[ Stram's passion still resonates on tape ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 4, 2003 by Rick Dean Capital-Journal

Stram's passion still resonates on tape

Former Chief Marcus Allen also enshrined

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hank Stram waves to the crowd at Sunday's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.

By Rick Dean

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Hank Stram didn't have to speak live Sunday at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His taped words from Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970 still resonated with the passion that carried the former Chiefs coach to the enshrinement many felt was long overdue.

Just as he was the first coach to be wired for sound during a championship event, Stram became the first Hall of Fame inductee to pre-record his speech for the induction ceremony at Canton, Ohio.

Now in faltering health --- evident as the 80-year-old coach was brought to the stage in a wheelchair --- Stram's taped remarks were played between the now-famous NFL Films clips of Stram during Kansas City's 23-7 Super Bowl victory over Minnesota.

After a younger, more excitable Stram chortled over the success of "65 Toss Power Trap" --- the play he called that produced a Mike Garrett touchdown against the Vikings --- Stram's older, carefully measured taped remarks thanked Chiefs' players, coaches and owner Lamar Hunt for giving him the chance to become the most successful coach in the history of the old American Football League.

"As I matriculate down the field of life, I will never forget this moment," Stram said. "This is truly a perfect gift."

The same man caught on tape asking a referee, "Mr. Official, how can six of you miss that play?" during the Super Bowl turned to a more heavenly reference when thanking those who helped him win a place in the Hall of Fame almost three decades after he coached his last game.

"Someone once said that friends are angels in disguise," Stram said. "If this is true, I have been surrounded by angels most of my life. Some of them are here today. Many have even better seats in heaven."

The Mentor, as Stram called himself, was credited both for his innovation and his inspiration in lifting his players to three AFL championships and two Super Bowl appearances.

"I have two rings --- a Super Bowl ring on one hand and a Hall of Fame ring on the other --- and I owe them both to Hank Stram," said Len Dawson, the Chiefs quarterback who introduced Stram just as Stram introduced Dawson at his 1987 induction.

A large throng of fans wearing Chiefs jerseys traveled to Canton to celebrate the induction of Stram and former Raiders/Chiefs running back Marcus Allen, who were joined in the class of 2003 by receiver James Lofton, defensive end Elvin Bethea and guard Joe DeLamiellure.

After being introduced by his father, Allen gave quick but proper recognition to Raiders owner Al Davis --- a Hall of Fame member with whom Allen frequently clashed --- before emotionally thanking the coaches, teammates and even trainers who helped him play 16 NFL seasons and become the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII.

To the Chiefs, where Allen spent the last five years of his career after finally escaping the wrath of Davis in Allen's native Los Angeles, Allen thanked the team that he said "gave me the shot in the arm I needed at that time in my life."

In his induction remarks, Lofton gave special thanks to former Kansas State and Green Bay quarterback Lynn Dickey.

"He was one of toughest men I've ever been around," Lofton said of the Osawatomie native. "He had hip injuries and broken legs that would have sidelined a lot of other quarterbacks. But I caught a lot of passes when Lynn Dickey was flat on his back."

Allen's moment

Marcus Allen knows that many fans recall his 74-yard touchdown run in Super Bowl XVIII when they think of his 16-year career.

But for Allen, that is not his career-defining play.

"Personally, some of my most memorable runs were ones that I had to make 10 guys miss just to get back to the line of scrimmage," said the former Raiders and Chiefs running back. "If you really take pride in playing a total game, things that most people don't see you're extremely proud of."

NFL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

INDUCTEES

Hall of Fame: The five inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on Sunday were:

Marcus Allen: Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs RB

Hank Stram: Chiefs, New Orleans Saints coach

Elvin Bethea: Houston DE

Joe DeLamielleure: Buffalo, Cleveland OG

James Lofton: Green Bay, Oakland, Buffalo WR

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Packer and Raider receiver James Lofton acknowledges the crowd as he is announced at Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Please see STRAM, Page 2D

Continued from Page 1D

Stram: Coach leads KC to two Super Bowls