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A Chance Meeting with an LA Ram

Submitted by Jim Wogan on March 3, 2011 - 12:00pm

Bill Wade won an NFL title with the Chicago Bears in 1963. But before that, he was a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams.

Even though the team no longer exists,  I am still a huge Los Angeles Rams fan. 

My love of the team dates back to the days I'd watch them play the Sunday late game on CBS (circa 1968) and see sunshine splashed across the Coliseum as Roman Gabriel threw passes to Jack Snow and Deacon Jones chased opposing quarterbacks.

There were usually large piles of snow outside our living room window. 

I met Bill Wade in 1994 while covering a UT-Vanderbilt game in Nashville. I was introducted to him by veteran Knoxville sports columnist Bob Gilbert.

Wade played quarterback for the Commodores from 1949-1952. He was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 1952, is a member of the Vanderbilt Sports Hall of Fame and considered one of the best athletes to ever come out of the state of Tennessee.

A few weeks after our meeting in 1994, Mr. Wade sent me this photo. It shows him playing quarterback for the Rams, surrounding by running backs Ollie Matson and Dick Bass. I've had the photo for a long time, and now, thanks to blogs and technology and stuff like that, I get to share it.