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Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:28 pm
by Saban1
Bryan wrote:An interesting character in NFL history. He coached the Giants for nearly the entire decade of the 1960's, beginning his career with 3 consecutive championship game appearances (all losses, with his offense scoring 10 total points) and then being in charge of the Giants' massive rebuilding effort before getting the boot after the 1968 season. The 68 Giants probably overachieved to be 7-3 at one point, then lost their last 4 games to some of the best teams in the NFL to wind up 7-7. Sherman's stretch from 1964-1966 is really bizarre...2-10-2 followed by a 7-7 season, then regressing to 1-12-1.
What do people think of Sherman as a coach? I don't know too many particulars about his strategies, but I guess he was an "offensive mind" considering his background and the YA Tittle to Del Shofner combo was probably the best in the NFL in the early 60's. I find it a bit odd that Sherman wasn't able to find another coaching job after he left the Giants. He did have early success and was only 45 years old. But I've never read an account of an ex-player saying "I really liked Allie Sherman"...most things I've read put Sherman in a negative light.
Fran Tarkenton liked Allie. At least I got that idea from reading one of his books.
Sherman had a good part of a long term contract left when he was fired, so I guess that he really did not need another coaching job. He probably could have gotten a college coaching job if he wanted one. Also, Allie got a pretty lucrative job with the New York OTB later on. I don't think that money was a problem for Allie Sherman.
As a head coach, I would not rate him with Vince, or Paul Brown, or Chuck Noll, Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, etc. (Could say that about most coaches). Like many pro football coaches, he ended up being fired and had some bad seasons, and some good ones. If you rate all of the coaches, then Allie Sherman is probably right in the middle somewhere.
As someone said here, he did outlive most of his critics.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 7:06 pm
by JohnH19
Who did Bud Grant replace as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1957? Allie Sherman.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 8:44 pm
by Veeshik_ya
Rupert Patrick wrote:He was also with ESPN for a number of years, as he co-hosted NFL Matchup with Chris Berman in the 80's and early 90's.
Enjoyed it very much. He was witty, warm, and was dialed in to the current NFL. Talented guy.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:56 pm
by JoeZagorski
Rest in Peace Allie.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:56 pm
by BD Sullivan
Rupert Patrick wrote:He was also with ESPN for a number of years, as he co-hosted NFL Matchup with Chris Berman in the 80's and early 90's.
I believe he was also with NBC for a year or two in the 80's. If I recall, one writer derisively referred to his addition by calling the network's pregame show, "NFL '61"
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:47 pm
by Gary Najman
I also remember Sherman with ESPN and I liked the shows he was in, even that at that time I didn't knew anything about his background as player and coach.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:25 pm
by Todd Pence
Bryan wrote:and then being in charge of the Giants' massive rebuilding effort before getting the boot after the 1968 season.
I might be wrong on this, but as I recall, Sherman was the coach as late as the '69 preseason before being deposed in favor of Alex Webster.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:26 pm
by SixtiesFan
Todd Pence wrote:Bryan wrote:and then being in charge of the Giants' massive rebuilding effort before getting the boot after the 1968 season.
I might be wrong on this, but as I recall, Sherman was the coach as late as the '69 preseason before being deposed in favor of Alex Webster.
The reason given at the time was that Alex Webster could "relate to players" better than Sherman.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:04 pm
by Todd Pence
There was a compelling article by sportswriter Larry Merchant detailing the Sherman and Webster years, and the transition between the two.
Re: Former Giants coach Allie Sherman passes away
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:53 pm
by Saban1
SixtiesFan wrote:Todd Pence wrote:Bryan wrote:and then being in charge of the Giants' massive rebuilding effort before getting the boot after the 1968 season.
I might be wrong on this, but as I recall, Sherman was the coach as late as the '69 preseason before being deposed in favor of Alex Webster.
The reason given at the time was that Alex Webster could "relate to players" better than Sherman.
After the Giants last preseason game in 1969, which they lost as well as the other preseason games including an embarrassing loss to the Jets, the players had a closed door meeting. The meeting had nothing to do with Allie Sherman, but Allie was fired that night, making it look like the players wanted Sherman fired.