Hall Of Fame Football Coach Hank Stram Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Television · 07-04-2005, 06:57 PM

07-04) 15:37 PDT New Orleans (AP) --

Hank Stram, who took the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowls and was known for his inventive game plans, died Monday, his son said. He was 82.

Stram had been in declining health for several years and Dale Stram attributed his father's death to complications from diabetes. He died at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, near his home in Covington, across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. He had built a home there during his two-year stint as coach of the Saints and retired there.

"Pro football has lost one of its most innovative and creative coaches and one of its most innovative and creative personalities as well," Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt said in a telephone interview.

Stram was the Chiefs' first coach. He took over the expansion Dallas Texans of the upstart AFL in 1960 and coached them through 1974, moving with them to Kansas City where they were renamed the Chiefs in 1963.

The gregarious, stocky, blazer-wearing Stram carried a rolled up game plan in his hand as he paced the sidelines. He led the Chiefs to AFL titles in 1962, '66 and '69 and to appearances in two of the first four Super Bowls, beating Minnesota in 1970.

He was credited with the two-tight end offense that provided an extra blocker.

Stram was the first coach to wear a microphone during a Super Bowl and Stram's sideline antics, captured by NFL Films, helped bring the league into the video age.

Stram later coached two seasons with the Saints and enjoyed a successful second career in CBS' television and Monday Night Football radio booths as an analyst.

"Everything he did in his life he was so passionate about," said his son, Stu.

Stram was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. The then-80-year-old had to be pushed onto the stage in a wheelchair and his induction speech was videotaped.

Len Dawson, the Hall of Fame quarterback who played under Stram at Kansas City, also called him an innovator.

"He was responsible for doing a lot of the things in the '60s that teams are still using now," said Dawson, citing the moving pocket and the triple stack defense.

"His whole life was football that's what he was born for, I think. He had a passion for it, not just a liking," Dawson said. "He was really sincere when he talked about the team being a family. Everybody really loved him."

___

Sports Writers Mary Foster in New Orleans and Doug Tucker in Kansas City, Mo., contributed to this report.

Seinatra · 07-04-2005, 11:00 PM

That is too bad. I remember him best from radio broadcasts of Monday Night Football with Jack Buck. With Buck announcing, you never really knew what was going on, but Stram was great.

Of course his sideline chatter from the Super Bowl is also famous and shown often.

Jrnygrl · 07-05-2005, 12:23 AM

Sad to hear the news.

Hank was great in those NFL film sideline footage.

RIP HANK!!!!

07-04-2005, 06:57 PM	#1
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Hall Of Fame Football Coach Hank Stram Dies 07-04) 15:37 PDT New Orleans (AP) -- Hank Stram, who took the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowls and was known for his inventive game plans, died Monday, his son said. He was 82. Stram had been in declining health for several years and Dale Stram attributed his father's death to complications from diabetes. He died at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, near his home in Covington, across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. He had built a home there during his two-year stint as coach of the Saints and retired there. "Pro football has lost one of its most innovative and creative coaches and one of its most innovative and creative personalities as well," Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt said in a telephone interview. Stram was the Chiefs' first coach. He took over the expansion Dallas Texans of the upstart AFL in 1960 and coached them through 1974, moving with them to Kansas City where they were renamed the Chiefs in 1963. The gregarious, stocky, blazer-wearing Stram carried a rolled up game plan in his hand as he paced the sidelines. He led the Chiefs to AFL titles in 1962, '66 and '69 and to appearances in two of the first four Super Bowls, beating Minnesota in 1970. He was credited with the two-tight end offense that provided an extra blocker. Stram was the first coach to wear a microphone during a Super Bowl and Stram's sideline antics, captured by NFL Films, helped bring the league into the video age. Stram later coached two seasons with the Saints and enjoyed a successful second career in CBS' television and Monday Night Football radio booths as an analyst. "Everything he did in his life he was so passionate about," said his son, Stu. Stram was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. The then-80-year-old had to be pushed onto the stage in a wheelchair and his induction speech was videotaped. Len Dawson, the Hall of Fame quarterback who played under Stram at Kansas City, also called him an innovator. "He was responsible for doing a lot of the things in the '60s that teams are still using now," said Dawson, citing the moving pocket and the triple stack defense. "His whole life was football that's what he was born for, I think. He had a passion for it, not just a liking," Dawson said. "He was really sincere when he talked about the team being a family. Everybody really loved him." ___ Sports Writers Mary Foster in New Orleans and Doug Tucker in Kansas City, Mo., contributed to this report.
	__________________ Sonny

07-04-2005, 11:00 PM	#2
Seinatra Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 29, 2004 Location: Gran Chaco Posts: 1,840	That is too bad. I remember him best from radio broadcasts of Monday Night Football with Jack Buck. With Buck announcing, you never really knew what was going on, but Stram was great. Of course his sideline chatter from the Super Bowl is also famous and shown often.

07-05-2005, 12:23 AM	#3
Jrnygrl Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: wheel in the sky Posts: 4,540	Sad to hear the news. Hank was great in those NFL film sideline footage. RIP HANK!!!!