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Published on 01/06/2009 at Tue Jan 06 13:19.
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Reflecting on Change

Posted Tue Jan 6th by

I was initially taken back when, over holiday dinner, my mother asked me if I were going to follow Mike Shanahan or the Broncos from this point forward. I instantly replied, “the Broncos.” And it wasn’t until much later that I reflected on why she had asked me that question at all.

See, I am not a Denver native (I’ve only visited Colorado once in fact) so my fandom doesn’t come from home-town loyalty. My love from all things Orange & Blue began in the 80’s with a quarterback named Elway. It seems ironic, now, that one asked me if I would continue to follow the Broncos when Elway retired. But then, I guess, by the time Elway retired he had become only one of a pantheon of players and coaches I loved on the team – and it was easy to continue cheering for guys like Rod Smith and TD and the rest.

However, upon further review, I’d have to say that it was Shanahan that bridged that gap in my fandom. Shanahan coached us to two Super Bowl victories at the end of the Elway Era. But he also was a constant in Denver during a time when the NFL began to be called the Not For Long league. When players would leave Denver or retire, Mike Shanahan was always there – providing fans with a consistent identity and face for the team they loved. Looking back, I have to admit that it was Shanahan that allowed me to ‘keep the faith’ through many of those ‘bad’ years we had between Elway and the rise of our new offense. And for providing the Broncos with a stable and calm captain through those stormy years, I will always appreciate him.

But we are now entering a new era. As we pointed out last year, Tom Nalen was the very last player from our Super Bowl team remaining on our roster. With his departure, there remain no players on our team that took the field for those two championship victories. Over 11 years we’ve lost our old favorites and developed new talent. I think most of us believe we’re solidly stepping into this new Denver era with stunningly talented young men that will make us a dominate force for years to come.

So, now that we’ve bridged the gap between our glorious past and a promising future, maybe this is the best time for Pat Bowlen to make this change. Either way, I truly thank Mike Shanahan and wish him well.

Let’s never forget that Shanahan gave us some of the best memories a fan could ask for. And he also lead this team with compassion and heart-felt emotion through some of it’s toughest times. Thank you, Mike, for all you’ve given to this franchise and us – the fans.

And now, for us Bronco fans, let’s hope this new era is filled with even more success than we enjoyed under Shanahan.

GO BRONCOS!

  • Eric in Vegas

    For those of us who remember the Dan Reeves days, Mike Shanahan always represented “Hope” as it were. When he was Elway’s QB Coach, we always hoped he would take the reins from Reeves one day, and when he took the Oakland job it was like a stab through the heart. Then we were mired in the Wade Phillips era until Shanahan came in and helped get us to the Promised Land, as we always hoped he would.

    After a week of shock, I’ve accepted the change that’s come to Denver, though I think it would have happened after another year, regardless. But I will always remember the Mike Shanahan days fondly, especially since I’m old enough to remember the pre-Shanahan days and how heart-breaking (MUCH worse than the past few years) they were.

  • TD30isMVP

    I was on board as a Craig Morton fan and I can remember signs in yards begging the broncos not to win the playoff game so we did not have to suffer through another SuperBowl. Thank you Mike for letting us hold our heads high for those magical few years.

  • ssc

    jonathan, my wife almost immediately asked me the same thing. i answered “i don’t know” but as the grief wears off, i think the answer is clearly “the broncos,” especially if they get a great defensive-minded coach (i’m old school and prefer a ferocious D if we have to choose one side to dominate). i did live in denver in the 80s however, so her question related more to my man-love for shanahan, defensive warts/blindness notwithstanding.

  • (stuck in) raiderland

    Jonathan– Loved this post. I was one of the folks calling for an end to the Shannahan era, but I always tried to emphasize that I have all the respect in the universe for Shanny and am grateful for the fantastic years. I agreed wholeheartedly with Bowlen’s decision (and the timing of it) but I also think– even hope, so long as it’s not another AFC West team– that Shanny will be very successful for another franchise. I just didn’t see it happening anymore in Denver. The run seemed to me to be over; for whatever reason he seemed to have lost the ability to get the team ready to play, and couldn’t figure out how to make any progress defensively. But that’s no reason not to be grateful and proud of what a great run it was.

  • jchase8410

    Thanks Shanny, but how many “let’s look at the past” posts are we going to have before we all decide to move on. I paid my respect to the man, thanked him for what he has done, and now I’m ready to move into the future of the broncos.

    This is an exciting time for us, filled with mystery. intrigue, and speculation. Nobody knows for sure which candidate is going to get the job. I am interested to hear about each new candidate, each interview, each hurried dinner. All these things are like a drug for me. I need to read up on their bios. I long for more information about my favorite team in all of sports.

    Remembering the past is just a buzzkill. I think of all the glory of Denver’s first superbowl win (which I attended, with free tickets luckily) and am elated. Then the mediocre years that followed the superbowl era return , and I’m deflated.

    Let’s focus our attention on the future of the orange and blue now. We all appreciate what Shanny did for the Broncos. We love him for it maybe too much, but for the love pete, let’s move on.

  • Beth in Tacoma

    I expect that most of us will follow both the Broncos and Mike Shanahan’s career and if the football gods are kind we will never have to face a Shanahan-lead team. The one thing I will truly miss will be Mike’s willingness to take a risk, expecially on 4th and inches — to be a Broncos fan is to experience exhileration and exasperation but never boredom.

  • Patrick

    Well spoken Johnathan Douglas.

  • sniperkenny

    Jonathon,
    Love the perspective you have given us. Like I am sure many of us, I was shocked and very surprised by the firing of Mike however I think it may come at a great time. There are a small handful of very good and very capable coaches on the market right now and I think if there was any better time to try and fill Mike’s slot as a coach and as GM now is the time.

    At first I was disappointed with the decision, but as each day continues on I get more and more excited at the oppurtunity the vacancy has created. Because of my excitement I know without a doubt that I am a Broncos fan first and a Mike supporter second.

    Broncos have always looked to grow and improve and that is more evident now then ever! Let’s get the best we can regardless of the price tag! We want to be the best so lets get the best!

    Go Broncos and the return to us looking forward to the later half of the season next year and not having to cross our fingers and hope to be contenders in the playoffs once again!

  • ellis

    I appreciated this article. It’s also my thought.
    During my 2008 trip in Colorado, on the plane from Boston to Denver, a woman near my seat ask me why I’m a Broncos fan. I told her “bacause of Mike Shanahan” one of the greatest head coach in the NFL. Now, show must go on and the Broncos must go on. Go Broncos!