray to come over. He introduced Jane, Jack and Annie.

“What’s going on?”

“They all showed up at ten and did a half hour of exercise and just started running.”

“How much have they done?”

“More than a mile. Maybe a mile and a half.” “Call them in Fred.”

Gray blew his whistle and motioned for the team to come over.

“Good morning. It’s good to see you out there working like this but we’ve got a football game tomorrow not a track meet. It tells me a lot about how tomorrow is going to go. We just might give old Tucson a run for its money, and I don’t mean around the track.”

“I’d like you to meet my family. This is my daughter Annie, my son Jack, and the woman I love, my wife Jane.”

The team hollered and applauded. There were more than a few whistles directed at Jane who was blushing.

“Is she your inspiration, Coach?” “More than you’ll ever know.”

Jane and Jack and Annie went into the stands to watch what they already knew was going to happen. It was like watching television with the sound off.

The whole team sat on the grass while Rich roamed around with envelopes moving from hand to hand. He was giving out the new assignments. There were groans. There were cheers, and there was some laughter.

Down on the field, Rich concluded. “I’ve given this next one a whole lot of thought and it makes sense to me. I told Rollins that he could not start the game on Sunday and I am a man of my word. But I intend to use Rollins at quarterback.” There was dead silence from the team. “Murphy will start and Murphy will continue.” Still dead silence. “ However, Rollins will join the team after the first few downs on offense and both will play. When one is not in as quarterback, he’ll be used as a running back. We will use both quarterbacks. I’ll send in the plays from the bench. Sometimes Murphy or Rollins may just run one play or a set of downs, other times, he might run ten plays in a row.”

They started running plays and the Rollins-Murphy and Murphy-Rollins combinations were all a dream. Power plays, handoffs, double reverses, screens, hooks, curls, everything worked. You never knew if it was a pass or a run since now Murphy could throw with confidence and Rollins could now engineer a draw play out of his hip pocket. Anderson kept plowing up the middle. Thompson was sweeping the ends and both Murphy and Rollins quickly became masters of the play action pass. For the fun of it, Murphy faked to both Anderson and Rollins and kept it himself. Not to be outdone, Rollins faked a handoff to Anderson and hit Thompson with a pass that covered more than 60 yards.

Just to get used to their new positions, Rich called for the new defensive unit to take a few minutes to get their signals straight. After twelve plays with Anderson calling the defensive signals and no gain on the ground or in the air, Rich called it quits. He waved Jane and the kids to join them on the field.

“Game time is at one o’clock so I’ll meet you here at eleven. I’m sure I’ll have a few new surprises for you.” He winked at Jane. She didn’t bat an eye.

“By the way Fred, Annie and Jack asked me if they could watch the game from the booth up top with you and Joe. It’s kind of special to them. Jane will go up with them to make sure they stay out of your way.”

Jane coughed.

“That’s kind of unusual, Coach, but the game is a sellout.

I don’t see why not. Mrs. Hanson, come to Gate 3 at twelve-thirty, and ask the guard, his name is Brice, to take you up on the elevator. The password is ‘scotch and soda’.”

“See you guys tomorrow,” said Rich, “ and regardless of what happens, let me tell you right now that this has been one of the best weeks of my life. That’s all.”

“Hey Coach,” it was his two-hundred-and-eighty-pound tackle Bill Comstock. “Ain’t we gonna do our mile?”

“As you can see Bill, I’m in my street shoes, but if you guys want to do it, it’s o.k. with me.”

“Can I run Dad?” It was Jack. “I’ve got sneakers on.” “Sure, Jack you can take my place.”

With Jack out front, the team took off.

As a tribute to Rich Hanson, the team let Jack lead the entire mile. Rollins and Murphy ran a dead heat for second place.

The Hansons got back to the hotel by two-thirty. At three Jane was at the hairdresser. By three-thirty Annie and Jack were dressed and watching a college football game on television. Rich showered, shaved and changed. Jane was dressed by four.

The operator called to say that the mayor’s car was out front and that Mayor and Mrs. White were waiting to greet them.

“I thought we were going to meet them later,” said Rich.

“They decided to come and meet you so that you could get the tour started early. The mayor loves to show people this city.”

Outside the hotel Mayor Kevin and Katherine White were standing in front of a Lincoln Continental Limousine, three motorcycle policemen, and a patrol car.

“Mr. Mayor, I’m Rich Hanson.”

“Glad to meet you Mr. Hanson. Please call me Kevin and I’ll call you Rich. Katherine say hello to the Hanson family.” Katherine White gave Jane a big hug and the mayor shook hands with Jack and Annie. The six of them piled into the limo and they began their tour of Boston.

It was the same tour that the mayor had personally set up for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip during the 1976 Bicentennial Year royal visit.

Jane, Rich, Jack and Annie saw everything there was to see. Every once in a while, the mayor would have his driver stop and the whole group would set off on a little walking tour.

A couple of times, the red lights and sirens were turned on. An on-board visit to Old Ironsides was the last stop on the tour.

At six-thirty they arrived at the mayor’s residence. Five of the White children, ranging in age from seven to eighteen, were there to join them for supper. The Whites and the Hansons got along like they were next-door neighbors, who really liked each other.

As promised, they were back at the hotel at nine o’clock.

They all watched the Saturday Night Movie together, just like at home.

They were all in bed after watching Nick Vance wish them well in “the game of the year” tomorrow.

There were hugs and kisses and “Thanks, Dad,” and “I love you too’s.”

As Rich put out the light, he said, “You know Rollins could hand off to Thompson and Thompson could flip it to Murphy and then Murphy could toss a lateral back to Rollins and Murphy could run a post pattern and Rollins could throw the bomb.”

“Rich, you’re crazy. That play could never work.” “Maybe it could.”

They both started laughing and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

(Next installment coming soon…)

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

THURSDAY

How can the phone be ringing? Rich decided he was dreaming and rolled over. The phone kept ringing. His head was ringing. The Coach was hungover. The ringing began to hurt.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr. Hanson. This is Sheraton VIP operator Williams. Your wife is calling. She says it’s an emergency. I asked her if the Pope had died. She said it was more important than that. Mrs. Hanson told me to tell you that she would take “full responsibility” for putting the call through.”

“O.K. operator. I’ll take it. You did your part. Thank you.”

“Good morning, Jane.”

“Good morning, Mouth. You sure had a night for yourself, didn’t you?”

“I decided to take your advice and have some fun.”

“Touch football, staying out all night, and ‘losing is better than winning.’”

“I’m sorry, I got mixed up.”

“The direct quote was ‘as my wife says losing isn’t everything, but it sure beats winning.’ I don’t care if you said it, but I never said it. From now on keep me out of it.”

“Yes, Jane. You win a few and you lose a few.”

“Are you sure you said that yourself? Can I quote you?” “Enough Jane. My head hurts. We did have fun playing touch and I thought a few beers with the team was a good idea to get to know the players.”

“The way the Free Press has it; the whole team drank for hours and you and Rollins went on after that.”

“I guess that’s the way it happened.” “You guess?”

“I know. Lay off. This was your idea, remember? Let’s call a truce and start all over. Good morning, Jane.”

“O.K. Good morning, Coach. How did it go yesterday?” “Well, we had a light workout and then a few of the guys and I got together for a couple of beers, you know, good for morale.”

“What did you learn?”

“Let me look, I wrote something down here someplace. Hang on.”

He turned on the light. His warmup suit and running gear were on the floor. He could see his wallet and keys and some papers on the desk. He got out of bed and walked over to the desk in pain. There was a receipt from Pier 4 for $83.75, a flowery handwritten note ‘Lisa 617-555-2728,’ and an envelope with the players’ names in his own handwriting, only half legible.

“Here it is. Let’s see. You know Murphy and Rollins are the quarterbacks. Hill, Reilly, and Anderson are the fullbacks. The running backs are Bergenson, Thompson, Maxwell, Sieko, Cluretzski and Ballou. The ends are Silvers, Trunk, Milo and Ryan, who is no relation to Tommy. The kicker is Pete Ravitz and he handles everything. The centers, guards and tackles are Roberts, Ruffins, Watkins, Page, Rome and Comstock. I might have missed some. Fred Gray coaches offense and Joe Harbach coaches defense. Jaspers and Marino are the key linebackers.

They handle the defensive game on the field and call the signals.”

Rich was impressed with his own report, which he continued. “Gray and Harbach work up top as game spotters. You know I never realized how important the spotters are. I’d see guys along the sidelines with headphones, but I never thought much about the spotters before yesterday. Seems to me you can see better up there than you can down on the field. Maybe I could coach from up there.”

“I don’t believe you just said that” Jane blurted out. “You mean coaching from up top?”

“No, no, no. Forget that. Nice try. I mean not knowing about the values of spotters.”

“I speak the truth, Lady Jane.” “Enough. How about Rollins.”

“I like him and you were right, he is a drinker.” “According to the paper, you didn’t do too badly yourself.” “Jane.”

“Sorry.”

“Actually honey, I have to agree with you. If it makes you feel better, I feel terrible.”

“Wait a minute. Now you’re trying to get me into a fight. Truce, remember?”

“Sorry, Jane. According to Rollins the whole team is a mess. The older guys don’t talk to the younger guys, the Blacks don’t talk to the Whites, and Ryan is always butting his nose in and screwing everything up. He says they never really practice and I’m lucky they call me coach. He says they’ve had so many coaches, the guys probably won’t remember my name. They’re all in terrible condition. I could see that myself after we ran.

We only did a mile together and most of them didn’t even make that. Rollins told me that quick speed was more important than distance. He’s probably right, but it seems to me that any pro athlete should be able to run a mile, even if he weighs three hundred pounds.”

“Do it again today.” “Huh?”

“Do another mile today. Players and coaches.”

“Rollins is bitter about Murphy. He knows he’s too old and feels that Murphy is a comer, but he thinks that Murphy gets played because he’s Ryan’s fair-haired boy. Rollins wants to play really bad and he still has respect on the team. He’s the one that broke the ice in the player’s meeting and welcomed me to Boston.”

“ Did you get the playbook and the films?”

“Rollins promised me a playbook today, if he can find one.

The whole team is going to look at the films together today.” “You know Rich, when a team looks at game films, usually the coach does all the talking. Let’s turn that around. Ask them what they see. Especially Jaspers and Marino and Harbach.”

“Who?”

“Jaspers and Marino call the defense, don’t they?” “Yeah.” And Harbach, he’s the defensive coach?” “Yes, Jane.”

“Well find out what they have to say. Remember to have the films and the projector sent to the hotel so we can look at them together tomorrow night. Now, can I make a suggestion?”

“I was counting on it, to tell you the truth. I can bluff my way through day one and I did, but I think I’d better have something to offer today.”

“Call Fred Gray at home now and tell him to call a full practice for nine-thirty this morning. Got a pencil?”

“Go.”

“9:30-10:00 Exercise 10-10:30 Run a mile

10:30-11:00 Basic Defensive formations

11-12:00 Basic Offense. Pick three basic pass plays and three basic runs. Switch Murphy & Rollins

12-12:30 Lunch

12:30-2:30 Look at the films

2:30-4:30 Play a full game. Tackle. Keep your eye on Murphy and Rollins. Take notes

4:30-5:00 Run another mile. They’ll never make it, but try.”

“Thank you, Jane. I was wondering what I was going to do today.”

“I love you, Coach.”

“Tell Annie and Jack I said ‘hi’ and I love them. I love you, too, Jane. Bye.”

“Call me tonight. Bye.” Rich flashed the operator. “What time is it please?”

“It’s twenty minutes past seven, Mr. Hanson.”

“Could you find coach Fred Gray of the Terriers and have him give me a call?”

“I’ll try Mr. Hanson.”

“And operator, please have the restaurant send up some coffee, a pot of black coffee and a pot of cold orange juice.”

“A pot of cold orange juice, Mr. Hanson?” “A pot, a bottle, a lot, whatever.”

“Yes, Mr. Hanson.”

Rich made his way to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.

Grim, it was very grim.

By the time he brushed his teeth and washed his face, the phone was ringing.

“Mr. Gray on the line for you, Mr. Hanson.” “Good, thank you.”

“You’re most welcome, sir.”

“That was some party last night Coach. What can I do for you this fine morning?”

“I’m sorry Fred, but I need to give you some bad news. I have to call a full practice for nine-thirty this morning.”

“You mean today, in two hours?”

“Yes, Fred, I’m afraid so. Full gear. Anyone who’s late doesn’t start on Sunday.”

“Yes, sir. Suppose I can’t find them, or some of them?” “What are the team rules? Don’t they have to be home?”

“We don’t have any rules like that.”

“Well, I’ll make one up right now. Anyone who is not where he should be – at home sleeping, especially after last night – doesn’t deserve to start anyway. Fair?”

“I guess so.”

“Anyone who is late will be fined.” “Fined?”

“Yes. How much do the guys make?”

“Could be anywhere from twenty-five thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand a year.”

“Let’s make it a week’s salary.” “Yes sir.”

The only player missing from the field when the practice began was Rich’s drinking buddy, Sonny Rollins. According to Fred Gray, Rollins had gotten into a minor scrape with three cops at two-thirty in the morning. The charge was “drunk and disorderly.” He was in jail.

Fred suggested Rich call Ryan at home.

“Mr. Ryan, this is Rich Hanson. One of our players is in jail on a ‘disorderly’ charge.” He left out ‘drunk.’ “Can we get someone to find out where he’s being held and bail him out? I need him right away.”

“I assume it’s Rollins.” “Yes sir, it is.”

“It figures. Let him sit for a while and cool his heels.” “I need him.”

“Why would you need Rollins?”

“Sir, I’ll be heading to the field shortly and the whole team will be here for practice at 9:30.”

“Are you out of your mind Hawkins? No coach in his right mind calls a Thursday morning practice before a Sunday game.”

“It’s Hanson and maybe I’m not in my right mind, but it’s your team that keeps losing football games.” Rich realized that he was stepping over the line and started to back off.

“I’m sorry, sir. I need Rollins. We’ve got game films to look at and we’ve got a scrimmage game. I need both quarterbacks.”

“Is it two hand or one hand touch?” Ryan said sarcastically.

“No sir, this one is full out.” “Full out?”

“Yes Mr. Ryan, and just so you won’t be surprised, I am going to fine anyone one week’s salary if he’s late for practice and he can’t start on Sunday.

“Is it now? The fine is a good idea but you don’t have to worry about starting Rollins on Sunday. Murphy starts.”

“I have to agree with you Mr. Ryan, Mr. Murphy will start if Rollins is late for practice.”

“No Murphy starts because I said he will start.” Rich was beginning to boil again.

“Mr. Ryan, you gave me a free hand, remember? I’m going to do what I think is best for the team. We may lose on Sunday, but you made it very clear to me the other night that this would be my loss. If I am going to lose, it will be my way. Now could you or someone in your office find Rollins and bail him out, now?”

Rollins showed up just before eleven. He was wearing the same clothes he’d been wearing the night before. He walked across the field and headed for Hanson. Rollins was hot.

“Look man, I never thought about starting. Murphy always starts. But nobody who knows nothing about football like you do is gonna take away my money.

He dove at Hanson.

Gray and Harbach pulled him off and broke it up before anything started. Rich knew it was a very important moment.

“Mr. Rollins,” said Coach Hanson, “you seem to know an awful lot about fighting and you sure know a lot about football. It’s about time you started to act your age.”

Rich started quoting from one of the books he had read. “Team players look to the quarterback for lots of things.

A few of them happen to be inspiration, confidence and common sense. The quarterback should never gamble if he’s ahead late in a game.”

As the senior member of the Terriers, I suggest that you are ahead, so don’t gamble with me, or with yourself, or the rest of the team. We may not win on Sunday, but I’m going to try my best. I expect every player and every coach to give his best. I need your help and the team needs your help. Now, I think it might be a good idea if you went to the locker room and cooled off, got changed, and got out here. You can start with exercise and two miles. You don’t start on Sunday and the fine stays. If you don’t like it you can leave the park now and don’t show up until after I’ve gone on Sunday.”

The starring contest between Rollins and Hanson seemed to last forever. The entire team was watching.

Rollins was a fighter, a brawler, a maverick. He was also a pro, who had led Boston to an AFC Championship ten years ago.

“Remember one other thing Rollins,” Rich tagged on during the last few seconds of the stare down, “the quarterback works harder than anybody else on the team.”

They were all waiting. Rollins smiled.

“Right Coach. I’m sorry I’m late. I’ve got to change.”

Rollins was back on the field in less than fifteen minutes.

He started with stretching and exercises and then huffed and puffed his way through two miles. He did a respectable 18:15.

A very hungover team loosened up as the long day progressed exactly the way Jane had planned it. Every once in a while, little things began to click.

Murphy’s team beat Rollin’s team 28-20. Rich observed one thing on offense. Murphy liked to run; Rollins liked to pass.

At four-thirty the entire team did another half mile and Rich called it quits for the day.

“Thank you, guys. Get some sleep and something good to eat. I’ll see you same time tomorrow morning.”

Rich jogged back to the hotel, left a wake-up call, and lay down on the bed to sleep. He was exhausted.

“Those poor guys,” he thought as he drifted off.

“Coach Hanson, this is Sheraton VIP operator Hirschberg.

You wanted a wake-up call. It’s just now eight o’clock.” “Thank you, operator. Could you connect me with room service?”

“Yes, of course, please hold the line.”

“Oh, operator, would you call my home? The telephone number is 313-363-8145.”

“Yes, Mr. Hanson. Hold for room service. “Room service, may I help you?”

“Yes please. This is Mr. Hanson in room 2302. Could I order a steak, baked potato, a salad with Russian dressing, and two glasses of milk?”

“Yes sir. How would you like your steak?” “Medium is fine.”

“Medium? Yes sir. Will there be anything else?” “Would you have the waiter get me a copy of tonight’s paper? Is the Sun the night paper?”

“Yes, it is. I’ll have him get it for you. Thank you.”

Rich looked at his day’s notes, which he had written on the back of a Sheraton Hotel envelope. “Murphy run – Rollins pass.” That’s all he had written. He knew that Jane would want more so he started to write: Defense weak. Marino & Jaspers not right. Anderson - a workhorse. Ryan and Silvers - best ends.

Thompson/fast. Pitchout. Sweep. Dive. Hook. Slant. Screen.

He didn’t know what he was writing, but it looked good, and just in time. The phone rang.

“Mr. Hanson, your wife is on the line. Go ahead please.” “Hello, Jane.”

“Hi, Rich. How did it go today?”

“I think it’s safe to say that thanks to you, we are all near death by exhaustion. I’d bet my life that every player is home sleeping right now. I just woke up myself. I’ve called another practice for tomorrow morning. Got some bright ideas?”

“Probably but give me a run down of today.”

“I’ve got a few notes, not too much, but let me read them to you.”

Rich read and Jane listened with an occasional “terrific,” or “trouble.”

“How did the films go?”

“I don’t think that Jaspers and Marino have much confidence. Jaspers’ comment was, and I quote ‘They’re gonna kill us.’ Marino’s contribution was, and I quote, ‘Those guys don’t do anything wrong.’ Harbach seemed to think we might have a chance to keep them on the ground. That seemed obvious even to me since Clawson only threw six passes in the whole game, but right now I’d give Tucson a big edge.”

“Let me think about it for a couple of minutes. The kids want to talk to you.”

“Hi Dad.”

“Hi Jack. How’s it going?”

“Real good Dad. Coach Price let me work out today at quarterback. Bill Simmons, our regular quarterback, got benched. Coach Price caught him smoking at lunchtime. Price had him suit up and then sit on the bench for the whole afternoon. Simmons is sore at me.”

“It sometimes works that way in life, Jack. People get mad at the wrong person. He’ll get over it. If he doesn’t, tell him to get mad at Price.”

“Thanks Dad. I invented a new play today. It’s called ‘touchdown.’ The center snaps me the ball and I flip it back to the fullback. Everyone who is eligible, both ends and the three backs, including me run as fast as they can down field. The fullback throws it as far as he can. Guess who caught it, Dad?”

“Who?”

“Me.”

“Can you do that?”

“Sure, Dad. It’s legal. We did it.”

Rich wrote “touchdown pass” on the back of an envelope. “Jack, I’ve got a question for you. Does Coach Price have a basic strategy for football? Not a particular game, but the whole thing. Like a philosophy?”

“Oh sure Dad, it’s in the book. Did you get the books I told you to get?”

“Yes. I’m through two of them

“It’s there and Coach Price says it all the time. ‘Football is about blocking and tackling. That’s it.’ He got it from Vince Lombardi, the coach of the Green Bay Packers.”

“Blocking and tackling?”

“Yes, Dad, and it makes sense. On defense you’ve got to tackle to stop the man with the ball. On offense, you’ve got to block to protect the runner or the passer or whoever has the ball so he can move it.”

Under “touchdown pass,” Rich wrote, “blocking and tackling.”

“Dad, Coach Price says I might start the game tomorrow.” “That’s terrific, Jack. I’m very proud of you. I hope you do and I hope you win, but most of all I hope you have fun. I’m sorry I can’t be there.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Remember, Jack. A tie game is like kissing your sister.” “What?”

“A tie game is like kissing your sister.” “Where did you get that from, Dad?”

“I think it was Bo Schembechler of Michigan. Speaking of your sister, let me talk to Annie.”

“O.K. Dad. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Oh Dad, they’ve got signs up all over the school,’ Go Hanson.’ They’re for you.”

“Thanks Jack, I’ll try my best. ‘Go Hanson’ yourself tomorrow. Think that those signs are for you!”

“Love you, Dad. Here’s Annie.” “Hi, Dad. How’s Boston?”

“Annie, I’m working really hard so I haven’t seen too much of it so far. It seems very nice. The people are terrific.”

“I told Mrs. Krulman at school that Mom and Jack and I were going to see you in Boston. She talked about Boston today. It sounds like a perfect city. We’re all studying it for a class project. She gave me a book about Massachusetts today. She asked me to give the class a report about my trip on Monday.

Can we see some of Boston, Dad?”

“I don’t think we’ll have to practice too much on Saturday so that’s a deal. We’ll drive around and do some sightseeing Saturday afternoon.”

“Thanks, Dad, I’m really proud of you.”

“I’m proud of you too Annie, and I love you very much.

I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Goodnight Dad, see you tomorrow. Love you a lot. Here’s Mom.”

“Hi again. They’re so excited about the trip, Rich. I am too. Annie’s got her clothes packed already and Jack and I went out after his practice today and bought him a navy sports coat and a pair of gray slacks. He tried them on a while ago with a blue shirt and one of your striped ties. Rich, he looked so handsome, just like you.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mrs. Hanson; I can’t wait to see you. I’ve been busy, but it’s lonely and I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. Rich, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.

Mr. Meyers from AMC called today. He said after this week is over for you to call him. He said he had something in mind. I think Meyers has a new job for you, so the rest of it is gravy. Now we can really have some fun. We’re playing with house money. It worked out. It always does, doesn’t it?”

“How about that, Meyers, himself. Fantastic.”

“Now Rich, let’s see. The plane leaves at seven thirty so I guess we should get to the hotel around ten o’clock. Ryan’s office called. The tickets are at the airport and someone will meet us.”

“I will meet you. You are my wife and they are my children. I will be there. No discussion.”

“Yes, Rich.”

“Gee, I’ve got to talk to the hotel and work out some rooms. Maybe they could come up with a suite. If worse comes to worse, the coach will sleep with the coach’s wife and the kids can share a room. I don’t think they’d mind. I’d feel better about Annie with Jack there.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Now what’s my plan for tomorrow?” Jane dictated the Friday schedule.

“I heard you and Jack talking about blocking and tackling. That’s what the game is all about. Work on defense. Change the guys around at their positions and see what happens. At least they’ll appreciate what the other guy’s job is. It might shake them up and you might discover some unused talent. Look over the films again and find out what Murphy, Rollins and Harbach have to say. They might come up with something.”

There was a knock on the door. “Room service.”

“Just a second honey, it’s my dinner.”

“Hi, just put it there and I’ll sign. We’re you able to scare up a paper?”

“Yes, Coach. That was a big fine on Rollins.” Rich glanced at the Globe’s front-page headline:

COACH FINES QB ROLLINS $5,000

“That’s a lot of money.” “Yes, it is, sir.” “Thank you very much.”

“Jane, the fine on Rollins is five grand.”

“We heard it on the news. It was stiff, but I’m not sure he’s not worth two hundred and fifty thousand a year either. He didn’t like it I gather.”

“It was touch and go,” said Rich, “but he backed off, accepted it, and worked hard all day long. He gave me the playbook after practice. O.K. let me go over it. Blocking and tackling. Look at the films. Play another scrimmage game.

Run. I lay you even money that Rollins’ team wins.” “No bet.”

“We’ll see.”

“Rich I’ve got to get packed, so we’d better call it quits.

See you tomorrow. Oh Rich, try Anderson at noseguard.” “What’s that?”

“Defensive center. Let him call the defensive signals.

It’s just a hunch I’ve got. See what happens. Love you.” “Love you too. See you tomorrow night.”

Rich read the whole story on page one about the Rollins incident. It was all there, quotes verbatim, along with details of the whole practice. Somebody, thought Rich, was leaking it all to the press. He decided to handle it now.

“Operator, this is Mr. Hanson. Could you try to get me Nick Vance at Channel 6?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll call you back. Oh, Mr. Hanson, Mrs. White called, the wife of our Mayor, Kevin White. She wanted to know if you and your family would like to have supper with the White family on Saturday?”

“I should call her. Did she leave a number?”

“She said she and the Mayor would be out this evening, but you could call the Mayor’s press secretary, George Riley.”

Rich turned to the sports section of the paper.

SUNDAY’S GAME A SELLOUT

It was the first Terrier sellout in five years. Tickets were being scalped at $500 a seat. The mayor and the governor and their families would be there. The football game would be televised by NBC. Senator Ted Kennedythe whole Kennedy clan planned to be there, too.

“Mr. Hanson, I have Mr. Vance on the line for you.” “Thank you, operator.”

Nick Vance was one of the most respected sportscasters in broadcasting. He had wit and imagination, and it showed up both on the air and in his daily life. He loved sports but he didn’t take it as seriously as many of his colleagues. In college, he had been an all-star athlete in basketball, baseball, and football. A knee injury in his senior year had knocked out any hope of a professional career. Like Rich, he was married with two children. He was easily the most popular sports personality in Boston, and occasionally did pieces for the network. He was a happy, unselfish man, devoted to his job and dedicated to his family. He was the kind of man that most people would like to have as a friend – or be.

“Mr. Vance, this is Rich Hanson calling.” “How about calling me Nick?”

“Thanks, Nick. This is Rich. I need some help. Someone leaked the whole Rollins story to the press. I thought it was a closed practice. Do you have any idea how it happened?”

“I don’t know that you’d call it a leak, Rich. Tommy Ryan was the one who gave us the story. He knew about the whole thing. It’s as simple as that.”

“That’s not fair. Rollins took it like a pro and he worked harder in practice than anybody else. The story made Rollins look like an idiot. I won’t have that. He’s a good person and he used to be a big star. From now on Mr. Ryan is barred from any further practice. I don’t want to see him or talk to him. He gave me a free hand. The Terriers are a bunch of guys who are trying for a change. Ryan stays out of the park until game time on Sunday.”

Nick Vance couldn’t believe it. He knew that the major problem with the Terriers was Tommy Ryan. Ryan was colorful, but Vance couldn’t respect him. If Nick Vance was respected for his integrity, he was now meeting another man with integrity, Rich Hanson.

“Off the record, Rich, are you sure you want to do this?” “You bet your life, I’m sure. Ryan stays out of the park until Sunday, and then he can do anything he wants. You can quote me.”

“He isn’t going to like it, Rich.”

“I don’t like what he did to Rollins.”

“Got you and I admire you. Can I use it at eleven?” “You’ve got it. We’re on the record. Thanks Nick.

Goodnight. Look forward to seeing you again on Sunday.”

Rich Hanson felt better and called George Riley at the Mayor’s office.

“Mr. Riley, this is Rich Hanson. I received a generous invitation from Mrs. White to have supper with the Whites on Saturday.”

“Yes, Mr. Hanson, I know. Welcome to Boston. What can I tell Mrs. White?”

“Please tell her that I am going to take my family sightseeing in the afternoon and we would very much like to meet them for supper around six o’clock.”

“May I suggest that the Mayor and Mrs. White be your guides?”

“How do you mean?”

“They both love this city so much, I’m sure that they would like to show you and your family around themselves.”

“That would be sensational.”

“You are staying at the Sheraton, Mr. Hanson?” “Yes, I am, and yes we will be.”

“I’ll send the mayor’s car for you and your family at three o’clock. The Whites will meet you at the Paul Revere House.

We’ll set up a tour and then supper at the White’s home.” “Boy, that sounds perfect, but shouldn’t we check with the

Whites?”

“There will be no problem, so you can count on it. It was the mayor’s idea. You should be back to your hotel by nine o’clock.”

“Thank you, Mr. Riley.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hanson and good luck, on Sunday.”

The steak was almost cold, but it tasted very good. After supper, Rich got into bed and started reading Great Moments in Pro Football. He fell asleep during the chapter on Y.A. Tittle.

(Next installment coming soon…)

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

WEDNESDAY

Rich was up early and asked the manager at the front desk for the closest library. The manager was from South Boston, so he didn’t know. An employee conference resulted in the thinking that there might be a library on Copley Square. Somebody volunteered, “I guess you could try Harvard, if you strike out on the Square. They’ve got to have a library.”

There was a library on Copley Square and the librarian, sixty-eight-year-old Helen McGrath directed Rich to 769.33, the section for books on sports.

He picked out three books, including the one Jack mentioned, High School Football by Ralph Johnson, Great Moments in Pro Football by Zander Hollander, and Beginning Football by James Stark. The most recent book was three years old.

He had to show his driver’s license to Helen McGrath to obtain a visitor’s card. The books, Mrs. McGrath informed him, “will be due in two weeks.”

Rich told her that he would only need them for a few days.

Back in his room at the Sheraton, Rich asked the operator to “put a do not disturb” sign on his phone. He looked over the books for the next couple of hours.

He couldn’t believe that the game of football was as complicated and exacting as it was.

He read about drives, sweeps, handoffs, pitchouts, draw plays, and sneaks. That was only moving the ball on the ground.

In the air he tried to understand the difference between a flag pattern and a post pattern, and hooks, curls, down and outs, slants and screens.

He knew about centers, guards, tackles, fullbacks, and quarterbacks. Now he was learning about tight ends, flankers, wide receivers, free safeties, and linebackers.

The defense possibilities were even more bewildering: 4-3, 3-4, 5-4-2, 5, 3-2-1, and more. To make sure that there were always eleven men, Rich had to keep counting the little arrows in the diagrams.

The more he read, the more confused he got. The more confused he got, the more frustrated and nervous he got.

It had all seemed so simple watching a game on television with Jane or Jack and Annie on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon or now Monday night.

However, it was basic. Everybody knows if you have the ball, you keep trying to make 10 yards every four downs. Keep going until you score a touchdown or a field goal. If the other team has the ball the idea was to stop them from making 10 yards in four downs, make them punt, get the ball back and start over.

Now he was learning that you used your best play on first down. A second down and 2 yards to go situation might be the best time for a pass. He started to make some diagrams for himself.

Rich was also learning that linebackers plug holes in the line and make many of the tackles and that every team had a special goal line defense if the other team got down to its 5-yard line.

He was fascinated with the two-minute drill, which was run against the clock with speed, precision and little margin for error. He understood the flea flicker but struggled with a play-action pass.

His confusion and frustration turned to panic. The team meeting was only an hour away. He decided to call Jane at the office.

“Jane, I wish to inform you of your rights, but I also wish to inform you I am in very deep trouble, and I hold you fully responsible.”

Jane Hanson, formerly Jane O’Connell, was the best thing that ever happened to Rich and he knew it. They were very much in love.

They started dating in college at American University. He had majored in Business; she majored in English. They had taken a couple of classes together. If it wasn’t love at first sight, it was sooner rather than later. They were married after graduation in 1964. For most of their fifteen-year marriage, Jane was the wife of the bright young business executive and mother to his children.

Even after the kids were in school, she stayed at home making her family’s life, her life. Jane was an active member of the PTA. She went to school conferences, did some volunteer political campaign work, and took the kids to piano lessons, school activities, little league baseball and Jack’s football practices and games. For a while she was a den mother and later a Brownie leader for Annie’s troop.

Every Friday, each fall, like clockwork, Jane picked up Annie at Hughes Elementary School, and both of them would go to Southfield High to watch Jack play football or watch Jack sit on the bench.

Jane was a good fan. She sometimes walked the sidelines cheering the team on to victory, or after the game on the ride home, helping Jack out of his funk if he didn’t get to play enough or if his Southfield team lost.

Jack was a pretty fair player. He was strong and growing fast. He had grown three inches and put on fifteen pounds in the last year. He was a good boy. He was polite with his elders, honest with his parents, and popular with his friends and schoolmates.

As the theory goes, whatever he lacked in natural ability, he made up for it with guts and determination. He tried out for every sport he could and played them all with the same amount of enthusiasm. He was a pretty good end with good-sized hands for his age. As the team’s backup quarterback, he rarely got to play that position, unless the team was out in front.

He loved football and from mid-July when practice began until almost Thanksgiving when the season ended, his life was school and football, not always in that order.

Annie was more than a shining star to her parents and a credit to their abilities to raise children. She was not spoiled. Annie was also seventy-three pounds of nothing but energy. She was always doing something. She was very bright and wanted to know about everything. She was a question machine and a doer like her mother. Other children watched, she did.

There was no confusion in her mind about whether it was a man’s world or a woman’s world, or a boy’s world or a girl’s world. It was Annie’s world and she’d try anything.

Jane had to take her to Jack’s football games because it was Annie’s idea from the beginning. Jane and Annie made quite a pair. Annie followed Jack’s games more closely than most ten- year-old girls. She was right there beside Jane every minute of the game and went off to play with the other kids only during half time. Annie and her friends, of course, played football.

Every once in a while, Jane would have to pull Annie aside for a little talk after Annie had screamed “dummy,” or “that wasn’t very smart ‘fingers,’” when the Southfield regular quarterback was sacked or a player, not Jack of course, dropped what Annie considered a sure pass.

The Hanson family was quite a family.

As a youngster, Rich had played some high school hockey in Hartford where he grew up, ran track in college, and breezed through American U with less effort than most. Although his degree was in business, his minor was in psychology. What made people fail or succeed fascinated him. At American Motors he had gained a great deal of respect as a person who could motivate others to do better and work more efficiently. He was kind of what they call today a “Life Coach.”

Jane took the family by surprise one night a couple of years ago when she announced at the dinner table she was going back to school. She had the time now that the kids were older. She reasoned she needed to keep growing too. She had become something of a morning television talk show watcher, and the discussions that turned her on were those that suggested it was time for women to get out of the house. It was time she thought to make her small personal contribution to “women’s liberation.”

Two years later she had a master’s degree in public relations. After a year part-time with a small advertising agency, she landed a trainee position with New Detroit, Inc., a non-profit organization set up after the ’68 riots to pull Detroit back together. New Detroit had gained a solid reputation as the official booster for Detroit’s sagging image – at one time “Murder Capital of the U.S.A.” Jane moved quickly from her trainee position to the public relations department. She was now assistant to the President, William C. McCoy.

“Rich, I’m sorry I can’t spend much time with you right now, Mr. McCoy and I are just leaving for a meeting with the Deputy Mayor. You remember Rich, the big meeting on HUD housing. I understand how you feel, but I think the real problem is you are taking this whole thing too seriously.”

“Are you kidding, Jane? Pro football, national television, six and a half million entries. I am in big trouble and, I repeat, I hold you fully responsible.”

“Not fully, we all talked it over. Annie and Jack thought it was a fun idea too.”

“You’re the adult, you’re responsible, and you are also my wife.”

“A wife cannot testify against her husband in court, so your case is zero. Did you run today?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been studying those books that Jack told me to get from the library.”

“Forget the books for now and bring your gear to practice.

Someone on WXYZ radio called you ‘the jogging coach from Michigan” Run a couple of miles. You’ll feel better. You know you always do.”

“Thanks, doctor. Anything else?” “Did you get a playbook?”

“No Ryan got sloshed at dinner and wouldn’t talk about anything but his father’s boiler factory and Boston politics. I never had a chance to ask.”

“Well, get one today and FedEx it to me overnight. Call me later. I’ve got to run. You run too. I mean jog. Whatever.”

“Wait a minute. Do I say anything important at the meeting? After all, I am going to meet the team.”

“Let me see...you could say ‘winning isn’t everything, but it sure beats losing.’ You might have the team show you some of their basic plays and watch the quarterbacks.”

“Why?”

“They’ve got that new Murphy kid from Notre Dame and Sonny Rollins, who should have gone into broadcasting five years ago. ABC offered him a job doing the Saturday pre-game college show. He’s been with the Terriers forever.”

“Who plays?” ask Rich.

“Usually, Murphy. He’s good or at least he was at Notre Dame; but Rollins is a veteran and probably still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Get tight with Rollins. Take him out for a drink. I hear he’s a drinker.”

“Well I’m not.”

“Try it Rich, you might like it. Anyway, it wouldn’t kill you to have a few beers with him and unwind. He probably knows the team inside and out. Gotta go. Talk with you later. Bye.” Jane was a mind reader for sure. He was taking it too seriously. He made the decision to have some fun. He changed into his sweats and sneakers and outside the Sheraton, grabbed a taxi.

On the way to Fenway Park, he asked the driver, Mr. Nestor Rovers, if he were a football fan.

“Sure am,” said the cab driver.

“Who do you pick in Sunday’s game?” “Dallas.”

“No, I mean the Tucson-Boston game here.”

“Are you kidding? You can’t buy a bet in this town for less than a 35-point spread. I figure the score could be 50-0.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Boston stinks and the coach this week is that car salesman from Detroit. I don’t know, I feel sorry for him.”

“Well Mr. Rovers, I’m that car salesman from Detroit and for the fun of it I’ll take Boston, but I sure wouldn’t bet on it either.”

They arrived at Fenway just a few minutes before one o’clock.

Rich paid the driver.

“Good luck on Sunday Coach.” “Thanks, I’ll admit, I’ll need it.”

All the players were on hand in the players’ lounge when Coach Hanson arrived in his warmup sweats and sneakers. The players were dressed in street clothes. He felt like a fool and all thoughts about “not taking it seriously” went out of his head.

As he walked into the room, the team stood up and cheered, applauded and laughed. Tommy Ryan sat in the back of the room.

Every player was stronger, taller and bigger than Rich. Rich was very nervous.

“Thank you all very much. Let me say first of all I’m sorry about Coach Patterson. I had nothing to do with that. I didn’t even have much to do with being here or winning the contest. My wife sent in my name as a joke. I’ll try to do the best I can.”

The players stomped their feet and applauded again. A voice came from the back of the room.

“Mr. Hanson, I mean Coach Hanson, I’m Sonny Rollins and I guess I can speak for the rest of the team. There are no hard feelings about Red Patterson. Welcome to Boston. We’ll try to do what we can to make you look good.”

“Thank you, Mr. Rollins,” Rich was now more relaxed and confident.

“As my wife says ‘losing isn’t everything, but it sure beats winning.’”

The team roared and Rich realized that he had said it backwards. He was more than very embarrassed.

“I mean it the other way around... ‘Winning isn’t everything, but it sure beats losing.’”

The team gave him a round of applause.

“I don’t have too much to say. I saw the first half of one of your games a few weeks ago.”

“What do you think was wrong, Coach?”

“I don’t think too much was wrong. I just remember reading in the paper the next day that the other team won.

“I guess you’re all pretty banged up from Sunday’s game, so I thought we’d just run a few laps, do a few plays, and call it a day.”

The team was stunned.

“If someone could show me to the field, I’ll meet you there in ten minutes. Shorts, sneakers and jerseys with your numbers so I can tell who’s who is fine.”

“Yes sir, Coach,” the team filed out to the locker room. When they met on the field a few minutes later, Rich asked,

“Do you do some kind of exercises to warm up before you run?” “Not often Coach and we don’t do much running.”

“Well, you can’t just go out and run. Let’s do some stretching exercises together.”

Rich did his usual seven minutes of pre-running exercise. It was more for loosening up than anything. The team followed his lead. It was obvious that football exercises and running exercises were very different.

The team followed the routine good-naturedly. Without saying a word Rich just took off and began running. The team followed. After about a quarter of a mile, the guards, tackles, and centers, who all weighed between two hundred and forty and two hundred and eighty pounds, started slowing down or falling by the wayside.

By the time Rich had done a half mile all he had along were a few running backs, a couple of ends and the young quarterback, Murphy.

“One more lap,” yelled Rich, “everybody runs.”

The dropouts dropped back in and the team finished together.

Several of the players were physically sick.

“Why don’t you all take a few minutes and rest. I’m going to do another mile.” One of the coaches put a clock on Rich Hutchins. For Rich it was a very routine six-and-a-half-minute mile.

When he finished, he asked the players to split up into two teams.

“How about the low numbers say 40 and under on this side and the high numbers, 50 and up over on that side?”

Assistant Coach Fred Gray stepped forward. “Excuse me Coach, but it doesn’t work that way. You see the centers are the 50s, the guards are the 60s, the tackles are the 70s, and the ends are the 80s. The quarterbacks are usually 1-19, the running backs are 20s and 40s, and the fullbacks are in the 30s.”

“Is that right?” asked Rich. “I never knew that.”

“That’s good to know.” Rich couldn’t believe it was that simple – or complex.

“Well, it won’t make much difference. Just a little game of two hand touch.”

“Of what?”

“Two hand touch. Just have Mr. Murphy quarterback one team and have Mr. Rollins quarterback the other team. We’ll play until the first team gets 21 points.”

“Yes sir.”

The scene was like a bunch of kids playing on any Saturday or Sunday afternoon on any field or in any backyard in America after whatever game had been televised.

Reg Murphy’s team won 21-12. At least it was a Boston victory. Coach Hanson called them together. “Let’s all get a beer. Losers buy.”

Thirty minutes later the entire team descended upon Casey’s.

They were there for four hours.

Sonny Rollins and Rich Hanson slipped out the side door and went to Pier 4, which was open after all. They got very tight, as Jane had suggested. Actually, they got smashed. All facts were not overlooked in the next day’s newspapers.

“LOSING SURE BEATS WINNING”

NEW COACH TRIES TOUCH FOOTBALL

A side bar story was appropriately headlined:

A NEW BOSTON SPORT, TEAM DRINKING

(Next installment coming soon…)

(To read from the beginning, go to Pt. 1)

Check out other Substack offerings by Dennis Wholey

I’ve been fortunate to write half a dozen books that touch on personal and spiritual growth and mental health. On both personal and professional levels, those efforts have been deeply meaningful to me.

What you’re about to read is something totally different. It’s a fun project that I’ve been writing and rewriting over many years and I’m thrilled to share it with you.

Playfully, it all unfolds within the world of professional football -- a setting that often mirrors many aspects of our life and culture today -- the good, the bad and the delightfully absurd.

But the book is not about football. It’s really about life: the struggles we experience within ourselves, the deep connections we have with each other, and the joys, laughter and triumphs we share when we bond together that elevate our lives and our families.

My hope is that you will find some escape and joy in this one-of-a-kind “sports fantasy!”

Dennis

THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME

(An Amazing Football Story)

DENNIS WHOLEY

DEDICATION

If you’re a football fanatic, casual sports fan or just a great human being, this book is for you.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

What you are about to read is an amazing piece of sports history.

The narrator, I’m told, used to work for WBOS-TV, Channel 6 in Boston and knew the sportscaster involved, Nick Vance.

After you read the first sentence on the next page, you may be thinking, “There was no Boston Terriers football team.” That’s not quite true. The Boston University Terriers do exit to this day. However, this story is about pro football.

The Boston Braves became the Washington Redskins when the team moved to Washington, DC in 1937. The New England Patriots became a franchised team in 1959 and selected Foxborough as their home in 1971. The Redskins have been renamed the Commanders.

Not to worry, because the events described here really didn’t happen in Boston anyway.

All names, places and dates have been changed to protect the families and players involved and the integrity of NFL record books. The rest of it is supposed to be true.

Some of the principals swear it really happened. Your guess is as good as mine.

SUNDAY

The Boston Terriers were the worst team in professional football. Years ago they were a contending team, but the whole thing had fallen apart. The single major reason that had led to the decline and fall of the team was the owner, Tommy Ryan.

In the sports world at that time, fans, owners, players, managers and parking lot attendants considered Charlie Finley of the Oakland Athletics the most eccentric, unreasonable and unpredictable team owner in the professional sports. Finley however, produced winning teams. If the Oakland As didn’t win the World Series, they usually won the American League pennant. If that didn’t happen, Finley’s team usually ended up in the playoffs.

Tommy Ryan seemed to have a knack for losing. He had lost most of the small fortune he had inherited from his father, Tommy Ryan, Sr. The elder Ryan had made a bundle in liquor after prohibition had been repealed. Joe Kennedy had done the same thing, but he had produced winning sons.

Another “legitimate” business was a boiler factory in Lowell, Massachusetts that had done very nicely until the old man died and Tommy, Jr. as sole surviving son, got his loosing hands on the factory.

Tommy’s inheritance also included the now very pitiful Boston Terriers.

The Terriers ended the 1978 season with the worst record in both the American and National Football League Conferences at 2-14. In 1976 and 1977 when the schedule was only 14 games, the Terriers ended those seasons with 2-12 and 3-11 won/lost records.

Coaches were hired and fired.

One of them back in 1974 was fired after two pre-season scrimmage games between the rookies and the old timers, tagged by the sportswriters as the “over the hill squad.” The old timers lost both scrimmages.

However, Tommy was loyal to the aging players -- couple of whom were Tommy’s drinking buddies. Most of them were pushing forty and should have been out of the game ten years ago.

Tommy also had his roots. He was Boston, Irish and a Catholic, so most of his younger players were from colleges and universities around New England or Catholic schools like Fordham or Notre Dame.

A lot of good they did him on Sunday afternoons.

Since Tommy’s Terriers were so terrible, Boston always got first draft choices. Tommy personally did the picking without much thought to obvious talent. He was always passing on great potentials from Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, USC, UCLA and Penn State. He once rejected a Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State because he thought the player was too bright. Tommy told the press that any player with a 3.8 scholastic average couldn’t be trusted on the football field.

When the 1978 season ended with the dismal 2-14 record, Tommy Ryan called his usual day-after-the-season-ended press conference and fired head coach Jake Vitallis. Vitallis’ comment when he got the news was, “Tommy Ryan is 100% crazy. Quote me.”

Word was out that George Allen, formerly of the Washington Redskins and the L.A. Rams was someone who Ryan wanted to coach the Terriers. When Washington Post sportswriter Mark Asher contacted Allen his reaction was memorable: “I could never work for Ryan. I’ve been told by my friend Jake Vitallis that Tommy Ryan is 100% crazy. I have every reason to believe that he will be 100% crazy next year.” So went Boston’s high hopes.

Tommy even considered Woody Hayes who got the ax from Ohio State after he threw a punch at a Clemson player who had intercepted a pass in the Gator Bowl. It was probably the most disgraceful sports moment in 1978.

Word leaked out on that rumor; and although nobody ever nailed it down, insiders say that Tommy’s pastor, Father Patrick O’Fallon of Holy Trinity Church, talked Tommy out of Hayes in the confessional.

Tommy began the 1979 season by hiring a very unknown and very new coach at Catholic University in Washington. Red Patterson was only into his fourth week on the job at Catholic.

Patterson’s debut as head coach of the Boston Terriers was a 36-0 loss to the New York Jets at home in Boston’s Fenway Park. It was embarrassing.

After six games, Boston was 0-6 with additional defeats to Miami (31-0), Kansas City (42-13), Chicago (28-3), Pittsburgh (35-0) and Atlanta (21-6). Patterson was not ready for the big leagues or Tommy Ryan. After the Pittsburgh loss, the season was over for Red Patterson. He didn’t know it, but it was only a matter of time – one more game.

Owner Tommy Ryan was watching the eleven o’clock Sunday night news on WBOS-TV (Channel 6). Sportscaster Nice Vance was showing the lowlights of that day’s game. Vance was unmerciful with his attack on Ryan and the tragic Terriers. Vance did his game wrap up and read the riot act to Ryan so strongly that news director, Wally Reid, sitting in the control booth, called frantically for the “commentary” slide to be put on the screen to protect, as Reid said later, “Vance’s integrity as an objective reporter.”

“Nick just got carried away,” Wally said after the newscast. “He’s just another frustrated Boston football fan like the rest of us.”

Nick Vance ended his piece saying: “If Ryan doesn’t like what I’ve said, if the Terriers don’t like it, then neither do the Boston fans.

“Ryan’s selection of Patterson as head coach is another in a long series of blunders that’s made Boston the laughingstock of the football world. Anybody could do a better job. I’ll be back in two minutes with this week’s ‘Sport’s Fantasy’.”

After the commercial break, Nick Vance had calmed down and was back on camera presenting his very popular weekly “Fantasy” feature.

Viewers sent in their sports fantasies, and if Vance could pull it off, it was a nice two-minute piece with some kid who wanted to be a Red Sox batboy for a day, or a local golf pro who dreamed of playing golf with Arnold Palmer.

Tonight’s feature was on a high school teacher from Newton who wanted to have a tryout with the Ice Capades. Margaret Lahti had her big chance. Peggy Fleming was out there herself on the ice in an empty Boston Garden conducting the audition.

It was all good fun. Margaret was loveable but terrible. Today, she is teaching Phys Ed at Newton College of the Sacred Heart.

Tommy Ryan watched with embarrassment, anger, a drink in hand and fascination; but his wheels were turning. For Tommy, after a couple of drinks, his mind was a dangerous place to be.

When the newscast ended, he placed a call to Nick Vance in the WBOS-TV newsroom.

“This is Nick Vance.”

“This is Tommy Ryan. I heard what you said about me and Patterson and the team – and I watched your story about the schoolteacher who wants to be an ice star. I put two and two together. You said and I quote that ‘anybody could do a better job’ as coach. So, O.K., I have got an idea. You hold a contest on your station: ‘anybody’ can enter. We’ll put all the letters and cards in a barrel and whoever gets picked can coach the Terriers for one game.

“After Atlanta next Sunday, Patterson is history. The winner will coach the Tucson game the following Sunday.”

Nick Vance didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It had come to this. “Are you serious, Mr. Ryan?”

“I’m serious and in case you’re wondering, I am also sober. Call me tomorrow morning and we’ll firm up the details. Oh, sit on that Patterson thing.”

Nick Vance had integrity. He also was a good reporter. “I can’t sit on the Patterson story; that’s news and it wasn’t off the record. I’ve got to release it to The Globe for tomorrow morning’s edition. You know, Mr. Ryan, the Globe still owns Channel 6.”

Ryan knew Vance was right. He liked Vance and envied his class. Their conversation was on the record.

“Sit on it for half an hour. I’ll call Red at home and give him the news. You got it straight? Patterson does the Atlanta game, and the contest winner coaches the Tucson game.”

“I’ve got it straight, Mr. Ryan.”

Tommy Ryan called Red Patterson at home and fired him. He gave him the details and timetable for the TV contest.

Patterson ended the conversation. “Goodnight Mr. Ryan, you are insane.”

The early edition of the Boston Globe hit the streets at five-thirty Monday morning. The banner headline said it all:

PATTERSON FIRED AS TERRIER COACH

NEW COACH COULD BE YOU!

Details on “Coach Contest” at 6 on TV 6.

The wire services got to Ryan right after they got copies of The Globe.

Associated Press: “Is it true?” Ryan: “Correct. Good Day.”

Reuters: “Can anybody enter the contest?” Ryan: “Yeah, send in your name to Nick Vance.”

UPI: “Does the new coach have to be an American? Ryan: “Anybody can win – and I mean anybody.”

It was just the beginning. Tommy went back to sleep, never dreaming what was about to happen.

It was the lead story in the sports section of every newspaper in the country. Some had it on their front page. Sportscasters on radio and television had a dream story. Nick Vance and the WBOS-TV newscast that evening had a 90% share of the audience.

The country went wild.

Football Commissioner Pete Rozelle called Tommy Ryan in for a conference. George Allen, Jake Vitallis, and Red Patterson were giving “I told you he was crazy” stories to the press.

Walter Cronkite, Frank Reynolds, and David Brinkley gave the “football coach for a day” story the full treatment on their nightly newscasts.

Even former President Richard M. Nixon in disgraced retirement called from San Clemente to find out if he was eligible. He was. An aide sent his name in on official stationery. Every night, the former President dreamed about becoming a national hero, again.

By the time the contest was over, Nick Vance’s “Pro Football Coach for a Day” contest received six and half million entries. Cards, letters and telegrams came from every state and there were entries from 46 countries including Russia, China, Viet Nam, Iran and three entries came from North Korea. Two hundred million Americans loved every minute of it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Rich Hanson was a young executive with American Motors in Detroit, Michigan. However, that year AMC car sales were so bad that new AMC chief Gerald Meyers did what many had predicted was going to happen but was always denied: American Motors went out of the big car business.

Sales had dwindled to 1.1% of the entire U.S. market.

With the Renault deal finally locked in, Meyers decided to get rid of its loser division, and make money on four-cylinder cars, and Jeeps and buses that had been doing well for the company.

So, along with AMC going out of the big car business went Rich Hanson. As assistant to the Vice President in charge of marketing for the Ambassador, he was out of a job.

That happened in June. He had been job-hunting for almost five months. He spent his days now as house husband for the Hanson family.

He was up at seven o’clock each morning, Monday through Friday to drive his wife, Jane, to the commuter bus, which she took to her downtown job as deputy executive director of New Detroit, Inc.

As the bus arrived, Rich kissed Jane goodbye, and then went home to make breakfast for their two children: Jack, who had just turned fourteen and ten-year-old, Annie.

He cleaned the house, did the washing, shopped, cooked, took the kids to their dentist’s appointments, and ran. He loved to jog. He jogged at least five miles a day, rain or shine.

Rich was a hero to Jack and Annie. For the first time in years, they got to spend time with dad. It was different now.

He no longer worked twelve-hour days. He was around long enough to say more than “How’s it going at school?”

He was a full-time father.

The kids loved it and he loved it too.

Jane’s New Detroit, Inc. paycheck, and his unemployment benefits and severance pay kept them going. They weren’t hurting.

The Hansons lived in Southfield, a suburb exactly ten miles from downtown Detroit. The house, a three-bedroom Colonial, was situated on more than an acre of property that backed up onto a wooded area. It was the next best thing to living in the country.

Rich and Jane had a good marriage. Theirs had lasted.

They were exactly a year apart in age. Not even their best friends knew that Jane was forty and Rich was thirty-nine.

He had been “advised” by one of his friends to “freshen up, comb your hair and wear something nice,” when he picked Jane up at the bus stop each evening. He did.

They would laugh about their favorite movie, “Fun with Dick and Jane.” Dick and Jane (George Segal and Jane Fonda) resorted to crime to maintain their house and lifestyle after Dick had been fired from his job a NASA space engineer.

Late at night, however, after Jack and Annie were in bed, Rich, often now, would tell Jane, that the summer had been fun, but not working was getting to him.

Just for the fun of it, Jane Hanson sent Rich’s name into Channel 6 in Boston and entered him in Nick Vance’s “ Pro Football Coach for a Day” contest.

MONDAY

On October 8, 1979, during half time of the Boston-Houston Monday Night Game of the Week, the “Pro Football Coach for a Game” contest drawing took place. Howard Cosell and Tommy Ryan did the honors. The winner was Richard J. Hanson of Southfield, Michigan.

To say Rich Hanson was even a casual football fan would be an exaggeration. In the past few years, he had gone to one professional game when American Motors bought a box at the Silverdome to entertain some prospective clients. He had seen one college game in Ann Arbor, and knew just a bit about the famous Michigan-Ohio 13-13 tie that sent Michigan to the Rose Bowl and Ohio State to the Orange Bowl.

Nowadays, he occasionally watched half a Sunday pro game on television with his son Jack, but like many Americans at the time, he could take or leave it.

Jack played end and second-string quarterback at Southfield Junior High. Because of his work schedule in the past, Rich had missed most of Jack’s games.

However, Jane with Annie in tow were at every game.

Jane loved football. She had grown up in a football family. Her dad had been a winning high school coach and Jane’s two brothers had played high school and college football.

Jane could tell you on a third and 6 what Terry Bradshaw or Fran Tarkington would do almost every single time.

In Detroit suburbia, she was what they called a “football mother.” Jane knew the game inside and out.

It wasn’t more than a couple of minutes after the drawing that the telephone rang for the first of many, many times.

It was Tommy Ryan asking for a stunned Richard Hanson. “Can you,” Ryan said without even offering his congratulations, “fly up to Boston and meet with me tomorrow and then the team on Wednesday?”

Rich said, “No thank you,” and hung up the phone.

The scene in the Hanson house was bursting with excitement.

Jane was crying. Jack was yelling. Annie was screaming. It was shock, fear, happiness and excitement all around.

The telephone calls never stopped. Everyone called: friends, newspapers, the wire services, radio and television stations, and Tommy Ryan again. Ryan wasn’t taking “no” for an answer.

It was well after midnight and after a long family meeting that Rich Hanson finally said, “Yes.” He’d come to Boston if Ryan would pay the airfare and expenses.

They agreed to meet at two o’clock. Ryan said the ticket was already waiting at Detroit’s Metro Airport. The plane left at 12:10 PM, and he would be met at Boston’s Logan airport.

At three o’clock in the morning, Rich Hanson finally got to bed. He had to be up in less than four hours to make breakfast, drive Jane to the bus, get the kids off to school -- and catch the plane to Boston.

“It’s very difficult.” Rich said later, “to say ‘no’ to the people in your life who believe in you and love you.

Besides, Jane said she would help and I didn’t have anything better to do.”

TUESDAY

Rich Hanson drove himself to Detroit’s Metro Airport. Jane would pick up the car after work. It was a beautiful Michigan October day: blue skies, 50 degrees. He carried a garment bag over his shoulder and a carry-on with his running gear.

When he walked into the Detroit terminal, he didn’t believe the scene. Channels 2, 4, 7 and 9, CKLW Radio, and WWJ Radio -- the all-news station,’ were waiting. There were reporters and photographers from the Free Press and the News. He was met by an executive from American Airlines and ushered into a waiting lounge. The plane was held for ten minutes for an impromptu press conference.

Q. “Do you have a game plan?”

A. “No.”

Q. “Do you think you can win?”

A. “No.”

Q. “Are you a football fan?”

A. “Not really, my son plays.”

Q. “Are you into sports?”

A. “I jog.”

Q. “Have you ever won a contest before?”

A. “I didn’t really win this one.”

Q. “But you did win. How did you win?”

A. “It’s kind of a family joke for my wife.”

The questions kept flying until Mr. Coleman of American Airlines suggested they’d better get “Coach Hanson” on board. He handed Rich a first-class, round-trip ticket, pre-paid personally by Mr. Tommy Ryan of Boston.

He was embarrassed to be alone in first class. Champagne was offered compliments of American Airlines. He declined.

There were the usual safety announcements by the stewardess. As the plane taxied to its takeoff position, the captain came on the p.a. to welcome all Detroit passengers bound for Boston, and “our special passenger, Mr. Richard Hanson who is on his way to Boston to coach the Boston Terriers.”

Rich slept all the way to Boston and woke up as he heard the announcement to “fasten your seat belt, raise your seatback and tray tables to their upright position, and extinguish all smoking materials.”

Carla Creswell, his stewardess in first class, came over to him as he was gazing out the window.

“We’ll be on the ground in a couple of minutes, Mr. Hanson They’re all waiting for you.”

“Who?”

“The reporters,” smiled Carla, “Captain Phillips received word from the tower that the TV Networks - ABC, CBS, NBC -- and all the Boston radio and television stations and newspapers are on hand for your arrival. I heard the captain say the BBC Television and radio were going to be there as well.

Rich turned and looked back out the window, speechless.

Rich stepped off the plane into the arms of six Massachusetts State Troopers and four Boston policemen. Two men in business suits were there, too.

“Hi, Mr. Hanson, congratulations. I’m Nick Vance of TV-6.

This is Mr. Tommy Ryan, owner of the Terriers.”

Ryan spoke slowly as he looked over Rich Hanson.

“Nice to meet you son. Welcome to Boston.”

The security team, Ryan, and Vance led Rich Hanson into the Logan Airport terminal. No less than twenty television and radio crews and another dozen print reporters were on hand for the event. Ryan led Rich to a battery of microphones and the press conference began.

Ryan beamed. “Gentlemen and ladies of the press, this is Mr. Richard Hutchinson of Detroit. He’s here to coach the Terriers in this Sunday’s game against Tucson. Are there any questions?”

Q: “Is it Hutchins or Hutchinson?”

A: “It’s Hanson, please call me Rich.”

Q: “And you’re from Detroit as Mr. Ryan says?”

A: “No, I’m from Southfield, Michigan. It’s a suburb.”

Q: “How do you feel?”

A: “Tired.”

Q: “Are you excited about coaching the Terriers?”

A: “Well, my family is.”

Q: “What do you know about the Terriers?”

A: “Only that they usually lose.”

The reporters laughed. Tommy Ryan did not like that answer.

Q: “Do you think you can... Do you think the Terriers can beat Tucson on Sunday?”

A: “I hope so, but from what I know so far, I wouldn’t bet on it.”

Even the troopers and police laughed this time. Q: “What are your plans?”

A: “Well according to Mr. Ryan, he and I will meet today and then I’ll meet with the team tomorrow.”

Q: “In your meeting with Mr. Ryan, will you ask for anything special?”

A: “Well, yes, I guess. I’d like to have my family fly up to Boston on Friday to be with me for the weekend and for the game.”

Q: “Mr. Ryan that sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?”

Ryan stepped toward the microphones and answered, “Yes sir, first class for Mr. Hopkin’s family. I understand from Mr.

Vance that Mr. Hanson has one wife and two children. I’ll be glad to fly them up for the weekend. It’s unusual, but under the circumstances, it sounds OK.”

Q: “As far as coaching the team, do you have any requests?”

Rich had never really thought seriously about being a real coach until this very moment. After all, it was a contest, a joke, just some fun cooked up by Jane. He took longer to answer the question than anyone expected.

“Well, I thought that Mr. Ryan and I would talk about it privately, but I guess I might just as well say it right now.”

Rich continued slowly.

“I’ve been thinking. Seeing as how the Terriers are a losing team, and seeing as how this is a contest to coach just one game, I think I owe it to myself and my family and to Mr. Ryan and the team to do the best job I can.”

Rich took a deep breath.

“I’d like to ask Mr. Ryan to give me a totally free hand to do anything I want from right now until after the game on Sunday. I mean we don’t have much to lose except another game.”

The reporters went wild.

Q: “How does that sound to you, Mr. Ryan?”

Ryan was red. He looked red and saw red. He was on the spot.

His answer was feeble. “Well, we didn’t talk about that, but I guess if we’ve gone this far, well, why not?”

Ryan turned to Rich and put him on the spot. “You’ve got it Mr. Hawkins – a free hand from right now until after the game on Sunday. Now what’s the first thing you’d like to do as Boston’s coach?”

Rich had another surprise for Ryan.

“Well, it’s Hanson and if it’s OK with you Mr. Ryan, I’d like to call off our meeting now and check in at the hotel and get some sleep. Maybe we could have dinner later tonight.”

Ryan smiled weakly and said, “Yeah.” Rich smiled, “Thank you everyone.” The reporters applauded.

The banner headlines in afternoon papers across the country were all about the same as the one in The Globe:

BOSTON OWNER GIVES HANSON A FREE HAND

“COACH FOR A GAME” SLEEPS

Sportscaster Nick Vance ended his commentary on TV-6’s early newscast with a little fantasy of his own. “A free hand – the possibilities are mind boggling. Boston will lose on Sunday, but Coach Hanson seems to have a mind of his own. This could be an interesting week. Right, Coach?”

Rich was sleeping at the time. If he had heard Vance’s optimism, panic might have set in earlier rather than later. For now, he was just exhausted.

Rich had checked into the Boston Sheraton. Up in room 2302, he lifted the phone and dialed O.

“This is Sheraton VIP Operator Roberts; may I help you Mr.

Hanson – and welcome to Boston?”

“Operator, would you put a ‘do not disturb’ on my phone. No calls please. Not even if the Pope dies. And will you call Mr. Tommy Ryan of the Terriers and ask him if he will meet me here at the hotel for dinner at nine o’clock.

“Could you wake me at eight? Thank you, operator.”

Rich took off his jacket and shoes, lay down on the bed and fell asleep. He dreamed it was nighttime, and he was in the middle of a huge field carrying a heavy suitcase and trying to get directions.

He woke up in a cold sweat to a ringing telephone.

“Mr. Hanson, this is Sheraton VIP operator Hirschberg. It’s eight o’clock. We have lots of messages for you including calls from Mayor White and Governor King. I guess the one you really want is from your wife. She’s called several times. I’ll send the other messages up with a bellman.”

After a half-hour of busy signals, Rich finally pleaded with a long-distance operator, “This is an emergency” and he finally got through to Jane.

“Hi Rich.”

“Hi Jane.”

“How do you feel?”

“Better. I got some sleep.”

“We saw you on the news and tried to call you. The kids are so excited. The hotel switchboard wouldn’t put me through. They said not even for the Pope. I figured you’d call.”

“I needed the sleep. Sorry.”

“Got it. When are you meeting with Ryan?”

“Nine o’clock. I didn’t know any restaurants in Boston except Pier 4 and I didn’t know if a seafood restaurant would be open in October, so I made it here at the hotel.”

“That was gutsy asking Ryan for a free hand. Why did you say that?

“To be honest Jane, I was nervous and wanted to get off the stage. It was the easiest way I could get the attention off me and put it on Ryan. Have you got any bright ideas Ms. Fonda?”

“Ask for a playbook.” “Huh?”

“Come on Rich, a playbook. Every team has a book of plays.

Maybe a hundred plays, maybe more. They get it down to about twenty-five plays for each game depending on the team they’re playing. In Boston the coach sends in the plays. The team does pretty much what the coach tells them to do. That’s you, Rich.”

“One hundred plays and this is Tuesday. I don’t know the difference between a halfback and a running back.”

“Rich, I’ll help you. I promised. Thanks for inviting us up to Boston. Jack has a game on Friday. We’ll fly right up after his game. I’ll come up with some ideas between now and then.”

“Great. I need all the help you can give me. Remember Jane, this was your idea.”

“Another thing, get the films of last week’s Boston game against Atlanta. We’ll look at the films together Friday night.”

“OK. Let me talk with the kids.” “Here’s Annie.”

“Daddy, can I really come up to Boston?”

“Of course, honey. After Jack’s game, you and Mom and Jack will fly up.

“I told our teacher, Mrs. Krulman. Everyone at school is so excited. My class sent you a ‘good luck’ letter today. I hope you get it.”

“I’ll get it Annie. I love you a lot. Let me say hi to

Jack.”

“Hi Dad, how are you?”

“To be honest Jack, thanks to you and your mother and Annie ganging up on me last night, I’m pretty scared.”

“Dad you spend your time giving me advice and teaching me how to solve my problems. Can I give you some advice, Dad?”

“Yes Jackson, I’ll take anything you can give me.”

“Go to the library and see if they have a book called, High School Football. It’s by Ralph Johnson. He coaches at a high school in Pennsylvania. My coach, Mr. Price, calls it his bible. It’ll give you the basics. Get a couple of other books and look them over. It’s not that hard. You probably know more than you think. I love you, Dad, here’s Mom.”

The operator cut in. “I’m sorry Mr. Hanson, but Mr. Ryan is waiting for you in the lobby.”

“Tell him to meet me in the restaurant. Which is the best one operator?”

“The King Cove Steakhouse on the second floor.” “Tell Mr. Ryan I’ll meet him there in ten minutes.”

“Hello Jane, I’ve got to run. Ryan’s here early and he’s waiting. I’ll call you tomorrow. Remember, help!”

“Yes sir Coach, and write if you get work.” “I will, but this ain’t it.”

“Rich it’s going to be fun. Trust me. Love you. Bye. “Love you too Jane. Talk tomorrow. Bye”

Rich and Tommy, as they were calling each other after a half hour, met in the King Cove and talked about everything except football and the “terrible Terriers.” Every time Rich

tried to talk about the team or the game, Ryan went off in some other direction.

Two hours later Ryan was in his cups, as the Irish say. It was all Rich could do to keep up with the stories that never seemed to end. Tommy told lots of stories about his father and the good old days. Rich picked up Ryan’s philosophy of life: the less responsibilities on Tommy Ryan, the better. Ryan made it very clear he was dumping the whole week and the big game on Rich.

Tommy Ryan didn’t want to hear about football.

“The coaching staff and the team will give you all you need to know tomorrow. Practice is at one o’clock at Fenway Park.

You don’t even have to go if you don’t want to. It’s pretty meaningless,” said Ryan.

Rich said he wanted to go to the practice and meet the team. He also said he had some work to do in the morning, so if Mr. Ryan didn’t mind, Rich would turn in.

Ryan did mind and ordered another drink. They finally broke up at one o’clock.

“Thank God and the Commonwealth,” thought Rich on his way back to his room, “Boston still closes bars at a reasonable hour. In New York City we’d still be here drinking for breakfast.”

(Next installment coming soon…)

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