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http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1993595/
Yuma High Hall of Famer, Super Bowl champ Curley Culp recalls playing days
Tue. November 04, 2008; Posted: 10:53 AM
addthis_pub = 'tradingmarkets';
Nov 04, 2008 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via
COMTEX) -- CFI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating --
At Yuma High's centennial celebration this plenty weekend, attendees told plenty of stories about legendary defensive lineman Curley Culp.
Some listeners may have even heard these stories for the first time.
Among those who had never heard some of the tall tales of Curley Culp: Curley Culp.
"I heard a lot of Curley Culp stories that have been embellished over the years," Culp said Monday before a Monday Night Football event at Cocopah Casino. "People tell me things that happen that I don't seem to recall. I guess maybe because the length of time between the creation of the story and the matriculation of it all."
One story that changed, Culp said, was of an arm-wrestling exhibition in the cafeteria with an older teammate.
"Somehow the results of that challenge changed over the years to his favor," Culp said before cracking up. "That's true embellishment."
Also, Culp said the quarterback at the time he was a defensive lineman for the Criminals remembered him scoring a touchdown on a tackle-eligible play. He doesn't remember that play.
"The only time I remember playing offense was when I played fullback," said Culp, who played 14 NFL seasons, including helping the Kansas City Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl IV. "They needed a fullback, and this was homecoming, and I remember playing that game because you know linemen always want to run the football. I remember that.
"Stories tend to change over the years as people remember certain events," he said. "It's all in good fun, so it's well taken."
Culp said he was very impressed with the festivities, which included his induction into the Yuma High Athletic Hall of Fame. Culp was a two-time state champion wrestler (1962-1963) and was first-team all state in football in 1963.
"It was a well-done display there," Culp said. "It took a lot of work, and you could see a lot of thought went into putting it all together. I was very pleased with that. ... I don't know whose brainchild that was, but they have to be given kudos for that vision and how it all came together for them.
"I had an opportunity to go to the inductions at Yuma High, and that was quite moving for me," he said. "Just to be back there and see some people I haven't seen in a long, long period of time. Three of my coaches I played for ... and a host of other friends. It was a good affair."
Regardless of the accuracy of Curley Culp stories, he said he was awestruck by the history and enormity of the Yuma High event.
"When you talk about a 100-year duration, that's a long period of time," said Culp, who now resides in Austin, Texas. "A lot of people that were very instrumental in Criminal history were there. So from that standpoint, it was a moving experience. Just being a part of all that was very awesome."
Already a member of the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame -- not to mention the Arizona High School HOF, the National High School Sports HOF, the Arizona Wrestling HOF and Arizona Sports HOF -- this weekend was actually the second induction ceremony in three weeks for Culp.
On Oct. 19 he was enshrined into the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor before the Chiefs' game against the Tennessee Titans -- who used to be the Houston Oilers, who acquired Culp in a trade from the Chiefs.
"They were two different events," Culp said. "You can't compare something done on that level to something done on this level."
Then he added with a good-natured laugh, "Common sense will tell you, what level do you think will be more?"
He said both events were incredible.
"It's been a good swing," Culp said. "The thing in Kansas City was something I knew ahead of time; it wasn't something sprung on me the last minute. I had time to think about it, refresh some old memories. Then when I actually went to the event, the fellas that were on the field in the locker room start embellishing those old stories, it brought things back to life, so to speak.
"Here, the only football story I heard was ... that tackle-eligible catch and that arm-wrestling. But it's all good."
After six years in Kansas City, Culp played for the Oilers and Bum Phillips, who used Culp as nose tackle in the 3-4 defense.
"In Houston I was a nose tackle, and that was a very unique position to play," Culp said. "You're being double-teamed all the time. Bum Phillips was the defensive line coach at the time I was traded from Houston to Kansas City, and he thought I would be the ideal prototype for that position."
Of course, he said he has nothing but good memories of the Chiefs and the Super Bowl win over Minnesota will be one of the strongest memories of his career. The Chiefs have not returned to the Super Bowl since that appearance in 1970.
He also said he is thankful for being relatively healthy -- no major knee, shoulder or other injuries. That is, aside from the regular age-related aches and pains.
Nowadays, Culp (who also played briefly with the Broncos and Lions) said he follows the Cowboys, Titans, Texans, Chargers and the Super Bowl champs -- which this year is the Giants.
He said if he had to choose a team he follows more closely, it's the Cowboys because of their head coach, Wade Phillips, son of Bum and a coach of Culp's in his later years in Houston.
In talking about the Cowboys and their recent woes -- and wether it's because they're missing quarterback Tony Romo or if the offensive line's struggles have been costly -- he let his view of the sport he played for so long come out.
"It's a team sport, and that's important," Culp said. "Sometimes one individual will get the limelight when you're winning, but when it comes right down to it it's a team sport. You need the important skill players, but to put it all together you need a good team."
Nose tackles included?
Then he added, nearly inaudible through his laughter: "Well, that's part of the agreement."
---------------------------------------
I know we talked about him briefly last night.
Did either of you guys know that Wade actually coached him?
Yuma High Hall of Famer, Super Bowl champ Curley Culp recalls playing days
Tue. November 04, 2008; Posted: 10:53 AM
addthis_pub = 'tradingmarkets';
Nov 04, 2008 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via
COMTEX) -- CFI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating --
At Yuma High's centennial celebration this plenty weekend, attendees told plenty of stories about legendary defensive lineman Curley Culp.
Some listeners may have even heard these stories for the first time.
Among those who had never heard some of the tall tales of Curley Culp: Curley Culp.
"I heard a lot of Curley Culp stories that have been embellished over the years," Culp said Monday before a Monday Night Football event at Cocopah Casino. "People tell me things that happen that I don't seem to recall. I guess maybe because the length of time between the creation of the story and the matriculation of it all."
One story that changed, Culp said, was of an arm-wrestling exhibition in the cafeteria with an older teammate.
"Somehow the results of that challenge changed over the years to his favor," Culp said before cracking up. "That's true embellishment."
Also, Culp said the quarterback at the time he was a defensive lineman for the Criminals remembered him scoring a touchdown on a tackle-eligible play. He doesn't remember that play.
"The only time I remember playing offense was when I played fullback," said Culp, who played 14 NFL seasons, including helping the Kansas City Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl IV. "They needed a fullback, and this was homecoming, and I remember playing that game because you know linemen always want to run the football. I remember that.
"Stories tend to change over the years as people remember certain events," he said. "It's all in good fun, so it's well taken."
Culp said he was very impressed with the festivities, which included his induction into the Yuma High Athletic Hall of Fame. Culp was a two-time state champion wrestler (1962-1963) and was first-team all state in football in 1963.
"It was a well-done display there," Culp said. "It took a lot of work, and you could see a lot of thought went into putting it all together. I was very pleased with that. ... I don't know whose brainchild that was, but they have to be given kudos for that vision and how it all came together for them.
"I had an opportunity to go to the inductions at Yuma High, and that was quite moving for me," he said. "Just to be back there and see some people I haven't seen in a long, long period of time. Three of my coaches I played for ... and a host of other friends. It was a good affair."
Regardless of the accuracy of Curley Culp stories, he said he was awestruck by the history and enormity of the Yuma High event.
"When you talk about a 100-year duration, that's a long period of time," said Culp, who now resides in Austin, Texas. "A lot of people that were very instrumental in Criminal history were there. So from that standpoint, it was a moving experience. Just being a part of all that was very awesome."
Already a member of the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame -- not to mention the Arizona High School HOF, the National High School Sports HOF, the Arizona Wrestling HOF and Arizona Sports HOF -- this weekend was actually the second induction ceremony in three weeks for Culp.
On Oct. 19 he was enshrined into the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor before the Chiefs' game against the Tennessee Titans -- who used to be the Houston Oilers, who acquired Culp in a trade from the Chiefs.
"They were two different events," Culp said. "You can't compare something done on that level to something done on this level."
Then he added with a good-natured laugh, "Common sense will tell you, what level do you think will be more?"
He said both events were incredible.
"It's been a good swing," Culp said. "The thing in Kansas City was something I knew ahead of time; it wasn't something sprung on me the last minute. I had time to think about it, refresh some old memories. Then when I actually went to the event, the fellas that were on the field in the locker room start embellishing those old stories, it brought things back to life, so to speak.
"Here, the only football story I heard was ... that tackle-eligible catch and that arm-wrestling. But it's all good."
After six years in Kansas City, Culp played for the Oilers and Bum Phillips, who used Culp as nose tackle in the 3-4 defense.
"In Houston I was a nose tackle, and that was a very unique position to play," Culp said. "You're being double-teamed all the time. Bum Phillips was the defensive line coach at the time I was traded from Houston to Kansas City, and he thought I would be the ideal prototype for that position."
Of course, he said he has nothing but good memories of the Chiefs and the Super Bowl win over Minnesota will be one of the strongest memories of his career. The Chiefs have not returned to the Super Bowl since that appearance in 1970.
He also said he is thankful for being relatively healthy -- no major knee, shoulder or other injuries. That is, aside from the regular age-related aches and pains.
Nowadays, Culp (who also played briefly with the Broncos and Lions) said he follows the Cowboys, Titans, Texans, Chargers and the Super Bowl champs -- which this year is the Giants.
He said if he had to choose a team he follows more closely, it's the Cowboys because of their head coach, Wade Phillips, son of Bum and a coach of Culp's in his later years in Houston.
In talking about the Cowboys and their recent woes -- and wether it's because they're missing quarterback Tony Romo or if the offensive line's struggles have been costly -- he let his view of the sport he played for so long come out.
"It's a team sport, and that's important," Culp said. "Sometimes one individual will get the limelight when you're winning, but when it comes right down to it it's a team sport. You need the important skill players, but to put it all together you need a good team."
Nose tackles included?
Then he added, nearly inaudible through his laughter: "Well, that's part of the agreement."
---------------------------------------
I know we talked about him briefly last night.
Did either of you guys know that Wade actually coached him?
