A Bond Built Over Decades

4D | Sun Sentinel SunSentinel.com Sunday, May 10, 2020 PN REMEMBERING SHULA BOB MACK/SUN SENTINEL Dolphins coach Don Shula talks over play selection with Dan Marino after an incomplete pass against the Bills on Sept. 10, 1989. Marino had two interceptions in a 27-24 loss. REACTION Abond built over decades What Marino, other for Shula’s passing, but when his wife called him with the tragic news Mon- Dolphins greats are day morning it stirred emotions in Csonka he never knew existed. saying about Shula “I never really knew until that mo- ment how close that rascal had gotten to me,” Csonka said. “I felt a terrible By Omar Kelly loss, like someone very close to me and my family had passed. Coach Shula on Shula coached legend- was such a rock, so exact in his feel- ary Miami Dolphins ings … You drew off his strength.” players at different stages The lessons Shula taught carried on of their careers, but the for years after their playing days D universal theme was that ended. the NFL’s winningest coach had a Former Dolphins offensive lineman lasting impact on their lives — and got Richmond Webb said win or lose, them to do more with their ability Shula was always consistent. than they could have done on their “I remember weigh-in day — you own. didn’t want to be overweight because “He lives in every one of our not only did he say your name, but he’d dreams, and sometimes nightmares, to announce how many pounds you were this day,” former linebacker John overweight,” Webb said. “Not only did Offerdahl said of Shula, who died Coach Shula know, but everybody on Monday morning at 90. the team knew. You wanted to do RICH MAHAN/SUN SENTINEL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan whatever possible to not have your Dolphins head coach Don Shula explains to rookies the 12-minute run in April 1982. Marino, whom Shula selected in the name called out in those meetings.” first round of the 1983 NFL draft, said but what the pursuit of perfection When he was put in the Pro Foot- his former coach embodied the “defi- ■■■ looks like — looking steadfastly for- ball Hall of Fame, former Dolphins nition of greatness.” ward to a victorious goal with hard offensive guard Larry Little asked “You brought that winning attitude Shula had a reputation for running work, an integrated team and a singu- Shula to give the introductory speech. with you every day and made every- grueling camps, but former receiver lar purpose,” Offerdahl said. “I think “Coach Shula was a man of charac- one around you better. Thank you for Nat Moore pointed out he never put for South Florida, it was what we all ter, honesty and integrity, and as I always believing in me,” Marino wrote the team through anything he wasn’t needed then and still to this day: a quickly found out he let everyone on his Twitter account. “You made me willing to experience — if not endure belief that in life, as in football, we can know exactly how he felt,” Little said. abetter player and person. My —himself. do and be better as we strive to reach a “The very first time I met him was thoughts and prayers are with the “He ran all the gassers [sprints] and victorious goal.” at his first press conference in Miami entire Shula family. Love you Coach!“ calisthenics along with us, and before after becoming our head coach. I went Fellow Hall of Fame quarterback long we saw that everything he was ■■■ up to him to introduce myself and Bob Griese said Shula started out as doing made us all better players,” said, ‘Coach, I’m Larry Little and I’m his coach but quickly became his former tailback Mercury Morris said. Defensive tackle Bob Baumhower, your right guard.’ He looked at me and mentor throughout the years they “I started out being mad at him, but it who played 10 seasons with the Dol- asked me how much I weighed. When spent together as South Florida icons. wasn’t long before I became proud to phins under Shula, grew up in Palm Itold him I weighed 285 pounds, he “Whether it was his force of will, be on his team.” Beach Gardens. So when the former shook his head and walked off. his organization, his work ethic, sense The same could be said about Shu- Alabama star was selected by Miami in “It wasn’t long before I got a letter of integrity or his total focus on win- la’s volunteer work and how he and the second round of the 1977 draft, from him telling me to report at 265. I ning, he molded us into champions,” the team impacted the local Shula made his childhood dream had to lose 20 pounds for that man. said Griese, who quarterbacked Shu- community. come true. But he was right — my career took off la’s two Super Bowl-winning teams. “A lot of men come here to play for “He moved me to a position I never after that happened.” “And the entire time he was doing that the Miami Dolphins,” Moore said. wanted to play [nose tackle], and that Csonka said the greatest impact he served as a role model for all that “Under Coach Shula, most of them led to my career being as long as it Shula left was the integrity that he had was right in sports. never left. was,” said Baumhower, who was for the sport he loved. “We lost someone who cannot be “That was because he always had us named to five Pro Bowls and is in the “He was willing to make the sacri- replaced, who cannot be equaled and out in the community. He always had Dolphins Ring of Honor. “Because he fices and paid the price to win, and who personified everything that is us be a part of South Florida.” drafted me, I met my wife, had my [he] took you along with him,” Csonka right, not only about our sport but Most of the players who played for children and even went into the said. “He was driven, and his legacy about the way we all should conduct Shula considered themselves restaurant business. He was such an comes down to the fact he paid the ourselves.” fortunate. important figure in my life. He will be cost to be the winningest coach in the Larry Csonka felt he was prepared “He symbolized not only perfection, remembered forever.” league.” “He served as a role “He was willing to “A lot of men come “He symbolized model for all that was make the sacrifices here to play for the not only perfection, right in sports. We lost and paid the price to Miami Dolphins. Under but what the pursuit someone who cannot win, and [he] took you Coach Shula, most of perfection looks be replaced.” along with him.” of them never left.” like.” —Bob Griese —Larry Csonka —Nat Moore —John Offerdahl.

Load more