Coach Bob Sang - Marvin Wetzel Interview

MARVIN WETZEL
Relationship to Sang: Marshall teammate (1946-49).
Hometown: Mannington, W.Va.
Resides: Denver, Colo.
Occupation: Retired teacher/coach. Most recently coached football, track and wrestling at Trinidad (Colo.) State Junior College, which brought him to Colorado in the early 1960s.

IN HIS WORDS

Wetzel, like so many others at the time, went to college after serving in World War II. He played fullback and defensive back for the Big Green and found himself behind Bob Sang blocks on the few times he carried the ball from the Single-Wing formation of Coach Cam Henderson.

"Bob was a conscientious student of the game and a wonderful teammate.He knew all the blocks. Now he didn't get all of them, but he knew them. I'm one of those who's never seen anybody give 100 percent in a ball game, but Bob gave a good shot at it ever time he went on that field."

Wetzel had a way of bringing out some "orneriness" in his teammate, regardless of where they were.

"We had a history class together. I'd come in a sock him in the arm every now and then and then sit down. He'd come and pop me back and Dr.Chapman, a sweet little lady, would always catch him, but not me. She got all over him. I got him in trouble like that all the time."

Some of that demeanor may have come from a pint of blood Wetzel donated to Sang when the latter was shot chasing an intruder while he served as a night security guard at a local factory. Sang lost a kidney in the incident, but his teammates were there to help with the recovery. "We went up to the hospital that night, and I recognized him by his toes sticking out from the sheets. I gave him a pint of blood and he always claimed that's what made him so ornery."

The two remained close until Sang's death. They often would talk about his high school teams and players, and Wetzel could tell Sang's dedication to players was just as strong at is retirement as when he started.

"He deserved all the attention he received when he retired. Having that field named after him and then the statue, which is a tremendous likeness, it was appropriate. I used to kid him that he should just run the Single-wing of the Old Man (Henderson). He never went too far from those principles, but he was ahead of the game.

"He spent a lifetime coaching in high school and was able to make a tremendous difference for so many kids. That may have been what he was most proud of. Seeing his players become men and visit years later, he talked a lot about that a lot. He always liked to see the boys."

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Marvin Wetzel Interview MARVIN WETZEL Relationship to Sang: Marshall teammate (1946-49). Hometown: Mannington, W.Va. Resides: Denver, Colo. Occupation: Retired teacher/coach. Most recently coached football, track and wrestling at Trinidad (Colo.) State Junior College, which brought him to Colorado in the early 1960s. IN HIS WORDS Wetzel, like so many others at the time, went to college after serving in World War II. He played fullback and defensive back for the Big Green and found himself behind Bob Sang blocks on the few times he carried the ball from the Single-Wing formation of Coach Cam Henderson. "Bob was a conscientious student of the game and a wonderful teammate.He knew all the blocks. Now he didn't get all of them, but he knew them. I'm one of those who's never seen anybody give 100 percent in a ball game, but Bob gave a good shot at it ever time he went on that field." Wetzel had a way of bringing out some "orneriness" in his teammate, regardless of where they were. "We had a history class together. I'd come in a sock him in the arm every now and then and then sit down. He'd come and pop me back and Dr.Chapman, a sweet little lady, would always catch him, but not me. She got all over him. I got him in trouble like that all the time." Some of that demeanor may have come from a pint of blood Wetzel donated to Sang when the latter was shot chasing an intruder while he served as a night security guard at a local factory. Sang lost a kidney in the incident, but his teammates were there to help with the recovery. "We went up to the hospital that night, and I recognized him by his toes sticking out from the sheets. I gave him a pint of blood and he always claimed that's what made him so ornery." The two remained close until Sang's death. They often would talk about his high school teams and players, and Wetzel could tell Sang's dedication to players was just as strong at is retirement as when he started. "He deserved all the attention he received when he retired. Having that field named after him and then the statue, which is a tremendous likeness, it was appropriate. I used to kid him that he should just run the Single-wing of the Old Man (Henderson). He never went too far from those principles, but he was ahead of the game. "He spent a lifetime coaching in high school and was able to make a tremendous difference for so many kids. That may have been what he was most proud of. Seeing his players become men and visit years later, he talked a lot about that a lot. He always liked to see the boys."


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