[Husker] Solich (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

>       There are always exceptions to every rule that work out.  IIRC 
> correctly even though that worked out Ditka was less than pleased with the 
> situation.

Ditka and Ryan were both raised to their respective positions by Bears 
owner George Halas.  

One of the founders of the NFL, Halas stories permeate the history of the
NFL.  In the days before the NFL became a cash cow and a playtoy for 
billionaires, Halas was the most powerful of the owners, and was the
last of the owner-coaches (despite what some folks say about Jimmy Jones).  

He was also a player in the early years of the NFL, I think his 102 
yard fumble return for a TD still holds the NFL record, because the 
rules were changed to only count return yardage between the goal lines.

Legend has it that in the 1950's he once fired an assistant coach during 
his halftime speech to the team.  

Halas still had considerable control over the Bears after he turned 
over the head coaching reins to Ditka, and was apt to suggest plays while
prowling the sidelines until advancing age finally forced him into
the owners box.  Rumor also had it that Halas's will specified that 
Ryan could not be fired by Ditka.  

Working as a team, Ditka and Ryan won the Super Bowl in 1985.  

Ditka's record as a head coach in the years after Ryan left got him fired 
from two head coaching jobs.  Ryan didn't set the world on fire as a 
head coach either.  
--
Mike Nolan