Whittingham Facts

[Cougarbib]

After yet another Kyle Whittingham bashing thread I hit google to refresh my memory about his Dad, brothers, and KW himself given that both Kyle and his father, Fred, both played and coached at BYU before coaching at U and his siblings have played at BYU. And, the next generation crop of Whittinghams has already been planted.

I was actually looking for info about Fred Whittingham having been fired by BYU, which I heard way in the past, but have not found the word fired mentioned when he left BYU and Lavell Edwards as DC to coach for The Los Angeles Rams. I will keep looking.

But, I found a plethora of interesting information about Fred Whittingham, Sr., and his descendents.

Perhaps, we can all set the hate aside for this thread, and take a look at the forgotten side of history - Whittingham.

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[Cougarbib]

First and foremost, these Whittinghams technically are not Whittinghams by pure bloodline. There is a provervial asterisk on their genealogy chart - metaphorically speaking.

Fred Whittingham, Sr., was born in Boston, warded to the State, and adopted into the Whittingham family. He became and begat some great athletes, but they do not have one drop of Whittingham blood.

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[Cougarbib]

Fred Whittingham did not originally have any plans whatsoever to play at BYU and he was not LDS. Fate brought him to BYU. Remember - BYU fans love these kind of stories - and this could be one of the most powerful ones ever.

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[Cougarbib]

Fred played at Cal Poly. The Cal Poly team hit a snag returning from a road trip.

Their plane crashed. No train wreck. Just a plane crash. My mind flashed to Buddy Holly and then to the founders of In N Out Burgers when I read this. But there were survivors of this plane crash of note to BYU fans. Fred Whittingham and his Teammate Ted Tollner survived. Yes, that Ted Tollner.

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[Cougarbib]

Fred Whittingham married an LDS girl while at BYU. Years later, he converted to the LDS Church. This baby, warded to the state, adopted at age of nine months, that survived a plane crash, then transferred to BYU as the Cal Poly football program was destroyed by that crash, was blessed by The Lord - and became a faithful member of the LDS Church. He raised a great family, after enjoying a fruitful NFL playing and coaching career and college coaching career that included stints as a coach at BYU under LaVell Edwards and twice at Utah. He died in his sixties in a Provo hospital from complications during back surgery. He lived a life of overcoming unexpected challenges until that last one took his life.

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[Cougarbib]

There have since been so many Whittinghams, that it kind of all runs together in my memories. Fred, Jr. Cary. Kyle. Brady was a receiver.
I remember a lot of Whittingham running plays at BYU. One of the brothers ran like a bowling ball.

Kyle, actually played as a running back his first season - then switched to linebacker. He played in the first four Holiday Bowl Games.

He played briefly in the pros - at USFL level. His only NFL stint was to play for the LA Rams as a replacement player - scab - during the strike. His father had played for the Rams.

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[Cougarbib]

Fred Whittingham hired Kyle at the University of Utah. When Fred left Utah, Kyle replaced him as DC. Years later, Kyle hired his Dad as a position coach until Ron McBridw fired Fred. Fred retired, but encouraged Kyle to stay.

Urban Meyer retained Kyle.

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[Cougarbib]

When Urban Meyer left for money and fame at Florida - Kyle spent 4 days agonizing over whether to be loyal to his employer and players at the U or his alma mater - BYU.

It was a tough decision. He made the right choice. No need to hate.

Kyle fits the U. Bronco fits the Y.

Kyle has had great success and has won national awards including national coach of the year. Since Urban Meyer announced prior to the BCS Bowl game, he and Kyle were co- Head Coach for that game, so Kyle is credited with 2 BCS Bowl wins in the record books.


It all worked out.

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways.

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[ProV1]

Interesting

[ProV1]

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