Washington Redskins By the Numbers: #18 - Sam Wyche (yeah, THAT Sam Wyche)

I have actually been looking forward to #18. Such a tough one, right? With names like Frank Akins and Ed Berrang dangling out there, this has all the makings for a snoozer (no disrespect to Frank or Ed). We have already tapped both Sonny Juegensen and Billy Kilmer in this series, so you wouldn't expect a third quarterback from that roster. And then Sammy Wyche jumps off the page.

#18

Sam Wyche

via jpeventscincinnati.com

He suited up for the Skins from 1971-1973, and was the backup quarterback behind both Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer. Shockingly, little game footage exists, at least none that I could find.

On sheer entertainment value alone he wins it. But he was also a pretty good coach, and left a lasting impact on the landscape of the NFL. This guy pushed the no-huddle offense out of the last two minutes of the game. He popularized it as a fundamental component of his potent offensive philosophy. As the winningest coach in the history of the Bengals, he led the team to Super Bowl XXIII. They came within 34 seconds of winning, ultimately being unable to stop Joe Montana in crunch time.

He has, by far, one of the all-time greatest post-game quotes--it is easily one of the funniest things you have ever heard a coach say after a game. Wyche had a very public feud with Jerry Glanville, who at that time was the head coach of the Houston Oilers. One Sunday their teams met and Wyche made it clear how little respect he had for Jerry Glanville. With the Bengals leading 45-0 in the 4th quarter, he called for an onside kick and recovered. They executed a fake field goal. They ran a fake reverse halfback option pass for a TD while leading by 40+ points. And in one of the all-time "F' you" moments between coaches, Wyche called a timeout with 21 seconds left in the game so he could kick a field goal. The score was 61-7, and by the time it was over, Jerry Glanville was pregnant with Sam Wyche's baby.

Wyche said his biggest regret in the game was that they failed to hit one of their extra points. When he was interviewed afterward about possibly running up the score, he had this to say:

"They've got their tails tucked between their legs and they're going home, which is just the way it should be. They're the dumbest, most undisciplined, stupid football team we've ever played. We don't like their team. We don't like their people. And when you get a chance to do it, you do it. I wish it was a five-quarter game."

#18

Sam Wyche