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By RICK STROUD
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 12, 2001
TAMPA -- Standing on the practice field where it all began, the only coach other than John McKay to take the Buccaneers to the playoffs three times in four seasons remembered his predecessor Monday.
According to Bucs coach Tony Dungy, McKay's decision to make Doug Williams the first black quarterback selected in the first round of the 1978 draft was his most courageous.
"I will always be so respectful of Coach McKay for that, because in my mind, he went and did what he thought was best for the franchise," Dungy said of the Bucs' first coach, who died Sunday of complications from diabetes. "For an African-American, looking back at USC and what he did there, playing a black quarterback (in Tampa Bay) and black players in general at a time when it wasn't all that popular, I think he just showed everybody if you get good players and good people, it doesn't matter where they play or where you put them or who they are, if they do their job, that's what you're looking for. To me, that's what he always represented.
"I just had so much respect for what he did and what he stood for. I think he did a lot at USC and a lot here for African-American players and coaches."
Although McKay, who died Sunday from kidney failure, was not a frequent visitor to One Buc Place after his retirement, he offered encouragement to Dungy in his first NFL coaching season when the Bucs started 1-8.
"He was very supportive and I think one of the few guys in Tampa who was happy we ran the ball out of the I-formation," Dungy said. "I'll always have a soft spot for him because of that. But he was very supportive, especially for me early on. Especially when we were struggling and trying to get going, he would come over -- and he didn't come over that much -- but when he did, it was always with encouragement. And he would say, "You've got a good system, stick with what you believe. Don't worry about pleasing anybody else. Do what you think is best for the team,' and I always appreciated that."
Dungy said McKay's handprint remains on the Bucs in the principles of his son, general manager Rich McKay.
"I think the greatest thing for us right now is that Rich grew up underneath him and saw a lot of college football from his dad's eyes and a lot of pro football from his dad's eyes," Dungy said. "I think my thoughts are more for a friend of mine who lost his dad more than anything else. But Coach McKay certainly had so much to do with this franchise starting up, getting to where it got. Not only that, but college football and pro football, also. We're losing a great coach and somebody who contributed a lot. But more than that for me are my feelings for Rich and his family."
Funeral services will be private, but those wishing to pay respects to the McKay family may do so between 3-5 p.m. Wednesday at St. Lawrence Church, Higgins Hall, 5225 Himes Ave., Tampa. Donations may be made to: John McKay Fund, USC Athletic Department, c/o Don Winston, Senior Associated Athletic Director, Heritage Hall 203A, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0602.
TAMPA -- Bucs receiver Reidel Anthony rolled his left ankle chasing a pass from quarterback Brad Johnson on Monday and will miss the final three practices of voluntary workouts.
Anthony, a first-round draft pick in 1997 who took a pay cut this off-season, was carried off the field by trainers after landing poorly.
The workouts end Thursday. Players report for training camp July 29. Anthony is expected to be ready by then.
CARDINALS: Running back Michael Pittman was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after an argument with his estranged wife. The argument began Sunday after Pittman arrived at his wife's apartment in suburban Tempe, Ariz., to babysit their 1-year-old son, a police spokesman said. GIANTS: Running back Joe Montgomery will miss the season after tearing his left Achilles' tendon during practice. Montgomery was injured in a non-contact passing drill.
REDSKINS: Raleigh McKenzie, a 16-year guard, signed a contract so he could retire today from the franchise that he spent a decade with during its glory years of the '80s and early '90s.
- Staff writer Roger Mills and Times wires contributed to this report.