Marshall Faulk will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, a richly deserved honor for one of the chief architects of the legendary Rams offense called The Greatest Show on Turf. It was a great day for all Rams fans when Faulk and his teammates beat the Titans and won the Super Bowl all those years ago.
But there is something else about Faulk that not everyone knows. More important, even, than all his yards, touchdowns and honors: He’s a classy guy.
Faulk is involved in charity work where he grew up in New Orleans, in San Diego where he starred at San Diego State University and in St. Louis, where he played for the Rams. You can read about that in many of the media reports that appear this weekend surrounding the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton, Ohio.
You’ll probably read or hear that Faulk was a great teammate. Here’s a story about that.
Faulk was a human highlight reel for San Diego State. A magical player in a program that needed one, Faulk was generating a lot of attention. Rightfully so, he was tremendous. He led the nation in rushing twice.
But Faulk and the other Aztecs were in deep trouble in their September 18, 1993 game against Air Force in Colorado. With 12 minutes, 40 seconds remaining, the Aztecs trailed 31-14 when their starting quarterback went down with a broken leg. The game was broadcast regionally by ABC TV and everyone watching figured the game was over.
Aztecs coach Al Luginbill had no choice but to turn to backup passer Tim Gutierrez. It turned out to be a good choice because the Aztecs won.
Gutierrez connected on 13 of 21 passes, good for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad stats for less than one quarter of play. Gutierrez also led the team to a field goal and handed off to Faulk for another score as the Aztecs stunned Air Force 38-31.
Gutierrez started the next week and threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns as San Diego State hammered Minnesota. The Aztecs finished the season with a 6-6 record, which sounds weird, given all the firepower they had. Gutierrez figured to be the starting quarterback the following season, which he was.
But this is about Marshall Faulk. Faulk was given most of the offensive awards at the Aztecs’ team banquet after the 1993 season, including the Best Offensive Back Trophy. But at the banquet, in front of the coaches and his teammates, Marshall Faulk handed his Best Offensive Back Trophy to Tim Gutierrez and told the quarterback that he, not Faulk, had earned the award.
A classy move by a classy guy.
And now I’ll try to show some class by thanking you for reading.
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