Velociworld

"AUTOMATIC" OTTO

Not too many people remember Otto Graham, who died yesterday at the age of 82, but he was one of the greatest professional quarterbacks of all time. Try these numbers:

Took Paul Brown's Cleveland Browns to the championship game 10 years in a row in his 10 years with the team (1946-1955).

Passed for 23,584 yards and 174 touchdowns.

His career record was 105-17-4.

Coach Graham was athletic director and football coach at Coast Guard Academy in the 70's. I worked with him when I was battalion athletic officer my third summer there, and got to know him pretty well. He was a charming, friendly, likeable bear of a guy, and a gentleman. He may have been too nice. He never yelled at his players no matter how poorly they played or were beaten, and always had a joke or a story to soften the blows of defeat. One of my roommates quarterbacked for him, another was a fullback. They worshipped him.

I did, too. Rest In Peace, Otto.