Letters to the Publisher

Thank you for your great magazine. My interest is in locating previously published coaching information (books, magazines, film, videos, etc.) that can be used to coach youth football.

Mixing the schemes and techniques taught of years ago while still coaching the recent changes in the rules to allow more use of hands and never dropping the head, for example, make for a good combination in coaching youth coaches.

Information about how to use the defenses and offenses of five to 50 years ago-from the single-wing wedge play to the diamond defense and how the end contains the sweep play-is what I seek.

Can you help me locate the coaches or wives or families that may have books that may be gathering dust on their shelf? I will purchase these if they contact me at (770) 642-2232, fax (770) 640-5269 or email at faubion@atl.mindspring.com. Thanks for this assistance.

Regards, Ervin Faubion
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear AFM:

What a weekend! AFM University was more than I ever anticipated, and believe me, my hopes were high. This is something that has been needed for a long time and I want to thank you and your people for making it a reality.

I am a coach that annually attends 20-30 clinics each off-season. Not anymore! This along with our state clinic will give me and all other coaches more than all others combined. My only hope is you move it to the Midwest periodically so the rest of my staff can attend. Great job!

Craig Buzea
Head Football Coach
Portage High School
Portage, IN

Dear AFM:

I recently reviewed your NCAA Division II All-Americans in the Tony Dungy (Vol. 4, 3rd Quarter) issue and was disappointed to see that a young man from our program, Anthony Gray, was not among the running backs you honored at the position.

He led the nation in rushing last year with over 2,000 yards (2,220 yards on 277 carries) and is truly a good representative of what we are trying to do here as we build a program.

Anthony is one of the premier running backs in this region, regardless of level. Please keep an eye on him as you consider post season honorees for 1998. Thanks and keep up the great work. We enjoy your magazine here.

Sincerely yours, Land Jacobsen,
Head Coach
Western New Mexico University

Note: We appreciate the concern. 1997, not unlike any other, was a difficult year to select the nation's top running backs. For all our awards "of the year," we have, and will continue to, encourage coaches and sports information staffs to submit credentials on who they think provided the top playing and coaching performances of the season. Seven of the top rushers in Division II from '97, headlined by Gray, return in '98. It wouldn't surprise us to see Gray make a run for the Harlon Hill award this fall.

Dear AFM:

I wanted to thank you for including me in your first AFM University conference. I enjoyed giving the lectures and equally enjoyed listening to the other presentations.

Sincerely, Mike Nolan
Defensive Coordinator
Washington Redskins,
Ashburn, VA

Dear AFM:

The football world lost a giant on July 15, 1998, when longtime college and professional linebacker coach John S. Devlin, Jr. died suddenly in Bloomsburg, Pa.

Beginning at Waynesboro Area (Pa.) HS in 1959, Devlin's career evolved at West Point, then Va. Tech, Florida State, Maryland, Kentucky, the Houston Oilers, Temple, Tulane and Bloomsburg University. At each stop, John distinguished himself as one of the premier college defensive coordinators and linebacker coaches of the past 30 years. He coached with such greats as Jerry Claiborne, Bill Parcells, Paul Dietzel, Bobby Ross and Tom Cahill... against Joe Paterno, Bear Bryant, Lou Holtz and Bobby Bowden. Devlin's foray into the NFL paired him with Jerry Glanville in Houston. Men who know football coaches knew John Devlin. He was one of the greatest coaches ever produced by West Chester (Pa.), a school noted for producing great coaches.

Though Devlin garnered several individual and defensive honors during his career-such as his 1996 PSAC assistant coach of the year award and his nationally -ranked defenses-he coveted team accomplishments much more. These include Maryland's shutout of a vastly superior Florida team in the 1975 Gator Bowl, Temple's consecutive defeats of Pittsburgh at Pitt Stadium in 1986 and 1987, Tulane's 1990 breaking of Syracuse's two-and-a-half year string of home victories, and Bloomsburg's four consecutive division championships, to name a few.

Ultimately, John cherished the opportunity as a coach to mentor and counsel thousands of coaches and players year after year, and to have a vast and lasting impact on their lives. John was a builder of men and a molder of human character.

Devlin's greatest legacy, however, was his deep love of his family. He was a devoted and loyal husband to Irma, while he tirelessly and lovingly coached his four children, preparing them for life. Son Michael is a six-year NFL veteran with the Arizona Cardinals. Son William played notably for Murray State and John, III, lettered and was a senior team captain at West Point. Daughter Elizabeth was a honored softball and volleyball player and is an administrative assistant for Tommy Bowden at Tulane.

John was uniformly loved and respected everywhere he coached. Never a mass media big name, he was simply a great football coach. We have lost a true gentleman coach of enormous stature in the game. Dr. Thom Park,
Tallahassee, FL

We were honored to work with Coach Devlin as he presented a defensive Clinic article in our Vol. 4, 3rd Quarter (Tony Dungy) issue. The above was excerpted from Park's obituary of John S. Devlin, Jr. He will be missed by many.