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OL Orlando Pace (7-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion, CFB HOF, NFL HOF)

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BUCKYLE;1500426; said:
Too late. He passed it to me and I chugged it. Was I not supposed to? Eh, it's your fault. You brought up 2-10-1.
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Since we are rehasing old wounds...quick poll.

The WORST kick in the nuts-bag over the head-punch in the face moment of the Cooper era?

Its easy to say 1996 scUM or 1998 MSU but I still go back to the Liberty Bowl against Air Force. I wanted that fuckers head on a pike at that moment and he never won me back over. Because of that I was somewhat prepared for the many monumental choke jobs that came later but that game-and the fiasco option call in The Game that got us there-was the point of no return for me.

Ok now I'm all pissed off and I'm not going to try and be nice about it. If that dumb hick is a HOF'er that honor means exactly dick. :mad1:
 
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Wow....a Saturday night spent thinking about John Cooper, watching the Reds, and reading about Enron.....if I don't start drinking, I may not make it to Sunday morning.
 
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SI.com

Cooper, Holtz, Aikman headline College Football Hall of Fame class


SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Former Ohio State coach John Cooper remembers when he was a young assistant going to coaching conventions hoping to catch a glimpse of Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler and Bear Bryant.

On Saturday, he joined those coaching greats in the College Football Hall of Fame as he and 20 other former coaches and players were enshrined. Cooper, who also coached at Arizona State and Tulsa and finished with a career record of 193-83-6, said it's a great feeling to be associated with the coaches he once just wanted to see, calling it one of the best days of his life.

"It's a humbling experience to be in that group," he said.

Others being enshrined Saturday included former UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, former Oklahoma State tailback Thurman Thomas, former Florida linebacker Wilber Marshall and Lou Holtz, who coached at Notre Dame, South Carolina, Minnesota, Arkansas, North Carolina State and William & Mary.

The festivities began Saturday with a parade and a pep rally, where those being honored were given their Hall of Fame blazers.

Cont'd ...
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On pace for a career rebirth
Pro Bowl tackle excited about playing for a playoff contender in Chicago
By BRENT GLASGOW
Journal Star
Posted Aug 01, 2009
g1130003d20a7e97818f0e3bb1d77c08b6c7cde748a9eb7.jpg

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Chicago Bears tackle Orlando Pace, seen here in an AP file photo, is excited about his chance at winning with the Bears.


BOURBONNAIS ?After more than a decade of building a Hall of Fame resume, new Chicago Bears tackle Orlando Pace was sure he would retire in St. Louis.

In the NFL, such plans don?t always work out.

?The last deal I singed there, I thought that was gonna be it,? Pace said following Saturday morning?s training camp workout. ?It?s just the nature of the NFL nowadays, but it worked out for the best coming here.?

The seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle signed a seven-year contract with the Rams in 2005, but was released in March. Unsure of what the reaction from his wife and children would be, the 12-year veteran?s mind immediately was put at ease.

?My two oldest boys are really into football, and I thought they?d be a little sad,? said Pace, the No. 1 overall pick in 1997 out of Ohio State. ?They were playing a video game, and I said, ?Dad won?t be playing for St. Louis anymore.? They were like, ?Okay ? what team you gonna play for?? So, everybody?s real excited to be in Chicago.?

When it came to choosing a new destination, it had to be a team with a shot at getting the 6-foot-7, 325-pound Pace another Super Bowl ring.

?It was the biggest reason for me,? Pace said. ?The last couple years in St. Louis, we only won five games total, and those are hard seasons. I wanted to go somewhere with a chance to win, get to the playoffs and possibly a Super Bowl.?
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On pace for a career rebirth - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com

Originally posted: August 1, 2009
Jim Hanifan, O-line guru, says Orlando Pace 'looks awfully good'

By Dan Pompei

Ran into Jim Hanifan this morning. He's one of the most respected offensive line coaches in NFL history, having coached the old Hogs in Washington. He also logged time in with the Rams, Cardinals and Falcons, among others.

Hanifan is at Bears camp because he is friends with many people here, including head coach Lovie Smith, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, assistant head coach Rod Marinelli and pro scouting director Bobby DePaul.

He also knows Orlando Pace well, having coached the left tackle for the first seven years of his career in St. Louis. I asked Hanifan what he thought of how Pace has been practicing.

"He looks awfully good. He was moving real well. I've been on the phone with [Hiestand] a couple, three times during minicamps and OTAs and he said the kid is really looking great."

Can Pace dominate the way he used to?

"He's going into his 13th year," he said. "Obviously I think he's one of the best that's ever come down the pike. When he was in his prime, in my opinion, he was the premier pass protecting left tackle in the league. Walter Jones and Jonanthan Ogden were right there too."
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Jim Hanifan, O-line guru, says Orlando Pace 'looks awfully good' | Huddle Up
 
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Aug 3, 2009
With New Team, Pace Feels Rejuvenated
ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) ― Veteran offensive lineman Orlando Pace says feels rejuvenated after signing with the Bears.

Pace believes he can regain the form that led to seven Pro Bowl selections with St. Louis before being limited by injuries the past three season. If that happens, he'll provide protection for new quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte.

Pace, however, sees himself as just another piece of the line, albeit one with an impressive resume. He blocked for three straight MVPs in St. Louis ? quarterback Kurt Warner in 1999 and 2001 and running back Marshall Faulk in 2000 ? while making the Pro Bowl from 1999 to 2005 before injuries set in.

Now, the 33-year-old Pace is trying to solidify the left-tackle spot after signing a three-year, $15-million deal with Chicago in April.
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With New Team, Pace Feels Rejuvenated - cbs2chicago.com
 
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With new team, Pace feels rejuvenated
By ANDREW SELIGMAN (AP)

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. ? Sometimes, when they're reminiscing about the good ol' days, Orlando Pace acknowledges he and Olin Kreutz sound like old men.

They share laughs, recall how things were.

"We can almost relate to a lot of stuff," said Pace, the Chicago Bears' new left tackle. "We can talk about back in the day, the way things used to be ? the way old men talk about football. So that's kind of exciting. That's almost what we do every day just to get ourselves through camp."

They sound just like old teammates, even though they're new teammates, and Pace is feeling far from old.

At 33, he feels rejuvenated after signing with the Bears and believes he can regain the form that led to seven Pro Bowl selections with St. Louis before being limited by injuries the past three seasons. If that happens, new star quarterback Jay Cutler will be well-protected, as will running back Matt Forte.
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The Associated Press: With new team, Pace feels rejuvenated

A prolong story
Pace's injuries the last few seasons could help extend his career
August 4, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS [email protected]

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Harry Hiestand remembers the first time he sat in a classroom with Orlando Pace.

The then-St. Louis Rams left tackle already was one of the dominant linemen of his era, and Hiestand was a guest of Rams assistant coach Jim Hanifan at training camp in Macomb on the campus of Western Illinois.

Pace sat there diligently following the film work and looking at notes in his playbook, and Hiestand, then an assistant under Ron Turner at Illinois, just marveled.

''I told Orlando I'll never forget that,'' Hiestand said. ''He was just paying attention to detail, and he was so focused. I think he was in his seventh or eighth year by the time I was there. That's the way he is now. It's just fun to see.''

Hiestand, now the Bears' offensive line coach, still is marveling at the 6-7, 325-pound mountain the Bears signed to protect Jay Cutler's blind side. Pace, who has been elected to seven Pro Bowls, is in the best shape he has been in in a few years, and it didn't take Hanifan, a training-camp guest of Lovie Smith, long to notice.

''No question about it,'' Hanifan said. ''He looks like he has more energy.''
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A prolong story :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

Orlando Keeps Pace and What Makes Lovie Laugh?
Chicago Bears Training Camp: Day 4
By PEGGY KUSINSKI
Mon, Aug 3, 2009

The White Sox have Jim Thome, the Cubs brought back Greg Maddux, the Blackhawks brought back Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull but they could no longer lace up the skates.

Following in other Chicago teams footsteps of bringing in Hall of Famers to mentor players on the field, the Bears signed Left Tackle Orlando Pace. And he can still play.

"Oh yeah, he's healthy we hope he'll be out there (every down)" Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. Despite twelve years on turf, Orlando Pace still has some tread left on his tires. The six foot seven inch left tackle displays how light he is on his feet during 2 plus hours of workouts every day in Bourbonnais. No Lovie Smith "veteran" days off, just yet.

"He wants feedback" offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said, "He is proud and wants to perform at the highest level every day." His teammates have taken notice. "Just watch the way he practices", Olin Kreutz remarked, "If he can go all out on every play, so can we."
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Orlando Keeps Pace and What Makes Lovie Laugh? | NBC Chicago
 
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Cutler's protector: Pace went from umbrella drinks to Bears
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. ? It's not often that mountainous, 6-7, 325-pound left tackle Orlando Pace gets overshadowed.

Yet that was the case when the Chicago Bears introduced quarterback Jay Cutler and Pace, his new blindside protector when they signed their deals together in early April.

Second billing was cool with the seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle coming off three injury-marred, losing seasons with the downtrodden St. Louis Rams.

Visions of earning a second Super Bowl ring 10 years after winning one as Super Bowl XXXIV-MVP Kurt Warner's left tackle have Pace revitalized.

Even five consecutive padded training-camp practices couldn't wipe the smile from Pace's face.

"I feel revived," Pace, 33, grins. "I'm happy to still be able to play and be in the situation I am. I'm excited to have a chance to have a young, talented quarterback behind me and a chance to go out in a winning mode.

"We have the talent here to win a championship."

Pace has head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo to thank for his new beginning.

The left tackle took his family on vacation to the Bahamas after his March release by the Rams in a salary-cap purge.

When he received a phone call from Smith, his vacation got a whole lot better.

The former Rams assistant head coach/defensive coordinator told him not to sign with anyone before Smith could huddle with management.

"Lovie made it easy for me to come here," Pace said. "I was on vacation, having a few umbrella drinks and he was calling me, saying, 'Call me when you get back.'

"As soon as I got back, Lovie set it up."

Pace signed a three-year, $15-million deal to upgrade the left tackle spot. Smith first met Pace coaching Ohio State's defensive backs when Pace arrived in Columbus, Ohio, his 1995 freshman year.

"Orlando was always a guy I loved having on our football team," Smith said. "It was a rare opportunity to get him. He hasn't missed a practice.

"Orlando helps (right tackle) Chris Williams just showing him how a future Hall of Famer does it each day."
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Cutler's protector: Pace went from umbrella drinks to Bears - USATODAY.com
 
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Newcomer to watch

nfl_a_pace_200.jpg

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
A healthy Orlando Pace could make a huge difference for the Bears offense.

The acquisition of Cutler was the NFL's most significant offseason move, and I'm pretty sure you're well aware of his potential impact. So for this feature, we'll focus on a player the Bears signed on the same day they traded for Cutler: Left tackle Orlando Pace.

If he's healthy, Pace will protect Cutler's blind side as well as any left tackle in the game. He'll also serve as an anchor for a line that appears bigger and more athletic this season. The Bears are much better with Pace at left tackle and Chris Williams on the right side than with Williams at left tackle and Kevin Shaffer or another veteran on the right.

It was interesting to watch Pace put on a clinic during one-on-one pass drills this week. When he's moving well, Pace simply engulfs his opponent. From a physical standpoint, Pace is sore but otherwise healthy after missing 25 games the past three seasons. His continued health will be a significant factor for the Bears offense.
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Camp Confidential: Giddy in Chicago - NFL Nation - ESPN
 
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