An NFL Coach Must Be Crazy to Win It All

Columnist Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Press lists the following requirements for being a successful NFL coach:

“First and paramount, he must be crazy,” Collier wrote.

“I don’t know where exactly he should be in clinical terms, but as a general equivalent guideline, obsessive would be the minimum. Obsessive-compulsive preferred. A paranoid borderline sociopath, with coordinator’s experience, now that’s book-the-rooms-at-the-Super Bowl stuff. It might not have to be defined clinically at all. Perhaps, several reference letters from close personal friends, each to the effect that, ‘Hey--I’m tellin’ ya; this guy’s crazy.’ ”

Bad first impression: After being introduced as the new coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Ted Marchibroda planted his foot in his mouth.

“I’m very excited to be named coach of the Baltimore Colts,” he began at a news conference, a remark that was greeted by laughter. “Well, I’m off to a great start! I mean the Indianapolis Colts.”

Marchibroda’s slip was understandable considering he coached the Colts to three division titles in five seasons before they left Baltimore.

Add coaching debuts: At least Marchibroda managed to find his chair at the news conference without falling.

When Mike Schuler was introduced as coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, he fell as he attempted to sit down after speaking.

Trivia time: When was the last time Notre Dame’s basketball team had back-to-back losing seasons?

Things that make you go hmmm: Why is it called Manhattan College when it’s located in the Bronx?

Why are Manhattan’s teams nicknamed the Jaspers?

Manhattan is called Manhattan because the school was in Manhattan before moving to the Bronx.

The teams are named after Brother Jasper, a prefect at the school who brought baseball to the campus, served as its first coach and is credited with inventing the seventh-inning stretch.

Hairy bet: Disc jockey Rick Dees and sportscaster Vic (the Brick) Jacobs made an unusual bet with USC Coach George Raveling before Wednesday night’s UCLA-USC game.

Because USC won, Dees must allow Raveling to shave his legs in a public ceremony and Jacobs will let Raveling shave off half of his mustache, which he has worn for 10 years.

“Half of my upper lip could be like Harold Miner’s head,” Jacobs said. “Soft and bald as a baby’s butt. Who knew?”

Strange casting department: Former North Carolina State basketball Coach Jim Valvano will serve as a sideline reporter for ABC’s World League of American Football telecasts this spring.

Trivia answer: The Irish were 12-14 in 1960-61 and 7-16 in 1961-62 under Coach John Jordan.

Quotebook: Seton Hall forward Jerry Walker on Ohio State All-American guard Jim Jackson: “He’s a cool brother. He’s not egotistical, never forces shots, unselfish, just a great all-around player.”