The Kid in the Coliseum

It was my first day on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum field, running an out pattern and catching a pass thrown by one of my early childhood Ram heroes in front of my father. I was the kid in the coliseum.

It was my only time on the field and the pass was thrown by defensive back Clancey Williams, one of six Rams players present for the event to meet with young fans that day. My father had received 2 tickets for the event and brought his oldest son along, which fortunately was me, just shy of my 9th birthday.

June 28, 1970, according to the dated photos, printed on the back of the images when developed.

The afternoon was about a new season, in 1969 the Rams, coached by George Allen and led by league MVP quarterback Roman Gabriel had reached the playoffs only to fall in Minnesota, their first of several cold-weather playoff losses to the Vikings.

We listened in groups as each player imparted some wisdom which has long since escaped me, we ran some light drills and got our player autographs.

As noted earlier the following pictures were taken with an Instamatic camera, not digital. My father, though a huge Rams fan, was quite frugal, a much more common trait then. He brought that Instamatic and did not need to purchase a roll of film, as there were still seven shots left on the film roll loaded inside, with six players all he needed were six pictures. No need to buy more film, how many pictures could he need? See his logic? Well, it was common then, nobody took selfies, pictures of their meals or videos.

With the recent discovery of these photographs, after 45 plus years let’s go back and review the afternoon, the Rams I met that day, with a brief bio and my father’s camera work.

Alvin Haymond #23-

Kick-off/ punt returner and my favorite player at the time, Alvin Haymond returned the second-half kickoff on opening day 1970 for a touchdown against the St. Louis Cardinals in the Coliseum, I read all about it, because that game, like many Rams home games in that era, was blacked out locally.
You can just make me out, my cowlick is at the bottom of the photo to the right, just under the sun hat. My father did get Haymond centered.

Doug Woodlief #57-

Linebacker and career Ram Doug Woodlief, after just completing his 5th and most productive season with the team, it was also his last. He had started 11 games the prior season, coach George Allen was big on defense, but he liked older experienced defenses.
This time, if you look to the bottom left of the frame. See the cowlick? That’s me.

Jack Pardee #32-

The Rams linebacker, who is the only person to be a head football coach in college, the Canadian Football League, the World Football League, the United States Football League, and the National Football League. My father’s picture was taken as Pardee was looking down and signing my autograph sheet, there was one extra exposure in the camera but, it was not going to be used unless absolutely necessary.
I was with Jack Pardee, look there’s my cowlick!

Clancy Williams #24-

Cornerback and career Ram, Clancy was throwing passes to us earlier. My best guess is that is my arm waving the autograph sheet in Clancy’s face, dad may have been getting more comfortable with the camera.
I don’t see my cowlick here.

Nate Shaw #44-

Defensive back, an All-American in college out of USC, Shaw was beginning his second and final year with the Rams and in the league.
Bam! Cowlick, right there in front.

Ritchie Petitbon #17-

Defensive back Petitbon had quite a career with the Chicago Bears and Rams. It appears I was wearing Packer colors to the event, only coincidentally, back then nobody had NFL jerseys.
There’s one final glimpse of the cowlick!

Sometimes a picture or pictures don’t have to say a thousand words each, for me as a kid my father made this day memorable. After 21 years in the mid-west, the Rams are back in Los Angeles, I missed them having them here the entirety of their time away.

I’d also welcome my cowlick back if it decided to return.

More LA Rams history coming, thank you.

*Note, there was an additional photo, tight end Bob Klein is not included in this story, his photo like the others does include the back of the author’s head.

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