Ode to Brad Van Pelt

ODE TO BRAD VAN PELT A WORTHY OPPONENT

 

            My brother Tony Fugett always has fun telling the story about one of my battles with All-Pro Linebacker Brad Van Pelt at Giant Stadium.  His stated six foot five inches seemed more like six foot nine when I peeked up at him from my three point stance, just before the snap.

            I know what an All Pro Linebacker looks like. In 1972, I was thrown around daily by Dave Edwards my Cowboy teammate. Randy White as a rookie in training camp lined up against me everyday in training camp as a stand up linebacker. The Cowboys were loaded at linebacker at the time. Everyday, I got to work against Lee Roy Jordan, Chuck Howley, DD Lewis and Thomas Hollywood Henderson. More about them at another time.

            I write today to honor Brad. Tony gets a twinkle in his eye when he sets the scene…:”Jean was pumped; playing in New York was always a big game for him, especially going against an All Pro outside linebacker. His assignment on virtually every running play to the right was Van Pelt.  If Jean blocked him on a running play the back gains yards but when Jean loses his battle, the team loses yards.”

 

            Yea, I was pumped, and yea I loved to play well in New York. “Tony” I said to my brother, watch me on the first offensive play. I’m going to come off the line like Mike Ditka taught me, two fists to the solar plexus with a helmet to the chin finishing with a pancake, if possible.  So that is exactly what I did.

 

            Tony finished the story: “Yea he did that and that got me pumped up.  The next play when jean lined up I expected the same. In stead, Van Pelt struck Jean with a devastating blow to his head and the back of his neck before he ever got out of his stance!”

 

            Yea, that was true. The battle was joined and when the game ended, we shook hands. Brad we miss you. Rest in Peace