Sam Wyche

Samuel David Wyche (born January 5, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American football player and head coach, who is best known as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Perhaps best known for introducing the use of the No-huddle offense as a standard offense (as opposed to use at the end of the half), Wyche's greatest achievement as a head coach was leading the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, which they lost to the 49ers 20–16, relinquishing the lead with only 34 seconds remaining.

Wyche's 64 wins with the Bengals are the most ever by a coach in franchise history.

Notable moments

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• Known as an emotional coach, he bonded well with his players and occasionally collided with superiors. His ongoing feud with former Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville was best exemplified in late 1989, when the Bengals scored early and often in a 61–7 thrashing. He also helped stoke the flames of the Cleveland - Cincinnati intrastate rivalry with several other comments and play calling during his tenure.

• Known as the "Always Innovative Sam Wyche" by Norman Chad for his unconventional play-calling. Wyche introduced the concept of having 12 or more players huddle on the field, then having a few leave the field. This was meant to confuse the defense as to the personnel grouping and give the offense an advantage. This has since been outlawed in the NFL.

• On December 10, 1989, during a game versus the Seattle Seahawks, Bengals fans in protest of what they perceived to be a bad call by the officials, began to throw beer bottles and other debris onto the field at the referees and the Seahawks, who were at their own 4-yard line and an easy target from the bleachers. Seattle refused to continue until they stopped, and play was halted by the officials. In order to stop the onslaught, Wyche was given a house microphone to try to calm the crowd, asking fans to please point out anyone throwing anything to stadium security and chided the fans who were doing the throwing: "You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"

• On December 24, 1991, just three years after the Bengals' Super Bowl appearance, Wyche was fired by owner Mike Brown, who had taken over the team upon the death of his father, club founder Paul Brown, four months earlier. Controversy erupted when the Bengals claimed Wyche had resigned, relieving the team of any future payments, but Wyche stated he was fired.

• Wyche spent the next four years as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he drafted Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch. Following his dismissal at the conclusion of the 1995 season, he became a broadcaster, first for NBC, then for CBS and Westwood One.

• Near the end of his tenure with the Bucs, Wyche participated in a lighthearted pregame promotional piece for NFL Films. At the time, Jimmy Johnson, then the recently dismissed coach of the Dallas Cowboys, was rumored to be heading to Tampa Bay to displace Wyche. During the promo, Wyche was about to address his team when general manager Rich McKay ducked his head into the room. He beckoned Wyche out of the room, and instructed him to "bring your playbook." Wyche disappeared, and in walked Johnson wearing a Buccaneers jacket, who then addressed "his" new team, to everyone's surprise.

• Sam Wyche is now the offensive coordinator for the Pickens Blue Flame of Pickens High School. He helped the Blue Flame get to the second round of the playoffs in 2006.

Timeline

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• 1945: Born January 5 in Atlanta
• 1963–65: Played quarterback at Furman University
• 1967: Attended University of South Carolina, received MBA, also was assistant coach
• 1968: Played for the Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League
• 1968-1969: Played quarterback for the AFL Cincinnati Bengals
• 1970: Played quarterback for the NFL Cincinnati Bengals
• 1971–1973: Played for NFL Washington Redskins (played in Super Bowl VII)
• 1974: Played for NFL Detroit Lions
• 1976: Played for NFL St. Louis Cardinals
• 1976: Played for NFL Buffalo Bills
• 1979–1982: Assistant coach for San Francisco 49ers (Directed the passing game)
• 1983: Head coach Indiana University
• 1984–1991: Head coach NFL Cincinnati Bengals
• 1992–1995: Head coach for NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1996: Worked as a sports analyst with Marv Albert on a weekly NFL game for NBC
• 1997–1998: Was promoted to the studio on NBC's weekly pre-game and half time shows
• 1998–1999: Worked as an analyst by CBS with Kevin Harlan on the weekly NFL games
• 2000: Underwent a biopsy on lymph nodes in his chest. His left vocal cord was severed during the procedure, leaving his voice consistently hoarse and scratchy.
• 2004–2006: Volunteer at Pickens High School (South Carolina) - Public Speaker
• 2004–2005: Quarterbacks coach for Buffalo Bills
• 2006: Named commentator on Westwood One's NFL Thursday night coverage, partnered with Dick Enberg

2007:Assistant coach for the Pickens High School Blue Flame in Pickens, South Carolina

Political career

On November 4, 2008, Wyche secured a seat on the County Council for Pickens County, South Carolina.^[1] Running as a member of the Republican Party, Wyche defeated Democrat Wesley Burbage for the Pickens seat, by a margin of 6,478 votes to 1,639.^[1] In July 2009, Wyche let it be known that he is considering running for the GOP nomination for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district, which is being vacated by incumbent J. Gresham Barrett, who is running for Governor of South Carolina."[1]"

See also

• Other American Football League players

References

External links

• NFL Network Video: Sam Wyche Feature