Tom Coughlin, David Tyree Remember Jim Brown

Two former Syracuse football players discuss one of the greatest of all time.

Football legend Jim Brown passed away last month at the age of 87. Giants Country's Ric Serritella caught up with former Orange stars Tom Coughlin and David Tyree to discuss the legend's passing at Coughlin's annual Jay Fund Ice Cream Sundae Blitz event. Video of their comments are above while you can read their transcribed comments are below. 

TOM COUGHLIN

"Jim Brown, of course a Syracuse guy, I'm a Syracuse guy," Coughlin said. "I remember watching Jim Brown on black and white television, the Ben Schwartzwalder show, when he was a player at Syracuse. I remember something that's very personal to me. When Jim Brown finished playing collegiate football, he and a bunch of guy son the team formed a basketball team. They would go around to the little towns and play against town teams. In those days, for example, the Waterloo Monarchs, my hometown, had a basketball team. We got as youngsters, sixth, seventh grade, whatever I was, I got an opportunity to see Jim Brown up close and personal. I will say this to you. Jim Brown stuck around after that game and signed every autograph of every kid that was in that gym that night, which was a tremendous thing. We never seen an athlete anywhere near to compare to Jim Brown. I get asked over the years, it's a little further removed, 'how good was Jim Brown?' Let me tell you how good Jim Brown was. He played nine years and he won the rushing title for eight of the nine years. He was a great football player but more than that he was a great athlete. Of course we all know how he was probably the greatest lacrosse player ever. Played on the varsity basketball team at Syracuse. Ran track. Actually played baseball once in a while, I think, for the varsity baseball team at that time. Great athlete. Obviously went on to leave his mark as an actor and an athlete as well." 

DAVID TYREE

"When I think about Jim Brown, I'm extremely proud to kind of come from some of the Syracuse heritage that runs so deep. When you think about historic football programs, Syracuse measures up there with any program in the country even though we may not have had the recent pipeline. Individuals like Jim Brown, it makes you think about the myriad of ways in which you influence and impact your sport can transcend life. Meeting men like Tom Coughlin, who fit that same similar pedigree, that's the kind of person I aspire to be. That's I think. I was fortunate to actually spend some time with Jim Brown at the [NFL] Draft a few years ago. Sit down with him, have some pictures and actually share a real conversation. It impacted my life forever and I'm just grateful to be of that legacy and cut from the same cloth." 

The Jay Fund, created in honor of former Boston College player Jay McGillis, whose fight against Leukemia created a lasting legacy, has distributed more than $20M to nearly 6,000 families in need across the United States, since its inception in 1996. With over 25 years of serving children with cancer, The Jay Fund has proven to ‘BE THERE’ for families in need. If you would like to support the foundation or learn more, please visit their website at: www.tcjayfund.org.

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