CLOSE

Thinking back to the coaching career of Darryl Rogers, who won at Michigan State but who wrestled with the Detroit Lions. Video by Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press.
Wochit

Darryl Rogers, the former Michigan State Detroit Lions and the head coach who made a name for him thanks to his heavy passes and his keen mind will always be considered co even an innovator and a friend of football, said Wednesday Kirk Gibson, former receiver of MSU, at the radio station Lansing WTQX-FM Wednesday. "His passing is disappointing," said Gibson, who has blossomed in a College Football College of Fame under Rogers' leadership before a successful career in Major League Baseba ll. But I can tell you that I feel so good about Darryl: the good discussions, the great closing, his mind so powerful that he will continue to work magic with us all.

Rogers died Wednesday morning at the age of 83. A cause of death was not immediately available. His family is expected to issue a statement on Thursday, his granddaughter Samantha Dawson told the Free Press. Funeral arrangements are pending.

"Our thoughts and prayers are going to Darryl Rogers and his family in this difficult time," said MSU football coach Mark Dantonio in a statement. "Coach Rogers … was, in many ways, an offensive pioneer in college football.I was honored to have had the opportunity to talk to him over and over throughout my life. Stay here and he's always supported me a lot.He loved the state of Michigan and will be forever a Spartan. "

For more: L & # Story behind the quote from "Arrogant Asses" by Darryl Rogers

-1979, left for the Arizona State before the 1980 season, then coached the Lions from 1985 to 1988, his only stint in the NFL.

He also studied at Fresno State (1969-1972) and San Jose State (1973 -75), and finished 24-18-2 at MSU after replacing Dennis Stolz , who left the program on probation for the recruitment of violations.

Darryl Rogers, left, with the sec Dan Bass ripper Rogers was the coach of the MSU Spartans from 1976 to 1979. (Photo: Photo File / Lansing State Journal)

The Rogers Attack on the way was an instant hit . He was named Big Ten Big Ten Coach in 1977, and the Spartans shared the Big Ten title in 1978 with Michigan, which he called "arrogant donkeys" at the time. a football banquet that same year.

"He was tossed to push the ball into the air," said Gibson, who left MSU holding school records for receptions (112), receiving yards (2,347) and touchdown receptions (24). ). "We knew it, we practiced it, we practiced it and we practiced it, it is special and its spirit is in us all."

To find out more: How did football it been taught? The tiger Kirk Gibson was attacking the curved bullets of life

Rogers had a career record of 129-84-7 as a university coach, but his success did not translate into the NFL. – His best with the Lions – and finished 18-40 more than three seasons.

His .310 winning percentage was the third worst for a full time Lions coach in the Super Bowl era, behind only Marty Mornhinweg (.156) and Rod Marinelli (.208).

He became so bad under Rogers that he asked the media: "What does a coach have to do to get fired around here?"

He was fired 11 ga mes in the 1988 season. Wayne Fontes took over, and this April, Lions recruited Barry Sanders to third. "We are deeply saddened to learn of Darryl's passing," Lions owner Martha Ford said Wednesday in a statement. "On behalf of my family and the entire organization of the Detroit Lions, I would like to express our sincerest sincerity, sympathy to his wife, Marsha, and the Rogers family."

Here's how some reacted to the passage of Rogers on social networks: