Remembering Carroll Hardy, could Jack Lambert have been a Bronco?

 

Carroll Hardy passed away this past week.  He gained fame as the only player to pinch hit for Ted Williams during his baseball career.  But there was much more to Hardy than that, as this article on the cubuffs.com site relates.

 Though I was only 9 years old I do remember seeing Hardy play for the minor league Denver Bears in 1965 at the end of his baseball career.

What I remember more was his role with the Denver Broncos.  As the cubuffs.com article says: 

"As a pro football executive, he was often credited with helping to build Denver's famous "Orange Crush" defense that led to the team's first AFC West Division title and Super Bowl appearance in the 1977 season."

As a big Bronco fan and young season ticket holder in the 70's I wanted to learn more about the game.  I saw an ad for a book called "Scouts Guide to the NFL".  I ordered it. This 1976 publication was written by Joel Buchsbaum, one of the earliest NFL draft analysts (even before Mel Kiper).  In it he speculated that the 77 Broncos would be a threat to take the division title away from the Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders.  I was stunned - though hopeful of a good Bronco season I hadn't read anywhere that the Broncos could actually beat out the Raiders in 1977.  And of course that's what the Broncos did - shocking the pro football world.  Buchsbaum gained credibility with me and I always read his draft guides until his death in 2002.  Buchsbaum had a unique life of his own - read more about him here.

Buchsbaum once wrote about Hardy's role in the 1974 Broncos draft. The Broncos had selected Randy Gradishar in the first round. When the team's second round pick came up Hardy, as part of the Broncos scouting staff, recommended another linebacker, rated at the top of the Broncos draft board.. "We already have our linebacker," coach John Ralston said. The Broncos drafted defensive lineman Carl Wafer in round 2 (who never did anything in the NFL)

The linebacker who the Broncos scouting staff led by Hardy had rated at the top of their draft board in round 2?

Jack Lambert

Lambert went four picks after the Broncos to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

If this is true, imagine the Orange Crush 3-4 defense with both Gradishar and Lambert!  John Ralston deserves a lot of credit for the strong drafts the Broncos had in the early 70's, but Carroll Hardy had a big part in those drafts too.  RIP Carroll.

53 Years of Denver Bronco Home Games

Recently I was watching the 1967 Denver Broncos highlight film online. Before the closing credits a crowd shot of the Bronco fans was shown.  I saw a familiar pair in the crowd - my brother Dave and me! Upon further study (and with Dave's confirmation) it was us! The story of that picture and 53 years of me attending Bronco home games:

My brother and I attended the home opener that year against the Boston Patriots.  My Dad dropped us off at the stadium (I was 11 years old, my brother was 14).  That was the only game we bought tickets for, but we went to other home games that season.  At the old Mile High (then “Bears Stadium”) there was a gap between the West stands and the South Stands were you could see 3/4ths of the field for free from a hill just outside the stadium.  My Dad used to drop off my brother, my friend Greg, and me before the game, we’d watch the action from “the hill”, and then with about 6 minutes left in the 4^th quarter the Broncos would open the gates and let everyone in for free.

That 1967 season got me hooked on Broncos football.  The next season (1968) the Broncos had a kids end zone season ticket price of $2/game and $14 for the 7 game season (for age 12 and under).  I bought one season ticket in the South Stands, my friend Greg bought the seat next to me.  I bought Greg’s season ticket rights in the 1980’s (when you could do that from a non-family member).  52 years later I still have my season ticket (and the rights to Greg’s)!

When I asked my parents if I could buy my season ticket in 1968 my Mom said, “you only have $25 in your bank account – are you sure it will have lasting enjoyment?” Uhh, I think it did have lasting enjoyment Mom! (thanks to my parents for letting me make that purchase!)

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball," from the James Earl Jones character in the movie Field of Dreams. My variation of that is "The one constant through all the years, Tim, is Bronco Football!" In 53 years of attending games, thru life's ups & downs, there has always Bronco football for me to enjoy in the Fall. I hope despite this coronavirus challenge we will be seeing NFL games later this year.

Simon Fletcher Again Visits the Denver Broncos QB Club

Denver Broncos Ring of Famer made a return visit to our Denver Broncos Quarterback Club luncheon today.  Simon entertained the standing room only crowd with new stories AND he cooked a delicious bbq lunch for us!

Simon was in Houston to see Von Miller break his record for career sacks by a Bronco.  "Every year I want to see Bronco records fall, including mine.  That means the team is improving," Simon said.  Simon related how he worked with Von in Von's rookie year to teach him the subtleties of rushing the passer.

Simon predicted the Broncos will make a run for the playoffs in 2020.  "Drew Lock is a fiery leader, the entire team rallied around him," said Simon.

After a few remarks Simon took questions from the audience.

"Why did you pick #73 as your uniform number?"

I was #82 in high school, #19 in college, and when given a choice of numbers I wanted two that added up to 10 like they did in high school and college.  So 73 was the choice.

"Do you hate the Raiders?"

I never hated the Raiders.  If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have set the Bronco record for all time sacks!

"What was your most memorable game?"

In my rookie year I just played special teams until we played Pittsburgh.  Joe Collier decided to go to a four man front that game so he put me in the starting lineup.  I ended up with 13 tackles and assists!.  After the game a few of the great Bronco defensive players I had admired and now I played with (Tom Jackson, Billy Thompson, and others) came up to my locker room and said, "Way to play like a Bronco, rookie!"

"Who was the toughest offensive tackle you played against?"

Gary Zimmerman.  He was so athletic and a tough matchup when we played the Vikings.  I was glad he was my teammate later in his career.

"What would your game be like if you played today?

I promise you I could chase Mahomes butt down if I played today with my speed!

The luncheon was held at a new and special location for the club - American Legion Post 22 in Northglenn.  The Legion were great hosts as they helped with the lunch and told us of the work the Legion does in the community.  The QB Club donated one half of the proceeds from their raffle items this day to the worthy causes of the Legion.

After speaking Simon met fans individually, taking pictures and signing autographs.  Simon was very generous with his time this day!

And the BBQ lunch Simon made for the club was delicious!  Pictured above is information about his catering company.

The QB Club thanks Simon and American Legion Post 22 for a great event!  Stay tuned for an announcement of our next meeting.

My Top Ten Colorado Sports Events for 2019

The Avalanche and local football teams gave me the most thrills in 2019 for sports events of the year, with some baseball and basketball thrown in. My top 10 list:

Number 10:

12/21 University of Colorado Basketball: Colorado 78 Dayton 76.  The most recent entry on my list: De'Shawn Swartz sinks a 3 point basket at the buzzer to give the Buffs the win over 13th rank Dayton.  It was the highest ranked team CU had beaten on the road since 1990 when the Buffs beat 6th ranked Missouri.

Number 9:

9/28 Rockies 3 Brewers 2 In the second to last game of the season, the Rockies win a tight game all the way with some great plays on both sides.  The Rockies were one out away from a loss when rookie Sam Hilliard hits a game tying home run, then Trevor Story wins it with a walkoff in the bottom of the 10th.  It was a disappointing season for the Rockies but they ended in style with a 3 game sweep of the Brewers (the team they lost to in the 2018 playoffs) depriving Milwaukee a chance for first place in the NL Central Division.

Number 8:

11/3 Broncos 24 Browns 19 Free agent quarterback Brandon Allen, in his first start, leads the Broncos to the win.  Rookie tight end Noah Fant has a break out game including a 75 yard td (the longest bronco td of the season)

Number 7:

4/27 Nuggets 90 Spurs 86 - Nuggets win a game 7 playoff series at home, the first game 7 home game for the franchise in 41 years.

Number 6:

9/21 University of Colorado football: buffs beat arizona state on the road 34-31, their first road win over a nationally ranked top 25 team since 2002!  This despite losing their best offensive player (laviska shenault) and their best defensive player (Mustafa Johnson) early in the game due to injuries.

Number 5:

5/7 avs 4 sharks 3 game 6 of the series: avs on the brink of elimination win in OT to force game 7.  While the Avs ended up losing the series in game 7 the game 6 win was one of the best avalanche games in the last 10 years.  This would have been ranked #2 on this list had the Avs won game 7.

Number 4:

12/8 Broncos beat the Houston Texans 38-24 on the road with rookie quarterback Drew lock throwing for 3 tds and 309 yards. The Texans had defeated the New England Patriots the week before so this shaped up as a tough road game for the Broncos. Could the Broncos have their quarterback of the future?  This game showed Lock could be the man!

Number 3:

4/17 Avalanche 3 Flames 2 - trailing 2-0 in the 3rd period the Avs come back to win in overtime to take a 3-1 series lead! This game essentially clinched the series for the Avs as they won the next game easily to win the series.

Number 2:

4/13 Avalanche 3 Flames 2 - #8 seeded Avalanche tie the series 1-1 over #1 seed Calgary in Calgary with a thrilling overtime win after being down 1-0 with 7 minutes to go in the 3rd period.

Number 1:

9/7 University of Colorado football: Buffs beat rival Nebraska 34-31 in overtime after trailing 17-0 at halftime.  An incredible comeback highlighted by a 96 yard flea flicker TD from the shadow of their own end zone, and several clutch completions by QB Steven Montez towards the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.  The Buffs don't play the Huskers too often anymore.  It was great to sweep the 2 game series winning at Nebraska in 2018 and with this home win in 2019!

Rich Jackson at the Denver Broncos QB Club

"I don't want to play pro football.  I want to get a degree and get a job."  That's what All-Pro Denver Broncos defensive end Rich Jackson told the Cleveland Browns when he was drafted in the NFL.  Jackson told this story and many others  to a Denver Broncos Quarterback Club breakfast group today.Jackson turned down the NFL, finished his degree, and then got a graduate degree before considering the NFL. 

Lucky for the Broncos an Oakland Raiders scout convinced him to try out for the Raiders and Jackson finally relented. Later traded by Oakland to the Broncos for Lionel Taylor, Jackson went on to become the first Bronco named to the NFL All Pro team in 1970.  He had 10 sacks in the 1968 and 1970 seasons, and 11 sacks in 1971. The late Paul Zimmerman, who covered the NFL for decades for Sports Illustrated, named Jackson to his All Century Team in 1999.  "In his prime," Zimmerman wrote, "he was the very best run-pass defensive end the game has seen."

Jackson told us about his high school days.  "I wanted to play running back, not the defensive line. The coach put me on the d-line."  Jackson was an excellent athlete.  "I always kept myself in shape. I ran a 9.8 100 yard dash in track, and that speed carried over to football.  I could bench press 555 pounds."

Jackson said he was told by the Raiders at 3 am one morning he was traded to the Broncos.  "I drove non-stop from Oakland to Denver," he said, "I had never seen mountains or snow until I got to Denver."

Jackson showed us the same mild mannered personality off the field as he had in his playing days.  But on the field he was a terror. Sacking quarterbacks was his favorite activity.  "I loved to make love to the quarterback," he said.  "Teammate Paul Smith and I used to say we are going to pray at the quarterback.  That was church for us." Also known for his vicious head slap move, Jackson told us he'd look in the stands for the parents of the offensive tackle he was facing. "I wanted to see them cry."

Jackson related how he was disappointed the Broncos traded away two talented defensive linemen during his time in Denver.  "Curly Culp was just what the Chiefs needed when we traded him to KC.  Alden Roche was our second round draft choice, but then we traded him to Green Bay where he played for the Packers and Seahawks for eight more years.  I disagreed with some of the moves but I focused on being the best I could be on the field."

"I hope I gave you something nice to look at," Jackson said as a message to Bronco fans everywhere.  He certainly did.  The Broncos were not a good team in the late 60's and early 70's but stars like Jackson and Floyd Little gave the fans something to cheer about. 

For more on Jackson's careeer watch this excellent short video from NFL Films:

My 2019 Bronco predictions

Before the Broncos season starts I like to predict their record.  Here we go with this year's predictions:

week 1 @ Oakland 

Win - the game tonight will tell a lot about the 2019 Broncos.  The offense has been under wraps in the preseason - how effective will the Broncos offense be under new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello?  How will Joe Flacco do after very limited action in the preseason?  How will the offensive line hold up?  Will it be better under new offensive line coach Mike Munchak?  The offense has the biggest questions marks.

On defense there's no doubt the Broncos pass rush will be good, with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb forming the best pass rush duo in the league. The inside linebackers are a question mark.  I'll be watching how the Broncos limit the Raiders running game.  Forcing the Raiders to pass, with the Broncos strong rush and good secondary and with Raider QB Derek Carr prone to mistakes, will be the key to the defense tonight.

I initially was going to call this game a Raider win (it'll be a tough environment tonight with this being the last season opener in Oakland before the move to Las Vegas next year).  And the Raiders are a stronger team this year with adding players from three first round draft picks and some key free agent signings.  But with the Antonio Brown circus in the past week I now pick the Broncos.  The Raiders will miss Brown in their passing attack.

week 2 Chicago

Win - the Bears almost made the Super Bowl last year so this will be another good test.  The Broncos are always tough to beat at home, though, and Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky was shaky in the season opener.  I think former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will come up with a good game plan to beat his former team.

week 3 @ Green Bay 

Loss - It's tough to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Lambeau.

week 4 Jacksonville

Win - This game got a lot easier with Jaguars starting QB Nick Foles out for a few weeks with a broken collar bone.  Jacksonville has a good defense, but Vic Fangio's Bronco defense should shut the Jaguars down with the Broncos offense producing enough points for the win.

week 5@ Los Angeles 

Loss - The Broncos had a surprise win here last season.  Not this year.

week 6 Tennessee 

Win - This will be one of those swing home games.  Tennessee on paper is probably the better team, but I think the home field advantage gives the Broncos the win.

week 7 Kansas City 

Loss - The home field won't save the Broncos this year against the Chiefs.  I do expect a close game like the Broncos gave the Chiefs last year.

week 8 @ Indianapolis

Loss - Historically the Broncos have never played well in Indianapolis.  The Colts have a strong team even with the loss of QB Andrew Luck.

week 9 Cleveland

Win - The Broncos lost at home to the Browns last year.  Not this year.

week 10 Bye

week 11 @ Minnesota

Loss - this along with the Green Bay game will be the Broncos toughest road test out of the division.  I hope I'm wrong with this pick as this is the game I will be in attendance for my annual Bronco road trip.

week 12 @ Buffalo

Win - another swing game.  Playing a late season game in Buffalo is always difficult.  I'm betting on Vic Fangio's Bronco defense getting some turnovers against the inexperienced Bills QB Josh Allen

week 13 Los Angeles

Win - a big victory against a tough divisional opponent keeps the Broncos in the playoff race.

week 14 @ Houston 

Loss

week 15 @ Kansas City

Loss

Two difficult late season road games knock the Broncos out of playoff contention.

16 Detroit

Win

17 Oakland 

Win

The Broncos close out the season on a high note with two wins against weaker opponents.

Overall record: 9 wins 7 losses, no playoffs but signs of improvement heading into 2020.

How did I get Bronco season tickets in a prime location? A series of fortunate events!

That's me with my son Andrew Monday night at the new location for two of my Denver Bronco season tickets - a prime viewing spot in the West Stands on the 30 yard line!  Here's a view of game action from my seats:

To the right of us in our section I noticed a large group wearing jerseys with "Lock" name labels on their backs.  "That's Drew Lock's Dad and family," Andrew said, showing me a picture on his phone of the elder Lock he had looked up on the internet.  "And there's Dalton Risner's parents to the left." Andrew had noticed the Bronco rookie offensive lineman, Dalton Risner, waving to an elderly couple wearing "Risner" jerseys.  "How in the world did I luck into such good seats - in the same area where the players' families sit??!!!" I thought to myself.  I then remembered a series of "fortunate events" that brought me to this moment, events spanning back over 60 years that I had no control over!

Event 1: My Mom's Rheumatic Fever

I come from an Italian-American family.  My Grandparents on both sides immigrated from Italy, and settled in the New York/New Jersey area of the country.  "Larison doesn't sound Italian," you may think.  That's another story (my Dad changed his last name from Lasaracino in his 20's)

There was no motivation for my family ever to move from New Jersey except for one unfortunate reason - my Mom's repeated bouts with Rheumatic Fever.  "You have to move to a dry climate," her doctor said, to avoid another occurrence of the disease.  And that's why my family moved to the high and dry climate of Denver in 1959, the same year a local football team named "The Broncos" was founded.

Had my Mom not contracted Rheumatic Fever I'd still be living in New Jersey, probably as a NY Jets fan, or worse, as a NY Giants fan!  The chances of me getting season tickets to the NY football Giants??  Slim and none!  That franchise had an established fan base going back decades.

Event 2: The Kennedy Assassination

I don't mean to make light of the assassination of our nation's 35th President.  Yet this tragedy indirectly led to my beginnings as a Bronco fan.  You see, my Dad had a co-worker who was distraught about the assassination.  This co-worker was in no mood to attend a football game a few days later on Thanksgiving Day 1963.  So he gave his tickets to my Dad for the Denver Broncos/Oakland Raiders game that day - good sideline seats too!  Dad brought me and my brother Dave to the game (the Broncos would not have another Thanksgiving home game until 2009).  It was my first Bronco game ever.

As a 7 year old, I don't remember much about the game.  I do remember Bronco rookie running back Billy Joe.  My 7 year old brain questioned - is his name Billy or Joe??  But I also remembered the excitement of the crowd.  I begged Dad to take me again to a game!

Event 3: Watching Games from "The Hill"


My Dad was good about bringing my brother and I to sports events occasionally - we were in the stands when the Broncos beat the Jets 16-13 in 1965 (Joe Namath's rookie year).  My Dad had no interest in getting Bronco season tickets, though (raising a family with 5 kids on his Martin Marietta salary, he watched his money closely).  How would my brother Dave, my friend Greg, and I get to experience more Bronco football?  That's where "The Hill" comes in:

As pictured in the circled area above, the home of the Broncos - Bears Stadium which later would become Mile High Stadium - had a gap between the West and South stands.  We figured out from this vantage point ("The Hill" was a name we made up) we could see 3/4ths of the field and watch Bronco home games for free!  So we had my Dad drop us off at the stadium where we would watch most Bronco home games from 1965-1967 from our cherished "Hill" location.  And we discovered that the Broncos would open the gates and let everyone in the stadium with about 6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter of games.  Watching games from "The Hill" for three and a half quarters, and from inside the stadium for the rest worked for us!

Event 4: My Brother's Friend Bill Wants Season Tickets

The thought of buying Bronco season tickets never occurred to me until in 1968 when my brother's friend Bill suggested to Dave that they get season tickets together in the South Stands.  Not wanting to miss out on the fun, my friend Greg said "why don't we get season tickets, too?"  The problem: my Dad wasn't going to pay for me to get a season ticket.  Though I would jump at the chance of buying a Bronco season ticket, how would I afford it on the meager $25 I had in savings?

Event 5: The Broncos Offer a $2/game Kids Ticket

Greg and I learned that the Broncos in 1968 offered a $2 per game ticket in the end zone for kids 12 and under.  Being age 12 at the time, that worked for Greg and I!  So for a lofty sum of $14 (7 home games were included in the season ticket) I bought one single season ticket - my seat was next to my friend Greg's.  We sat in the middle of the South Stands (row 39, seats 23 and 24).  Back in 2009 I wrote a blog post about all those memorable years with my South Stands seats, you can read it here: "Growing Up In The South Stands"

In 1968 the Broncos didn't include the preseason games in their season ticket package.  Greg and I still wanted to go to preseason games, so we returned to "The Hill" to watch the preseason home games for free before attending regular season games in our South Stands seats.

At one preseason game a guy with a local youth organization was giving out tickets to give low income kids a chance to attend a Bronco home game.  Before one preseason game he saw Greg and I on "The Hill" and gave me two tickets to get us into the stadium to watch the game.  Little did he know he was giving complementary tickets to a 12 year old Broncos season ticket holder!

I think back on how fortunate the timing of all this was.  The Broncos had that $2/game kids ticket in 1968.  Just two years later there was no "kids ticket" (I would have been too old to qualify for it anyway).  And two years later the entire stadium was sold out with season tickets - a sellout streak that continues to this day.

Event 6: My Friend Greg Tires of the Broncos

Oh those were fun years watching Bronco home games from the South Stands, especially the miracle 1977 season where the Broncos surprised the NFL by going to their first Super Bowl.  By the early 80's, though, my friend Greg tired of going to Bronco games.  So I bought the rights to his season tickets (you could do that back then).  Now I was the proud owner of two Bronco season tickets!  I attended many Bronco home games through the 80's, 90's, and up until the new stadium opened in 2001 in my two South Stand seats. It was nice through my good fortune to be able to give a friend or a family member the chance to attend a Bronco game with me over those years.

Event 7: Coors Field Opens in 1995

Coors Field?  What's that have to do with the Broncos?  Well Coors Field introduced the luxury seating concept of a "club level".  I'm not just a Bronco fan, but a fan of all Denver sports teams, so I bought a share of club level season tickets (20 games) for the Rockies that inaugural season .  For one club level game I brought my friend Jeff who I worked with.  Jeff was blown away by the club level - "this is the way I like to watch a game!" he said.

Jeff also owned two Bronco season tickets.  When the new Bronco stadium opened in 2001 he wanted to get club level seats.   Problem was - the Broncos were selling club level seats to anybody - you couldn't transfer your current season tickets to the club level.

I was able to hook up Jeff with another friend of mine, a rancher from southern Colorado, and together they bought two club level seats.  Jeff, being thankful I set him up with a Broncos club level partner, sold me the rights to his two sideline Bronco tickets located around the 5 yard line.  Now I was the owner of four Bronco season tickets! (my original two in the end zone upper deck, and two on the 5 yard line lower level)

Event 8 - My Friend David Buys Full Seasons of Bronco Tickets

I had another friend, David, who was interested in getting Bronco tickets of his own.  I wasn't sure I would use all four of my season tickets (especially since they were located in different areas of the stadium).  David said he'd buy a full season of Bronco tickets from me, which he did!  I sold him my 5 yard line seats from 2001 until this past season.  But that was soon to change ...

Event 9 - Broncos hire Vance Joseph

The Broncos have gone through two bad seasons after the hiring of Vance Joseph as head coach with a record of 11 wins 21 losses over his two seasons.  Thankfully the Broncos have moved on from Vance Joseph but that didn't stop my friend David of tiring of going to Bronco games.  "They'll be lucky to win 3 games this season," David said in telling me he no longer wanted to buy a season's worth of tickets from me.

That left me with two end zone seats and two seats on the 5 yard line as season tickets.  I decided to keep the lower level seats for another year and use the extras for family and friends.

Event 10 - Broncos Allow Seat Upgrades Online -  Bingo!

Every season since 2002 I had tried to upgrade the 2 seats I had on the 5 yard line to be more midfield.  No luck.  When the upgrade process came along there was nothing available.  This year, however, was different.

I logged on to the Broncos site exactly when upgrades became available for my seats.  My upper deck end zone seats were fine - nothing close to an improvement was available for those seats.  My lower level 5 yard line seats were different.  The seating map showed two seats available on the 30 yard line, West Side.  There was NOTHING available otherwise until the 5 yard line.

I grabbed those two 30 yard line seats.  Bingo!  Now I have two pairs of Bronco season tickets - one pair in a prime corner end zone location in the second deck and another pair on the 30 yard line in the lower level.  Had a waited just a few minutes longer those 30 yard line seats would likely have been taken by someone else.

Unlike my friends Greg and David I will NEVER tire of going to Bronco games, even if they win two games this year.  I plan on keeping these season tickets!