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'Undefeated' Gruden eager to get going
© St. Petersburg Times
TAMPA -- The most popular man in the Tampa Bay area stands prepared to risk it all. Jon Gruden is ready, thank you very much. In the past five months, he has spent more time in seclusion than Howard Hughes, and he has watched more films than Roger Ebert. Of course he is ready for training camp. Gruden stood in a skybox at Raymond James Stadium during media day on Wednesday. He talked about training camp, then looked at his watch and scowled, as if he could speed it up, which says either that Gruden expects a heck of a lot from his training camp or a heck of a lot from his watch. Maybe both. Gruden is a coach on the brink of obsession, and a new season, and he is prepared to proceed with both. In some ways, you want to tell Gruden to slow down, to enjoy these days where his popularity requires its own area code. These days, he is football coach, offensive guru, future governor, honorary Beatle. Later, once the season begins, some of those designations may change. For now, however, Gruden's approval rating is off the charts. He couldn't be more popular if he invented the eight-point touchdown. As of Wednesday, he had been on the job 150 days, and no one is ready to call the Raiders and ask for change. Every day, Gruden becomes more popular. He is twice as popular now as when you started to read this column, and by the time you put it down, he will be twice as popular again. The two most popular words around Tampa Bay are "Jon" and "Gruden." Not necessarily in that order. If you wish to start a conversation, mention his name. Co-workers will knock over desks joining in. It's strange, because Gruden has worked at his popularity less than any coach the Bucs have had. Remember when Sam Wyche came to town, determined to shake every hand that had fingers attached? He was a politician, and he was willing to drive by your house on the way to work and kiss your baby. Remember Tony Dungy, whose voice was the calming influence in a storm when the franchise was threatening to move? He was a healer, and he wanted very much for you to know that things were going to be all right. Gruden? He has been a football coach. He has been in his office, watching game films, calling free agents, implementing an offense. And the fans with all of those unshaken hands? They've cheered his name all the more for it. "Don't forget, Jon didn't need to do those things like the others," general manager Rich McKay said. "When Sam came, when Tony came, the organization was not real well-liked in the community. We hadn't been winning. We needed someone to drum up support for us, and both of them did very well. "Jon is the kind of person who wanted to immerse himself in the job. And it was a good fit, because people felt better about the organization." It is safe to say there have been few points in its history when more people were more excited by the Bucs than now, 10 days from their first training camp with Gruden. By and large, the impression is that Gruden is the coach to take this team the final mile to the championship. Fans like his enthusiasm, his intensity, his resume, his background. They like that he is an offensive coach. This is what Gruden is risking by allowing the NFL to begin keeping score. Right now, it is heresy to suggest the Bucs may have to punt this year and blasphemy to suggest they lose a game. For years, Bucs fans have believed their team was going to win the Super Bowl. This year, they believe the Bucs won't only win it, they'll run up the score on whoever shows up to play them. "I'm kind of cautious about this popularity stuff," Gruden says. "We're undefeated right now, you know." Granted. Soon, there will be decisions to debate. Who will start at quarterback? How much playing time will Mike Alstott get? Is the defense going to rebound? Why did Gruden run a draw play on third-and-5 that dared to gain only 4? Popularity is a very bright color that fades a little every day. That said, so far, Gruden hasn't hit a sour note. People like what they see. He has recruited new stars. He has won the loyalty of old ones. He has make lions lay down with lambs and Keyshawns lunch with Sapps. "Fans want someone to win, and someone to give them hope," McKay said. "Jon does that." Why? Offense is more exciting than defense. Veterans are more exciting than rookies. Up-tempo is more exciting than methodical. Chucky is more exciting than Mr. Spock. "Relentless" is the word McKay uses for Gruden. Gruden uses the word "demented." Either way, fans would rather a coach be in the office at 4 a.m. splicing game tapes than preparing his jokes for the luncheon for the Royal Order of the Yaks. To date, Gruden hasn't done a single luncheon. He hasn't filmed a commercial. He has been employed for 3,600 hours. "Of those," McKay said, "he's been in his office about 3,200." Fans are fickle, and expectations are enormous. Soon, someone will question Gruden. Not long afterward, someone may criticize. Somewhere along the way, if Gruden ever settles for a field goal instead of a touchdown, someone might boo.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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