"Charley Pell's Hall of Fame legacy of fighting depression keeps giving"

[Chechem]

Click here for link

The football accomplishments that make Charley Pell worthy of induction this week in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame fill his ASHOF biography.

There was the All-SEC career as a two-way lineman at Alabama under Bear Bryant. The second-place Division II national finish at Jacksonville State. The building blocks established while coaching Clemson and Florida.

Here's what's not mentioned.

The phone call Pell received from a stranger saying the ex-coach had saved his son's life. As described by Pell's widow, Ward Pell, the stranger was watching "Dateline NBC" as Charley discussed his 1994 suicide attempt and coping with depression. The man went to get his depressed son to watch and found him on his bed with a pistol in his hand. The son got help....

[BAMAWV]

I get caught with the pistol in my hand 6-8 times a day. The woman says to quit being so overly dramatic, but I'll show her!

Sar

[Merk]

I get caught with the pistol in my hand 6-8 times a day. The woman says to quit being so overly dramatic, but I'll show her!

Sar

Showing off that hog leg of yours again, WV?

 

[BAMAWV]

I get caught with the pistol in my hand 6-8 times a day. The woman says to quit being so overly dramatic, but I'll show her!

Sar

Now 9 times for today, thanks to that loss to Fordham!

[ricky023]

I can say we lose a of veterans this way also. It is sad that anybody does this, cause my dad did it and it took me 30 years to get over it. Finally when I accepted Jesus and my life became a more pure time in my life did I come understand why he did what he did. He had Cancer and would not be waited on and lay in some bed being embarrassed for being a weak person. Yes, my dad was a Farmer who help rise his siblings with his mom. He could could not be served but was here to serve. God Bless for bringing this story out. RTR!

[SUPERCOACH]

I'm sorry to hear about that Ricky.  How old where you when your dad passed away?

[BAMAWV]

I can say we lose a of veterans this way also. It is sad that anybody does this, cause my dad did it and it took me 30 years to get over it. Finally when I accepted Jesus and my life became a more pure time in my life did I come understand why he did what he did. He had Cancer and would not be waited on and lay in some bed being embarrassed for being a weak person. Yes, my dad was a Farmer who help rise his siblings with his mom. He could could not be served but was here to serve. God Bless for bringing this story out. RTR!

Bless both of your hearts.      for others.

[ricky023]

I'm sorry to hear about that Ricky.  How old where you when your dad passed away?

I was 19 in Service and ready to go to Vietnam. One really scared lil rat! Anybody says they wasn't is lieing or didn't go. RTR!

[SUPERCOACH]

I'm sorry to hear about that Ricky.  How old where you when your dad passed away?

I was 19 in Service and ready to go to Vietnam. One really scared lil rat! Anybody says they wasn't is lieing or didn't go. RTR!

That must have been rough.  My dad was over there.  He came home, but he was never the same man again.  He died of natural causes about 10 years ago, but he struggled with the mental anguish encountered over there his entire life.

[pmull]

It sounds like he did some good work fighting depression but to most people Pell will always be remembered as "Cheating Charley". He left Clemson after the 78 season to take the Florida job. Clemson was placed on probation a few years later for recruiting volations which happened when Pell was coach. He was fired from Florida in mid season. He was found to have violated 95 infractions and the Gators were placed on 2 years probation. That is not Hall of Fame stuff IMHO.

[Guest]

Username:
Password:
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

There aren't any users online.

Loading Tweet...