Jamal Anderson Wishes Former Utah Football Head Coach Ron McBride A Happy Birthday
Oct 14, 2022, 2:15 PM
BYU coach LaVell Edwards and Utah Coach Ron McBride greet each other before the game at Rice Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, Friday, November 24, 2000. (Courtesy of Johanna Workman/Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Johanna Workman/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY- Former Utah head football coach Ron McBride turns 83 years old today and former Utah running back Jamal Anderson sent his coach well-wishes for another year along with a photo of the two from “back in the day”.
Happy Birthday Coach Mac! Much love. Go Utes! ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/d7oQHNH7Kp
— Jamal Anderson (@jamthedirtybird) October 14, 2022
Ron McBride’s Birthday, A Time To Celebrate A Living Legend
Most know Ron McBride as Utah football’s Godfather- a man who took a team with potential unrealized and began to make it what it always could have been. What many people may not also realize is coach Mac is so much more than that to the people whose lives he touched.
McBride was a father to those who needed one and a bonus father to those who didn’t. He was his player’s biggest cheerleader, encourager, and advocator. When his guys needed someone to show up for whatever reason- a reference for a job, a wedding, a funeral, the birth of a child, a graduation- McBride was always there and it never mattered how long it had been since he last spoke to someone, or how big their stat line was. If you put in the work and did the best you could, McBride would continue to have your back.
McBride was and is a leader of men. Now retired from coaching, McBride has dedicated his time to giving back to the Salt Lake Community with his Ron McBride Foundation and he doesn’t have to look very hard or long for help. Players from all decades, regardless of if they played for him or not heed the call whenever McBride sends it out.
Just rolling with some @Utah_Football legends this morning at the @rmacfoundation golf tournament. #GoUtes #UteProud pic.twitter.com/ZP6n5pOtE5
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) June 27, 2022
It is easy to fall into the trap of measuring a coach by their stats and McBride’s are certainly good with an 88-63 record with the Utes that puts him as the third winningest coach in program history behind current head coach Kyle Whittingham and Ike Armstrong. However, what truly makes McBride special is the love and continued adoration from his players years after everyone stopped playing.
