Farewell to Boss Hog

Joe Bugel was yelling at the team in the gravelly voice, sparing them no mercy or curse words. The offensive line coach wanted hard work as the linemen hit the blocking sled and wanted it now.

- Rick Snider

Get in the dirt, you bunch of hogs, he said. And a legacy began. Coach Joe Gibbs gets most of the credit behind the dynasty that won three Super Bowls and four NFC Championships. Defensive coordinator Richie Petitbon was largely lauded and became Gibbs’ successor for one year. But Bugel was the heart and soul of that famed coaching staff by turning out great offensive lines no matter who was playing.

Bugel’s death on June 28 at the age of 80 brought remembrances of a simple man who merely wanted everything people could give and returning everything he had. Nobody stayed on the practice field longer than Bugel’s unit, running the steep hill near the locker room while others were already in the showers.