Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell coached with FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger at Louisville in 1985.
‘Not surprised’
Ever since Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell coached on FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger’s staff at Louisville, Schnellenberger has been watching Caldwell’s rise.
Originally published on
2/7/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
> Audio: ESPN 760's Ken LaVicka talks to Jim Caldwell
Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell wasn’t on Howard Schnellenberger’s coaching staff very long.
It was just long enough to make a favorable impression as Schnellenberger recalls Caldwell some 25 years after he hired him.
Schnellenberger gave Caldwell one his first big breaks in coaching in 1985 when he hired him from Colorado State to coach the Cardinals defensive tackles.
Schnelleberger recalled Caldwell as doing a great job.
“He was a smart young fella,” Schnellenberger said. "He was smart and he must have had some great recommendations because after one year he moved up the ladder to Penn State.”
Schnellenberger isn’t shocked to see Caldwell coaching in the Super Bowl, where his Colts team will take on the Saints today at Sun Life Stadium.
“He’s a very intelligent guy,” Schnellenberger said. “He seldom speaks, but when he does it’s with authority. I’m not surprised to see where he is leading the Colts into the Super Bowl.”
And while Schnellenberger has been watching Caldwell’s success, Caldwell has been doing the same thing to Schnellenberger, who was the Colts head coach from 1973-74.
“He’s one of those guys that can turn any situation around,” Caldwell said this week. “At a brand new program he came in took them to a bowl game and won the bowl game. He hasn’t lost a bowl game yet. He’s one of those guys that knows what winning is all about.”
And Caldwell is thankful for the opportunity Schnellenberger gave him in 1985.
The day he was hired a little more than a year ago, Schnellenberger was one of the people Caldwell thanked as he assumed control of the Colts from Tony Dungy.
“Howard is a Bear Bryant clone,” Caldwell said. “He measures his words the same way, a very hard-nosed individual. Let me tell you something, he could probably instill toughness in a teddy bear. He’s one of those guys that really does a great job in terms of setting standards for winning, and he continues to do so even today.”
ESPN760’s Ken Lavicka contributed to this report