Fran Tarkenton (1 Viewer)

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I know this may not be interesting to some but Fran Tarkenton was a childhood hero of mine while he was a quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings. He and my mom were in high school together at Athens, GA High in the 50's. They were friends there and then also both went to UGA where Fran was a star QB and mom was a cheerleader. They were friends in high school and college and hadn't seen each other in decades. Fran is now in Atlanta and long story short, had the opportunity to see each other again. I took mom to Atlanta and we met at Fran's office. They were so excited to see each other again! Fran had a plaque of the Athens High state championship football scores he showed us. We visited for over 2 hours. He's an amazing guy and told some great stories of his career including the Vikings, Giants and UGA Bulldogs. He loved Bud Grant and could see in his face the hurt when he talked about Bud's passing not long ago. Anyway thought I would share.
 

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Very nice story. He was a great QB. And I'll bet your mom was a great cheerleader!^&grin

Mark
 
Very nice story. He was a great QB. And I'll bet your mom was a great cheerleader!^&grin

Mark

Here's a shot of her as cheerleader at UGA.
 

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I know this may not be interesting to some but Fran Tarkenton was a childhood hero of mine while he was a quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings. He and my mom were in high school together at Athens, GA High in the 50's. They were friends there and then also both went to UGA where Fran was a star QB and mom was a cheerleader. They were friends in high school and college and hadn't seen each other in decades. Fran is now in Atlanta and long story short, had the opportunity to see each other again. I took mom to Atlanta and we met at Fran's office. They were so excited to see each other again! Fran had a plaque of the Athens High state championship football scores he showed us. We visited for over 2 hours. He's an amazing guy and told some great stories of his career including the Vikings, Giants and UGA Bulldogs. He loved Bud Grant and could see in his face the hurt when he talked about Bud's passing not long ago. Anyway thought I would share.
Haven't thought about Tarkenton in ages. He was the big outlier among Qbs back in the 60's because he was a scrambler and not the traditional dropback that everyone else was. He drove defenses crazy because no one was ready for his style of play. He ran wild for several years before the league was able to adjust. Used to be tough on my Colts, as I remember. He was a real hoot to watch. Everyone seemed to be standing still while he ran circles around them. A true NFL original that broke the Qb mold and recast it. -- Al
 
Haven't thought about Tarkenton in ages. He was the big outlier among Qbs back in the 60's because he was a scrambler and not the traditional dropback that everyone else was. He drove defenses crazy because no one was ready for his style of play. He ran wild for several years before the league was able to adjust. Used to be tough on my Colts, as I remember. He was a real hoot to watch. Everyone seemed to be standing still while he ran circles around them. A true NFL original that broke the Qb mold and recast it. -- Al

Al, yes he was know as "Scamblin Fran" I believe. He talked about how they didn't pass as much back in those days (especially at UGA) as they do now. He described in detail the final drive against Auburn in 1959 where the game was basically for the SEC championship and how he called the pass play that scored the winning touchdown. In a nutshell he said they were going to fake a play moving to the right, then he would stop and throw back to the left to the tight end going to the left corner of the end zone (after the left end pretended to block down, then run the pass route). It worked perfectly and Georgia won 14-13. He also talked about some of his Viking friends like Mick Tingelhoff and Ahmad Rashad. He talked about how Mick Tingelhoff (his longtime center) protected him both on the field and off. He said Mick was a tough guy and you didn't mess with him. He said he was one of his best friends. He also talked about Ahmad Rashad when the Vikings first had him on the team but were about to cut or trade (I can't remember which) him, Fran said he couldn't believe it and went to the GM and basically said if you cut/trade Ahmad, then I'm gone. The Vikings changed their mind and kept Rashad. Fran said he was one of the most talented receivers he ever had.
 
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Al, yes he was know as "Scamblin Fran" I believe. He talked about how they didn't pass as much back in those days (especially at UGA) as they do now. He described in detail the final drive against Auburn in 1959 where the game was basically for the SEC championship and how he called the pass play that scored the winning touchdown. In a nutshell he said they were going to fake a play moving to the right, then he would stop and throw back to the left to the tight end going to the left corner of the end zone (after the left end pretended to block down, then run the pass route). It worked perfectly and Georgia won 14-13. He also talked about some of his Viking friends like Mick Tingelhoff and Ahmad Rashad. He talked about how Mick Tingelhoff (his longtime center) protected him both on the field and off. He said Mick was a tough guy and you didn't mess with him. He said he was one of his best friends. He also talked about Ahmad Rashad when the Vikings first had him on the team but were about to cut or trade (I can't remember which) him, Fran said he couldn't believe it and went to the GM and basically said if you cut/trade Ahmad, then I'm gone. The Vikings changed their mind and kept Rashad. Fran said he was one of the most talented receivers he ever had.
That's great stuff. What memories to have and share. Boy, I sure miss the NFL of the 1960's with it's unique personalities, and much more basic game and rules. Old #10 sure left his mark. -- Al
 
A lot of bad memories of my Rams going to Minnesota in the playoffs and playing in that freezing weather before the dome. I can understand that it is a lot more comfortable for the fans to play in the dome, but they really gave up an advantage when they stopped playing outdoors. The Vikes had a great team in that era but could never win the Super Bowl.
 
Is Fran’s office still @Tower Place or whatever the business complex at the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont is called these days?

He’s got no shortage of stories from back in the day. But he’s always been a heck of a personality, even football aside.;)
 
Is Fran’s office still @Tower Place or whatever the business complex at the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont is called these days?

He’s got no shortage of stories from back in the day. But he’s always been a heck of a personality, even football aside.;)

Yes, Tower Place in Buckhead. He's a great story teller and loves talking. Great personality.
 
F Tarkenton was always one of my favorite QBs even as I was a Colts fan of the 60s and 70s. Chris
 
F Tarkenton was always one of my favorite QBs even as I was a Colts fan of the 60s and 70s. Chris
Fran drove the Colts crazy. I was always hoping Brasse or Curtis might catch him and break him in half, but they never did. ^&grin -- Al
 
Duke,
So cool for your mom and you. Great pic. He was one scrambling QB.

Steve

Thanks Steve. It was fun. I had met him years ago when I was a boy but has been 46 years since then.

Here's another photo from our visit.... a helmet/football display in his office.
 

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Fran drove the Colts crazy. I was always hoping Brasse or Curtis might catch him and break him in half, but they never did. ^&grin -- Al

Ordell Brasse and Mike Curtis, you're really showing our age Al. :redface2: Chris
 
Thanks Steve. It was fun. I had met him years ago when I was a boy but has been 46 years since then.

Here's another photo from our visit.... a helmet/football display in his office.

Thanks for rubbing it in Duke (the football score). {sm3} Chris
 
A lot of bad memories of my Rams going to Minnesota in the playoffs and playing in that freezing weather before the dome. I can understand that it is a lot more comfortable for the fans to play in the dome, but they really gave up an advantage when they stopped playing outdoors. The Vikes had a great team in that era but could never win the Super Bowl.

When I was a kid, the Patriots in the 60's and early to mid 70's were rarely if ever on TV, I was a huge Vikings fan, was crushed whenever they lost a Super Bowl (0-4 and none of them were close), they lost to four teams I hated; Chiefs, Steelers, Dolphins and Raiders.

Loved Tarkenton, wished he could have won a Super Bowl, but it wasn't meant to be.
 
That's a great story Duke!!! I'm sure you were delighted to see Fran again and hang out with him and your mom. That must have been a great experience!! Not many of us have stories like that to tell.

However, my mom and a guy named Hal Lanier (baseball player for the Yankees, later manager of the Houston Astros in the 1980's) had a similar experience. My mom and Hal graduated from the same high school and college together in the 1960's. They reconnected back in the 1980's when Hal was managing the Astros. He used to leave tickets for us when his Astros came to Phila.

One morning my parents had breakfast with Hal when the Astros were in town to play the Phillies. I wasn't able to go but my dad was in awe the whole time. Sitting next to them was Nolan Ryan and coach Yogi Berra. After he told me this, I then expected him to show me a baseball with all these autographs on it.........but he said he couldn't (more like didn't want to) bother the players while they were eating. :(

Anyway, thanks for sharing your story with Fran Tarkenton. Just his name brings back so many fond sports memories!!!

Mark
 
Ordell Brasse and Mike Curtis, you're really showing our age Al. :redface2: Chris
LOL. Geez-geez. I can just about still name all those Colt players from the '60s teams. Shinnick, Boyd, Lyles, Cuozzo, Berry, Matte, and of course, Unitas, and so on. Sure do miss those days. -- Al
 
Thanks for rubbing it in Duke (the football score). {sm3} Chris

Believe me Chris... not my intention! :smile2:

That's a great story Duke!!! I'm sure you were delighted to see Fran again and hang out with him and your mom. That must have been a great experience!! Not many of us have stories like that to tell.

However, my mom and a guy named Hal Lanier (baseball player for the Yankees, later manager of the Houston Astros in the 1980's) had a similar experience. My mom and Hal graduated from the same high school and college together in the 1960's. They reconnected back in the 1980's when Hal was managing the Astros. He used to leave tickets for us when his Astros came to Phila.

One morning my parents had breakfast with Hal when the Astros were in town to play the Phillies. I wasn't able to go but my dad was in awe the whole time. Sitting next to them was Nolan Ryan and coach Yogi Berra. After he told me this, I then expected him to show me a baseball with all these autographs on it.........but he said he couldn't (more like didn't want to) bother the players while they were eating. :(

Anyway, thanks for sharing your story with Fran Tarkenton. Just his name brings back so many fond sports memories!!!

Mark

Thanks Mark and thanks for sharing your family's story. Nolan Ryan was one of my all time favorites!
 
Oh, OK, he's still alive. This thread made it sound like he passed away.

Prost!
Brad
 
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