http://www.lowellsun.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,105%257E4746%257E2393124,00.html
Gridiron Legend, Sideline General Patriots veteran John Hannah commanding Somerville intensity intact By DAVID PEVEAR Sun Staff Friday, September 10, 2004 - SOMERVILLE The intensity in his voice suggests John Hannah is ready for some football tonight at Cawley Stadium. He sounds almost tempted to suit up. But that will not be possible, so therefore Lowell High should stand a chance against Somerville High, a team that finished 0-11 last season but is now being coached and cajoled by the greatest New England Patriot and offensive lineman ever. Hannah, 53, was an All-American guard for grid god Bear Bryant at Alabama and then a nine-time Pro Bowler during a brilliant 13-year career that made him the first true Patriot elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All of this accumulated glory doesn't lessen the excitement Hannah feels about tonight when under the lights in Lowell he makes his debut as a head football coach. The action starts at 7 p.m. Hannah is approaching this highly anticipated schoolboy season opener the same way he has approached every football game in which he has ever been involved very intensely. "You never lose the excitement for the game," said Hannah. "If you do, you should get out of football. "(But) we're an untested team," he added. "We've got a whole new system and approach that we're trying to install. It will be tough. I know Lowell has a great team. I hope we can stay on the field with them." The players on both sides have no doubt been told by their parents how dominant a player No. 73, affectionately known as the "Hog," was in his heyday. "The adult population (in Somerville) is thrilled (about Hannah)," said Somerville Athletic Director Jerry Knight. "It's nice to get the older people back excited about the games. "But the younger kids didn't even know who he was," added Knight with a chuckle. "He retired (in 1986) before most of them were born. But they know of him, and they know he is dedicated and works very hard." Somerville players have already experienced first-hand the burning intensity of one of the fiercest competitors and toughest players in NFL history. "You knew he was doing his job, and he'd look at you like you better be doing yours," said former Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett, no shrinking violent himself. "He was one of those guys you feed off of." "He's no-nonsense and very structured," said Knight. "He has a plan, and he doesn't like to deviate from that plan." Somerville held its football camp last week in Stowe, Vt. When asked if it would be fair to say that he ran a tough camp, Hannah responded, "Very fair." "Kids want discipline," said Hannah. "Most of our society has not enforced (discipline). On the athletic fields is the only place where kids still get it." Hannah brought 46 players to camp. He said four have since been ruled ineligible by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. "A couple of transfers and one who is a fifth-year senior," he said. Hannah, whose father Herb and brother Charley also played in the NFL, enjoys the challenge of coaching inner-city kids, many of whom are first-generation Americans. He senses the old-school coach and the wary players coming together. "I'm trying to stress upon my players the importance of dedicating themselves totally to practice, and not just the games," he said. "I think most of them have accepted and embraced it. There are always those few that don't understand the importance of dedicating themselves totally (to practice)." Hannah is trying to shift focus away from his famous self and onto his players. Lowell High coach Scott Boyle, whose Red Raiders return 11 starters from last year's 8-2 squad, is likewise trying to shift focus away from Hannah this week. "I'm just trying to get our players excited about playing a big game, because it's the first game of the year," said Boyle. "I really don't want to play it up big (that Hannah is on the other sideline). I know what he did and I really respect all that he has given to football. But I'm trying to focus on the players playing the game." Hannah worked in financial services after his retirement in 1986 before getting into coaching three years ago as an assistant at Governor Dummer Academy. He was hired in February as the head coach of Somerville High and to oversee community and youth programs in the city. As a coach, Hannah said, "I'm my own guy. But to say that I don't draw from all the coaches I played for would be to basically take away all the lessons I've learned. I draw on coach Bryant, but I also draw on (former Patriots head coaches) Chuck Fairbanks, Raymond Berry and Ron Erhardt and (former offensive line coach) Jim Ringo. I try to incorporate the best of their approaches, but at the same time I have to incorporate my own personal beliefs." Before going 0-11 last season, Somerville won 14 of its previous 19 games under former coach Tony Gulla, who has since moved to Florida. "We don't have a lot of size," said Hannah. "I think we'll have to rely more on speed and quickness, and hopefully we'll get to do that. But we're not going to outmuscle people." ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net New AOL.com addresses are NOT allowed on this list. Get a real ISP.
