Gagliardi, Paterno Finally Meet
Minnesota’s most treasured coach, John Gagliardi
of Saint John’s, started coaching college football in 1949 at Carroll
College in Montana. Since then he’s won more games than any
college coach ever but he doesn’t pay much attention to his wins (461
total), number of years coaching at Carroll and Saint John’s (60 this year), or other numbers
including his age (82). He’s a live in the moment guy.
“I have spent my whole life with 18 to 22
year olds,” Gagliardi told Sports Headliners. “I can’t wait to
get to work each day.”
Gagliardi (Guh-lahr-dee) was presented the
prestigious Amos Alonzo Stagg award by the American Football
Coaches Association earlier this month. The award, which honors those
“whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best
interests of football,” is the highest honor given to football coaches
by their peers.
Often quoted locally and sometimes
nationally, including for his quips, Gagliardi has been at Saint John’s
for 56 years. In the January 26 issue of Sports Illustrated, he
said: “The monks give me a lifetime contract. But if we start losing
games, they can give me the last sacraments and declare me dead.”
Talking by telephone last week,
Gagliardi answered questions for Sports Headliners and what follows are his
answers (edited for brevity).
Question: You recently attended the
American Football Coaches Association convention and for the first time
met Penn State coach Joe Paterno, another 82-year-old Italian
coaching legend. You and Paterno were called up on stage to meet each
other. What was that like?
Answer: Gee, Joe acted like we were
long lost friends. It was wonderful the way he treated me. He said,
“Oh, boy, I’ve been wanting to meet you.” I didn’t even know if he had
even heard of me to be honest with you. He’s sure got a good set
of hair.
I am practically bald.
Question: It’s been 60 years since
you entered college coaching. Will you coach another decade or more?
Answer: (Laughs). That’s a line I
always use, you know. I have to face reality. There’s no way I can
coach for another one, well, maybe two more decades. I would like to
coach as long as I can. I’ve been attending too many funerals to be
honest with you. It can’t go forever, unfortunately.
Question: Any secrets to your
longevity as far as how you take care of yourself? What do you eat and
drink? I know years ago coaches were expected to drink at social
gatherings.
Answer: Nothing special. There
are certain things that I like. If you ask me what I prefer, right up
on the top of the list (is) my good Italian spaghetti. Those days
(years ago) you couldn't say give me a nonalcoholic drink. That
wasn't acceptable. I used to have to
dump a lot of my drinks in the nearest flower pot.
Question: What do you think has
kept you going all these years?
Answer: I don’t look much at the
past very far, or the future very far. I just kind of live every day
and that’s it. That’s the way I function. My day is filled all the
time. It’s wonderful.
Question: Doesn’t sound like
you’re much of a worrier?
Answer: I am concerned about the
next game and always worried that anybody can beat us. I’ve been
through it a lot (though). As I always say, “Ah, we’ve been through
this back in 1902.”
