Former player Brock Huard says Huskies feeling the loss of Don James
Oct 21, 2013, 6:53 AM | Updated: 12:08 pm
A public memorial for Don James has been scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. at University of Washington’s Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
This weekend brought sad news for Husky fans. Former University of Washington head football coach Don James died Sunday morning.
710 ESPN’s Brock Huard, a former UW quarterback, said the loss hit home for Husky fans and the broader college football family as well.
“I think football at large lost one of the real icons and game-changers that the college game has seen,” said Huard.
James had recently begun treatment for pancreatic cancer. The university said he passed away Sunday morning at home with his family.
James led the Huskies from 1975 through 1992, taking them to six conference titles and the 1991 national championship. James was named National Coach of the Year in 1977, when he led the Huskies to the Rose Bowl for his first time.
While recalling the huge impact James had, Huard also acknowledged James wasn’t always the easiest coach to play for.
“I think former players will tell you that. He was very demanding. He used to sit up in that booth above practice and bark out orders, and watch over practice,” said Huard. “He was so phenomenal in not just coaching his players, but coaching his coaches as well.”
James was 80 years old when he passed. Huard said he made quite an impact throughout his lifetime.
“When you see people that he has coached, that he has mentored, that he has led, all strive to be like him,” said Huard. “It’s quite a statement.”
