RIP Tony Sparano

[Gator]

He was younger than I thought. Biggest claim to fame I can remember is implementing the Wildcat that confused the hell out of Bill Belichick for a day.

Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Coach Tony Sparano Dies

 

[tapintoamerica]

He was younger than I thought. Biggest claim to fame I can remember is implementing the Wildcat that confused the hell out of Bill Belichick for a day.

Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Coach Tony Sparano Dies

Damn. Not a lot of answers yet. The story doesn't reference a 911 call. These days, of course, I'm pretty sure TV stations aren't monitoring police scanners round the clock.

 

[cjericho]

Article on espn.com also had little info. Texted a buddy who played for him in college and just saw him a year ago.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Good lord:

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Damn. Not a lot of answers yet. The story doesn't reference a 911 call. These days, of course, I'm pretty sure TV stations aren't monitoring police scanners round the clock.

Depends on the newsroom. Mine does.

In this case it wouldn't matter, though. This would probably go out as an "unconscious patient" call. No one would pay any attention.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Damn. This one sucks.

 

[HanSenSE]

Not much more in the Star Tribune story. Gawd.

Vikings assistant coach Tony Sparano dies

 

[Buck]

I have a friend who played for him. I've been told he was a great guy

 

[Bronco77]

Very sad. Figured he'd have a long and successful head-coaching career after he led the Dolphins from 1-15 to the playoffs in his first season (use of the wildcat that season was brilliant), but everything went downhill after Chad Pennington was injured and Chad Henne wound up being mediocre. Also didn't help that in his final seasons in Miami, he worked for an owner who didn't care for him (and tried to replace him with Jim Harbaugh while Sparano still had the job) and a GM (Jeff Ireland) who was in way over his head.