jeffc
05-12-2006, 12:32 AM
http://www.insidebayarea.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=3800974
Elder Nolan receives royal treatment from NFL alumni group
Ex-49ers recall successful time in early '70s under ****
By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
REDWOOD CITY — The first important (but largely forgotten) era in San Francisco 49ers history, and the coach who made it happen, received some long overdue attention Sunday at the site where it all began.
The NFL Alumni's Bay Area chapter threw a reception for **** Nolan at the alumni office, which annexes the 49ers' former practice facility.
Nolan created a 49ers turnaround even bigger, in one respect, than what Bill Walsh achieved in building the 49ers into the "Team of the'80s."
When Walsh became their head coach in 1979, at least, the 49ers had a playoff background. When Nolan was named 49ers coach in 1968, the franchise hadn't been to the playoffs, dating back to its inception in 1946.
Yet many fans believe every bit of 49ers success started with Walsh. These same fans only became aware of **** Nolan when his son, Mike, was hired as the 49ers head coach two years ago.
"If you did a poll now of 49ers fans," said Cas Banaszek, an offensive tackle under **** Nolan, "I'd venture to say that well over 50 percent wouldn't know who **** is."
[...]
A dozen of Nolan's former players showed up Sunday on short notice — it was a hastily arranged reception after local NFL alumni learned that **** and wife Ann would be visiting family here from their Dallas-area home.
And **** Nolan was honored Sunday as a man as well as a coach.
"He's a fair and decent man, and decency counts in any game you play," said Charlie Krueger, a defensive tackle under Nolan and whose number (70) was retired by the 49ers. "From my 25 years of playing football (including high school and Texas A&M), I can think of only three people that I'd want to invite to my house for dinner. Of course, **** would be No.1."
[...]
Also attending Sunday's function was Jim Kovach, who played linebacker for Nolan with the New Orleans Saints, whom Nolan coached from 1978 to'80.
Kovach thanked Nolan for allowing him to attend medical school in the off-season, at a time when off-season conditioning was becoming mandatory in the NFL. Then after becoming a doctor, Kovach went through law school.
"Other than my father," he said, "coach Nolan influenced my life more than anyone else."
At the event, **** said about his son:
"He's staying with things," **** said, analyzing Mike as a coach. "He's just setting rules, and he's made them want to do the right thing. He can handle anything. You're going to have some tough times, but eventually it will all fall together. He's going to be all right. He's a sharp guy."
The son spoke of the father's influence on him as a coach.
"In all the time I've coached, we might have talked X's and O's one day," Mike said. "It's always about people. He's a people person."
Elder Nolan receives royal treatment from NFL alumni group
Ex-49ers recall successful time in early '70s under ****
By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
REDWOOD CITY — The first important (but largely forgotten) era in San Francisco 49ers history, and the coach who made it happen, received some long overdue attention Sunday at the site where it all began.
The NFL Alumni's Bay Area chapter threw a reception for **** Nolan at the alumni office, which annexes the 49ers' former practice facility.
Nolan created a 49ers turnaround even bigger, in one respect, than what Bill Walsh achieved in building the 49ers into the "Team of the'80s."
When Walsh became their head coach in 1979, at least, the 49ers had a playoff background. When Nolan was named 49ers coach in 1968, the franchise hadn't been to the playoffs, dating back to its inception in 1946.
Yet many fans believe every bit of 49ers success started with Walsh. These same fans only became aware of **** Nolan when his son, Mike, was hired as the 49ers head coach two years ago.
"If you did a poll now of 49ers fans," said Cas Banaszek, an offensive tackle under **** Nolan, "I'd venture to say that well over 50 percent wouldn't know who **** is."
[...]
A dozen of Nolan's former players showed up Sunday on short notice — it was a hastily arranged reception after local NFL alumni learned that **** and wife Ann would be visiting family here from their Dallas-area home.
And **** Nolan was honored Sunday as a man as well as a coach.
"He's a fair and decent man, and decency counts in any game you play," said Charlie Krueger, a defensive tackle under Nolan and whose number (70) was retired by the 49ers. "From my 25 years of playing football (including high school and Texas A&M), I can think of only three people that I'd want to invite to my house for dinner. Of course, **** would be No.1."
[...]
Also attending Sunday's function was Jim Kovach, who played linebacker for Nolan with the New Orleans Saints, whom Nolan coached from 1978 to'80.
Kovach thanked Nolan for allowing him to attend medical school in the off-season, at a time when off-season conditioning was becoming mandatory in the NFL. Then after becoming a doctor, Kovach went through law school.
"Other than my father," he said, "coach Nolan influenced my life more than anyone else."
At the event, **** said about his son:
"He's staying with things," **** said, analyzing Mike as a coach. "He's just setting rules, and he's made them want to do the right thing. He can handle anything. You're going to have some tough times, but eventually it will all fall together. He's going to be all right. He's a sharp guy."
The son spoke of the father's influence on him as a coach.
"In all the time I've coached, we might have talked X's and O's one day," Mike said. "It's always about people. He's a people person."