By Dave DeLand
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Voices from the past included his own. Voices of the present paid tribute to his legendary career and innovative impact, his competitive spirit and spirited compassion. Voices referencing the future advocated for honoring, preserving and expanding on that legacy.
And
John Gagliardi smiled through it all – not just because he had become the first member of Saint John's University's J-Club Hall of Honor, but because of the love and gratitude that poured forth from those surrounding him.
"I think it's important for John to hear what impact he's had on people's lives," said Mike Grant '79, himself part of a legendary football coaching family and master of ceremonies for the Sept. 22 event at SJU's Guild Hall.
"He's not just a national treasure – he's also a personal treasure for each of us," said former Johnnie standout and White House chief of staff Denis McDonough '92 via video message. "We've all been impacted by John."
"There's something unbelievable about being first," added Saint John's athletic director
Bob Alpers '80. "And doggone it, John, if anybody deserves to be the first inductee into this Hall of Honor, it is you."
Gagliardi, wife Peggy and members of their family entered Guild Hall to a standing ovation from a crowd gathered to honor the man and the lives he touched during six decades as the Johnnies' coach.
"This is unique to us," said Todd Fultz '90. "This is ours – to have a coach that's the all-time winningest coach in the history of college football."
"He changed my life," said Tom Wicka '90.
"John has the heart of a champion," added Joe Mucha '66, a member of the first two of Gagliardi's four national championship teams. "That really became part of our personality. You've instilled that in all of us."
The opening words of the presentation were Gagliardi's own, taken from film clips of previous speaking engagements:
• "Behind every successful guy is a very, very surprised mother-in-law."
• "When we first got married, I said, 'Peggy, I don't know that much about marriage, but I've been coaching for a while. Let's handle this like I handle football – I'll make all the major decisions, and you make the minor decisions.' I'm here to tell you there's not been one major decision that's come up yet."
They were followed by a litany of voices, all of whom recounted the impact Gagliardi made on their lives – athletically, professionally, personally, profoundly.
There were filmed tributes from McDonough, Tom Love '59, Bill Laliberte '70 and from ESPN's 2014 video "Saint John."
There were personal tributes from those in attendance – Grant and Alpers, friends Norm Skalicky and Dan Whalen '70, Gagliardi Trophy winners Chris Palmer '96 and Blake Elliott '03 and Carter Hanson '17, coaches
Jerry Haugen '76 and
Jim Gagliardi '89 and
Brandon Novak '00, former players Mucha and Tim Healy '87 and Vic Moore '72 and Fultz and Wicka and Willie Seiler '94.
It was a fitting launch for the Hall of Honor, which will physically be located inside Warner Palaestra and will recognize individual and team excellence in Johnnie athletics. It also was a fitting occasion for the debut of the
John Gagliardi Football Legacy Fund, which hopes to raise $3 million during its first 18 months for football program enhancements – stadium, coaching staff, equipment, recruitment.
"We want to honor John for the program that he built, the success that he's had and the incredible impact he had on so many players and fans," Healy said. "We're all here because of that impact."
"It's really important," McDonough added, "that we redouble our efforts to make sure that John knows and has confidence that his legacy will continue."
There's much more to come for the J-Club Hall of Honor, which on Feb. 16 will induct long-time Saint John's basketball coach
Jim Smith as part of its inaugural class. More inductions will follow.
"The J-Club board is going to be busy. We've got a lot of catching up to do," Alpers said. "But there's absolutely no question we would not have this unless John consented to be the first."
