Northman
12-31-2008, 11:08 AM
I normally dont write long drawn out articles about much including football related issues. However, having been a Bronco fan for the last 26 years i felt that i needed to write something because of what has transpired over the last 24 hours. I remember the day i became a Bronco fan. I remember watching the Broncos playing the Seahawks and up until that point i had always rooted against them for whatever reason. And everytime i rooted against Denver they would win. So this particular day i decided to root for Denver and low and behold they lost. But i said to myself, im destined to be a Bronco fan. Its an odd way to have become a fan no doubt. I remember very little about the orange crush except for the soda pops i would see in the local stores. I didnt even pay attention to football until i was 10 and at that point i was enamored with Tony Dorsett and the Dallas Cowboys.
But, after giving my allegiance to the Broncos in 82' i soon would discover the greatest of hero's and someone i would grow up idolizing in with John Elway. The things he did simply cannot be put into words. Many new generation of fans only have repeat video clips or news bits of John's greatest feats. But to have watched these events unfold live is vastly different. Not just because you were seeing it happen and unfolding but because of the emotional energy involved in the process. During Elway's first SB run i went from total elation from the "drive" to total collapse against the New York Giants in the SB. One thing has been consistent with me since my youth when it comes to the Denver Broncos. When they lose, im not the best person to talk too. Although im not as angry when it comes to losing as i was when i was a teen i still become somewhat numb and distant. My wife has noticed this just like the loss Sunday night. She knew that if Denver lost she wouldnt be getting any nook nook that night.
Never the less, despite the great things that Elway did early in his career i grew a certain fondness for the Head Coach in Dan Reeves. Flash forward to 92' when he got fired by Pat Bowlen i was numb yet understood the move. Denver had been to 3 Super Bowls under his tenure and lost all of them and convincingly. The last one a 55-10 route by the San Francisco 49rs. So although i was quite bummed i knew that something had to be done. Wade Phillips came in and i just could never get on board with him. Even to this day i feel he is vastly overrated as a HC but a good DC. Flash forward again to 95' in the hiring of Mike Shanahan. With all my attention paid to Reeves and the players i really never took notice of Mike on the sidelines. Prior to his hire i only really knew him as the Raiders HC for his short stint there.
But, from the get go i could see promising things under Shanahan. One included John seeming more vigilante and energized and the play of one young Terrell Davis. Im sure every Bronco fan saw something special brewing with Davis. He just played and looked different than any other back Denver ever had. It was as if he was the missing link to what Elway and company needed. And it did come to fruitition even despite the disappointing loss to Jax in the 96' Wild Card game. Denver would then go and win 2 Super Bowls after that bringing happiness and joy to Broncoland forever. Denver had finally gotten over the hump and Mike Shanahan was a big part of that. Sure, the Elite players of Elway and the rising star Davis were major contributors but there still had to be a coach to make the calls at the right moments.
Elway would then retire on top of the world and the future seemed bright for Denver regardless. But, tragedy ensued when Davis would go down with career ending injury the following year. Shanahan tried to keep the ship afloat by plugging in other backs who did admirably but were not quite Davis. The following year Shanahan would guide the Broncos to the 00' Wild Card playoffs against the Ravens. Even then, the defense was a shell of its former self but the offense was second only to the Rams. But the staunch defense of the eventual SB champ Ravens was too much and Denver ultimately got escorted out.
The next 3 years would be up and down until the arrival of Jake Plummer. Shanahan, trying desperately to regain a player with the heart and fire of John Elway and the reputation of coming back from behind managed to take Jake and the Broncos to 3 playoff appearances. The first two ended badly as the defense still had major issues and it was quite evident that Jake would not be of the caliber that Elway was when it came to saving the day. In 05' the defense was improved but only with the bend but dont break philosphy. Relying heavily upon turnovers they were able to get their way to the AFC Championship game only to lose the eventual SB Champion Steelers. Shanahan though had decision to make. Either continue to build the defense or make a change at QB as Plummer had a tendency to be erratic and inconsistent. And figuring Jake had been in the league for almost a decade Shanny decided he needed to make a move for a gunner who could be more accurate and make the tough throws.
And since the opportunity was there in the following draft Shanahan pulled the plug and got his future QB in Jay Cutler. Along the way Denver had lost a lot of veteran leadership and quality players from the heyday of the late 90's. It was a true rebulding process for the Denver Broncos and although they had gone 1-4 in the playoffs since the Super Bowl wins they still managed to compete and have winning records despite the shortcomings of pieces and coaching ability. But, much like the end of the Dan Reeves era it would seem the time of Mike Shanahan was coming to a close. With the new generation of players one could argue that the guys just werent responding to a coach who had won 2 rings with one of the greatest QB's ever to play the game. And on this day i again feel numb and saddened to see another great coach leaving this franchise.
But with it i understand that sometimes things run their course and for Mike Shanahan it may of been too little too late for him. But when i look at some of the other fans commenting on Shanahan im truly disgusted by the lack of class and respect shown to him. Whether its because they dont truly understand the importance of his role with the Denver franchise or the ignorance of youth it is truly disappointing to see so much glee of his departure from man who gave everything to this franchise. Hopefully one day those individuals will understand the relevance of one Mike Shanahan. And like Dan Reeves, Shanahan will move on to other pastures to try and continue his coaching saga. I too will move on and hope that the next coach is good enough to live up to road that Reeves and Shanahan paved along the way. But for now, i will reflect on the great many things that Mike Shanahan did for the Bronco organization and wish him the best of luck in the future.
But, after giving my allegiance to the Broncos in 82' i soon would discover the greatest of hero's and someone i would grow up idolizing in with John Elway. The things he did simply cannot be put into words. Many new generation of fans only have repeat video clips or news bits of John's greatest feats. But to have watched these events unfold live is vastly different. Not just because you were seeing it happen and unfolding but because of the emotional energy involved in the process. During Elway's first SB run i went from total elation from the "drive" to total collapse against the New York Giants in the SB. One thing has been consistent with me since my youth when it comes to the Denver Broncos. When they lose, im not the best person to talk too. Although im not as angry when it comes to losing as i was when i was a teen i still become somewhat numb and distant. My wife has noticed this just like the loss Sunday night. She knew that if Denver lost she wouldnt be getting any nook nook that night.
Never the less, despite the great things that Elway did early in his career i grew a certain fondness for the Head Coach in Dan Reeves. Flash forward to 92' when he got fired by Pat Bowlen i was numb yet understood the move. Denver had been to 3 Super Bowls under his tenure and lost all of them and convincingly. The last one a 55-10 route by the San Francisco 49rs. So although i was quite bummed i knew that something had to be done. Wade Phillips came in and i just could never get on board with him. Even to this day i feel he is vastly overrated as a HC but a good DC. Flash forward again to 95' in the hiring of Mike Shanahan. With all my attention paid to Reeves and the players i really never took notice of Mike on the sidelines. Prior to his hire i only really knew him as the Raiders HC for his short stint there.
But, from the get go i could see promising things under Shanahan. One included John seeming more vigilante and energized and the play of one young Terrell Davis. Im sure every Bronco fan saw something special brewing with Davis. He just played and looked different than any other back Denver ever had. It was as if he was the missing link to what Elway and company needed. And it did come to fruitition even despite the disappointing loss to Jax in the 96' Wild Card game. Denver would then go and win 2 Super Bowls after that bringing happiness and joy to Broncoland forever. Denver had finally gotten over the hump and Mike Shanahan was a big part of that. Sure, the Elite players of Elway and the rising star Davis were major contributors but there still had to be a coach to make the calls at the right moments.
Elway would then retire on top of the world and the future seemed bright for Denver regardless. But, tragedy ensued when Davis would go down with career ending injury the following year. Shanahan tried to keep the ship afloat by plugging in other backs who did admirably but were not quite Davis. The following year Shanahan would guide the Broncos to the 00' Wild Card playoffs against the Ravens. Even then, the defense was a shell of its former self but the offense was second only to the Rams. But the staunch defense of the eventual SB champ Ravens was too much and Denver ultimately got escorted out.
The next 3 years would be up and down until the arrival of Jake Plummer. Shanahan, trying desperately to regain a player with the heart and fire of John Elway and the reputation of coming back from behind managed to take Jake and the Broncos to 3 playoff appearances. The first two ended badly as the defense still had major issues and it was quite evident that Jake would not be of the caliber that Elway was when it came to saving the day. In 05' the defense was improved but only with the bend but dont break philosphy. Relying heavily upon turnovers they were able to get their way to the AFC Championship game only to lose the eventual SB Champion Steelers. Shanahan though had decision to make. Either continue to build the defense or make a change at QB as Plummer had a tendency to be erratic and inconsistent. And figuring Jake had been in the league for almost a decade Shanny decided he needed to make a move for a gunner who could be more accurate and make the tough throws.
And since the opportunity was there in the following draft Shanahan pulled the plug and got his future QB in Jay Cutler. Along the way Denver had lost a lot of veteran leadership and quality players from the heyday of the late 90's. It was a true rebulding process for the Denver Broncos and although they had gone 1-4 in the playoffs since the Super Bowl wins they still managed to compete and have winning records despite the shortcomings of pieces and coaching ability. But, much like the end of the Dan Reeves era it would seem the time of Mike Shanahan was coming to a close. With the new generation of players one could argue that the guys just werent responding to a coach who had won 2 rings with one of the greatest QB's ever to play the game. And on this day i again feel numb and saddened to see another great coach leaving this franchise.
But with it i understand that sometimes things run their course and for Mike Shanahan it may of been too little too late for him. But when i look at some of the other fans commenting on Shanahan im truly disgusted by the lack of class and respect shown to him. Whether its because they dont truly understand the importance of his role with the Denver franchise or the ignorance of youth it is truly disappointing to see so much glee of his departure from man who gave everything to this franchise. Hopefully one day those individuals will understand the relevance of one Mike Shanahan. And like Dan Reeves, Shanahan will move on to other pastures to try and continue his coaching saga. I too will move on and hope that the next coach is good enough to live up to road that Reeves and Shanahan paved along the way. But for now, i will reflect on the great many things that Mike Shanahan did for the Bronco organization and wish him the best of luck in the future.