The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
FROM OUR READERS There were many great things shared about Steve at his funeral by his family and friends. Ty Law, Jarrett Irons and Deollo Anderson shared stories about Steve when they were at Michigan. Deollo mentioned how Steve had motivated him to finish his degree. Coach Lloyd Carr spoke and shared a story about how Steve mentored Aaron Shea when he was struggling adjusting to college as a freshman. Steve was still mentoring and mo- tivating people up until he passed away. He was coaching football as the defensive coordinator at Evan- ston High School in Evanston, Ill. Everyone who spoke at the funeral had the same common theme about Steve. He was a great person who wanted to mentor and help other people, which he did all his life. It was very sad reading all the Facebook posts from the kids Steve mentored and coached, but at the same time, it was great testament to the kind of person Steve was. All of us who got to know Steve became better all around people due to him. Steve was a true "Michigan Man" through and through and loved the Wolverines. Steve was born on July 27, wore No. 27 at Michigan and passed away on June 27. There is something special about that num- ber. I'm still in disbelief that Steve is gone, but he helped so many people in the limited time he was in this world. Here is to you Steve King. You will be missed by your wife, two daughters and grandson, your fam- ily, your teammates/coaches, all the players/people you have mentored through the years, and all of your friends. On June 27, the world lost not only a great player, but more im- portantly, a great human being. Rest in peace Steve King and Go Blue. Gary Roberts Chicago Thanks for writing, Gary. We'd add condolences to Steve's family and football family from the staff here. THANKS FOR REVIVING '64 Dear The Wolverine: I really enjoyed the article in the 2014 Football Preview on the 1964 Big Ten football champs. Bob Timber- lake had it exactly right: they were student-athletes in the best sense of that term. Here's an example. The center on that team was Brian Patchen from Steubenville, Ohio. They listed Brian in the program as weighing 220, but by the end of the season he was lucky to reach 200. Among other Big Ten linemen with whom Brian went nose to nose was Illinois' Dick Butkus, 250 pounds of meanness, and Brian acquitted himself quite well. While Butkus went on to the Chicago Bears and the Hall of Fame, Brian went on to graduate from Michigan Law School and has been an outstand- ing attorney in Miami, Fla., for many years. One interesting fact missed was the role Sigma Chi fraternity played in connection with that team. By my memory, over a dozen members of the team were Sigs, including cap-