Last week was not exactly a banner one for former U wide receivers in the NFL who played under Coach Mac. And like black magic spells wafting overhead, former Ute wide outs Kevin Dyson and Steve Smith are out of commission-poof!-for varying reasons, such as old age and injury-at least for now.
The San Diego Chargers released the former All-Pro Dyson late last week, in part to nagging injuries and age.
Dyson was in every way shape and form a Utah Man, the quintessential player from a bygone era, an era in which the term MAFU was more common than the now-vogue MUSS. During Ute games, former Ute coach Ron McBride was known to wear garlic necklaces around his neck in the hope that he and the U could ward off evil spirits-and losses to anybody, including that most evil, dreaded opponent BYU.
Dyson could have used the necklace last week in California. But McBride is the linebackers coach at Kentucky, a hell of a long way from San Diego, and about a decade too late.
It was a cruel twist of fate that Dyson’s expected ascent to No.1 receiver on the Chargers depth chart plummeted so soon. But he is old now in NFL years, a seven-year veteran in a league that does not usually reward receivers who average less than 100 yards a game.
But that’s what Dyson does, methodically plodding along-just as he had under coach Mac-grabbing catches nobody thought he could catch and utilizing his speed. When healthy, his average NFL game was about 4 catches for 50 yards-not fantasy numbers, but solid nonetheless.
Like snatching reality itself out of mid-air, Dyson was a circus act in a ball player.
Remember the one-handed 1994 Copper Bowl catch out of nowhere against Arizona? And who could forget the 1999 “Music City Miracle” touchdown in the AFC Wildcard Game as he raced down the left sideline after catching tight end Frank Wycheck’s fluttering duck of a lateral?
Yeah, that was he, the guy who Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said “wouldn’t fall into their plans.”
Guess they weren’t “bowl” plans. Dyson was an all-state wide receiver at Clearfield High, a three-time All-WAC receiver and all-time receiving leader at the U. He enjoyed fame as a wide out for the Tennessee Titans, including the unforgettable reach for the goal line during Super Bowl XXXIV, only to come up one yard short of a ring. Then as a member of the Carolina Panthers, he finally reached the pantheon of pro sports last year when he got a taste of the bling.
This man made Ron McBride look like a genius, not to mention Jeff Fisher and John Fox, all of whom were defensive coordinators before they were head coaches.
A fitting ending to Dyson’s football career would come in a Tennessee Titans uniform. According to the latest reports to come out of Nashville, that may very soon become a reality.
In my opinion, Dyson deserves a fitting final chapter in his book of football stories. He should walk out of the tunnel for the last time, in the place where he started his NFL career, feeling like a champion.
Conversely, Carolina Panthers All-Pro and former U All-American wide receiver Steve Smith broke his fibula (leg) in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game versus Green Bay. The difference between Dyson and Smith is that Smith was very much in the Panthers’ plans-so much so, in fact, that Carolina signed Smith to a $27.4 million contract extension over the summer, an amount that is not exactly pocket change, if you know what I mean.
Where is former U receiver Curtis Marsh when you need him? Because Marsh-in the Arena League at the moment-is about the only former U receiver in the pros who is healthy, other than Cliff Russell, who plays on the Redskins’ practice squad. According to AP reports, it is unclear how long Smith will remain on the sidelines. Perhaps it could be less time if coach Mac shows up at a Panther game with some magic potion. Only time will tell on that one.
Smith hurt his leg during a short catch and only 4:52 left in the game.
Carolina WR Muhsin Muhammad said, “You’d be a fool to deny that (the injury hurts),” referring to Smith as their home-run hitter and big-play man. Smith had a career high of 88 catches, and over 1,000 yards last year as he teamed with Dyson and Muhammad to lead the Panthers to a Super Bowl victory celebration. Yes, Smith also had another great moment reminiscent of a former U wide receiver. And he took the elixir during last year’s Super Bowl, catching a 69-yard bomb in double overtime to beat the Rams.
Here’s hoping both players find their way back to glory, with coach Mac’s recipe for voodoo, magic elixirs or pungent necklaces of garlic cloves. [email protected]