When word first got to me about KSU and UW coaching legend Don James' passing, I immediately thought of a highly entertaining and privileged telephone conversation I had with him just last autumn.
As the reunion of KSU's first (and to this point, only) MAC Championship football team drew near, I was charged with writing a retrospective two-page story to appear in the game program. I sought out several key names from that 1972 team and conducted interviews, including a 30-minute call to James in his suburban Seattle home. When I was finished I was faced with two hard realities: Don James is a coaching icon and this story was going to be much longer than two pages.
It isn't everyday I get to interview a coach who is both a national champion and hall of famer. But for one afternoon last fall, I did. And I cherished every moment of it. Make no mistake, I am very fortunate to have the job I have, but it does have some tough trade-offs. I've missed holidays, graduations, weddings and spend a lot of time away from family and friends due to travel. But the chance to interview a coaching giant in Don James makes it all worth it.
I was immediately saddened to hear of Coach's passing. I thought of his lovely wife Carol and how tough it would have been for her at times - considering all the game and recruiting travel, when times got tough in Kent and Washington - when fans and journalists can be very unforgiving. And yet through it all I shook my head in awe at their astounding 60-plus years of marriage.
I thought of the James Gang. And how they hadn't seen each other in so many years and decades until that beautiful reunion last August. I thought of our own Herb Page who has gone from a player on James' team to now leading a team of his own in KSU's nationally renowned golf program. And I also thought of many other players on that team whom no one believed in.
Except Don James.
I have condensed my interview with Coach James down to about 10 minutes and you can listen to it at the link below:
I have also decided that as my own personal tribute to Coach James and his KSU legacy, I will allow Kent State's first offensive play on Saturday against UB to be run in silence. Rob, Matt and me will turn our microphones off and pay homage to one of the greatest coaches and men to ever grace us.
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