May 9, 2003
"Snuff. Water bottle/spittoon. Action!"
So much for the typical "lights" and "camera" setup. Then again, when College Football Hall of Famer Jim McMahon takes the stage, don't expect typical.
It was no surprise that nearly 500 filled the Century Center when the College Football Hall of Fame brought McMahon to South Bend for KeyBank's Gridiron Legends Luncheon on Thursday. And it was really no surprise to see a different format for the program. Instead of McMahon taking the podium, he sat in a director's chair next to emcee, WSBT-TV's Charlie Adams, his answers to questions generating roars of laughter.
The only thing missing was Ed McMahon. In between straight-forward but amusing responses, the former quarterback spit into an empty water bottle brought on stage to relieve a live dip. The crowd loved it.
Confidence is appealing.
"I always played every game to win," McMahon said. "I didn't know or care what the guys on the other team were trying to do. I played to win."
McMahon answered many questions the crowd sent up stage on index cards, ranging from his rambunctious college days to his colorful career in the NFL.
On choosing which school to attend: "I wanted to go to Las Vegas. My Dad said Vegas was too small. I said, 'The Hell with school. They wanna' make me a millionaire."
On the Brigham Young offense: "I played for seven pro teams and not one could match what we did at BYU."
On game preparation: "I don't understand why people have to sit in meetings for three hours. If you have to tell a guy more than twice how to do something, then he shouldn't even be there."
On William "The Refrigerator" Perry: "He couldn't fit into this chair, I can tell you that. Yeah, he likes to eat."
On Mike Ditka: "I would have loved to have played with Ditka. But if he would have said the things to me in the huddle that he said to me on the sidelines, he never would have gotten the ball."
On Walter Payton: "The only thing Walter ever said in the huddle was, 'Keep doing what you're doing. You're helping us win.' He was always ready. That's what I liked about Walter."
On why he plays golf barefoot: "Number one, I don't like the farmer's tan. But it helps my balance."
On Tyrone Willingham: "He was the running backs coach when I was at Minnesota. He was fair but he worked his players hard. I'm very impressed with what he's doing here."
McMahon delighted the crowd with his answers for nearly 30 minutes, before wrapping things up with some advice to members of South Bend Clay High School's football team.
"Take up golf," he joked.
"Football is a great game. It's a game where you learn how to communicate, get along and respect other people."
McMahon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
"It's probably the last Hall of Fame I'll be in," he said. "But there's a lot more guys in the College Football Hall of Fame and it's nice to be in. This is a great place."
Videos for the Jim McMahon Luncheon can be purchased at the College Football Hall of Fame for $20.00. Call 574-235-5715 for more information. KeyBank's Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series continues on June 4 with 1970 Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett, former Purdue All-American Rod Woodson on June 24, and Notre Dame Head Football Coach Tyrone Willingham completes the series on July 31. For ticket information call 574-235-5715.
