Jon Gruden Invades Tampa With Substance And Style
By JOEY JOHNSTON
Tribune Staff
(c) Tampa Bay Times. Originally published Feb. 21, 2002.
The black stretch limousine was idling nearby, waiting for Jon Gruden.
But his well-orchestrated getaway was placed on hold. Gruden’s motor, as always, was still revving. Just outside the Tampa Waterside Marriott, he was a magnet who clogged the doorway.
After an exhausting, often embarrassing 35-day coaching search, the Bucs basked in a Wednesday afternoon of seamless public relations.
Meet your new football coach, Tampa Bay.
A blond-haired, blue-eyed wonderboy. “What a hunk,” said breathless Bucs fan Miranda St. John, clutching her prized Gruden autograph.
An offensive-minded workaholic who’s expected to rescue a sputtering offense. A full-fledged celebrity, listed a few months ago as one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”
But most of all, a guy who relates beautifully to his public.
“Coach Gruden, I just want to shake your hand.”
“Sure, what’s your name?”
“Dan.”
“Dan, good to meet you. My pleasure. Thanks for coming out.”
Rhonda Steiner, a New Jersey resident who’s here for Yankees spring training, shrieked while snapping a photograph of her 9-year-old twins, Samantha and Alexis, as they posed with Gruden.
“My God, he’s so young,” Steiner said. “He’s gorgeous. I’m a Buccaneer fan now.”
Buccaneer fan? Aren’t you from New Jersey?
“I don’t care. I’m definitely a Buccaneer fan. He’s a doll. I’ll always follow the Giants, but I’d follow that man anywhere.”
You get the picture.
A giddy afternoon. News conference or coronation? You decide.
So much for that embarrassing coaching search.
The Bucs got their man. Who cares how it all went down? The future is now.
An Animated Sideline Coach
Gruden wasn’t overwhelmed by the reaction, just a little bemused.
“It’s pretty simple, really,” he said. “I’m just a football coach.”
But he’s so much more.
Mild-mannered Tony Dungy, who was fired Jan. 14, had four playoff teams in six seasons. The Glazers decided that wasn’t enough, particularly because they felt the organization had Super Bowl-level talent. Something had to be done.
“The Glazers got a lot of bad press through this whole coaching search,” said Pete Tanner, a University of South Florida graduate student. “Maybe they made a few blunders along the way. But they just wanted this team to improve.
“Now we’ve got a guy who’s going to be in your face.”
Frustrated fans wanted Dungy to knock over a water cooler. Or maybe yell at the receiver who dropped an easy pass. Something – anything! – instead of the perpetually folded arms and deadpan expression.
Well, they’ve got that now.
Gruden’s rants are legendary. You better have that sideline microphone on a five-second delay, too. His facial contortions are made-for-TV classics, giving him a cartoon-character persona.
He’s intense at practice. He’s intense at games.
He’s intense at breakfast.
“Jon is sleeping upstairs, and I’m down eating my cereal,” said Gruden’s wife, Cindy, as she described life at home. “Well, my spoon clanked on the bowl. Jon comes around the corner and says, “Can you eat that a little quieter?’
“The intensity permeates all areas of his life. I cut him some slack. He’s generally low-key, but kind of quirky. I love him. He’s so passionate about things. How can you not love that?”
Cindy fell hard for her future husband, almost from their first date. She was a University of Tennessee cheerleader who was leafing through a football program. She noticed a certain blond-haired graduate assistant coach.
“I wanted to meet Jon because I thought he was so cute,” she said.
Notice a pattern here?
Not A Self-Promoter
Bob LaMonte, the agent who negotiated Gruden’s five-year, $17.5-million contract with Tampa Bay, said his client’s marketing potential is “unlimited.” Gruden’s resemblance to the Chucky doll in the movie “Child’s Play” has set off a twisted phenomenon. Certainly, there could be multiple products to pitch.
That can wait.
“He’s 38 years old, guys,” gushed LaMonte. “He’s already won 40 games in the National Football League. People who don’t even follow football know who he is. He was on the Jay Leno show after losing the championship game – and sometimes the Super Bowl winning coaches don’t even get invited there.
“But with that all being said, this is not a self-promoter. He just wants to be a football coach.”
LaMonte was visiting Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren when first meeting Gruden in the early 1990s. Gruden was a quality-control assistant for the Packers. LaMonte was met at the airport by his driver – Gruden.
“Jon looked about 13 years old,” LaMonte said. “I didn’t even know if he had a driver’s license.
“Mike said, “Bob, that guy [Gruden] will be a head coach in the NFL soon. He is un-bee-lievable.’ I thought, “Huh? The driver?’ “
It was true. Now Gruden has become the driving force in a new town.
In summation:
What a catch.
What a coach.
What a hunk.
Even if you can’t distinguish a safety blitz from a safety pin, you’re bound to like the new coach.
All about Jon Gruden
Favorite color: Red
Favorite meal: Seafood
Favorite junk food: Pringles, popcorn
Favorite restaurant: Hooters
Favorite beach: Clearwater
What’s in your CD player: The Doobie Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Van Halen
Favorite musical groups: Aerosmith, AC/DC, Van Halen, Credence Clearwater Revival
Favorite male entertainer: Chris Rock
Favorite female entertainer: Toni Braxton
Favorite city: Tampa
Dream vacation spot: Redington Beach
Favorite sport besides football: Baseball
Boyhood sports idol: Cleveland Browns RB Leroy Kelly
If you became NFL commissioner: “I’d eliminate the tuck rule.”
Describe Jon Gruden: “I go to church. I love my family. I love the game of football. I’ve been known to listen to some music. That’s about it. I’m a pretty simple guy.”
Popular misconception about Jon Gruden: “It’s all pretty true. No complaints.”
Enduring memory of Raiders owner Al Davis: “His great passion for the game. Something I felt every day.”
Your hopes for the Bucs: “These will be the most exciting times of my life. This city has just exploded. People love the Bucs. Bottom line: We want to win the Super Bowl.”
Favorite book: Anything by John Grisham
Two people you’d love to meet: Tina Turner, John Wooden
