Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/621849
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? gion/theology at Moeller while also coaching football. Some questioned how such a feared hitter could make that type of life change. " I f y o u h e a r d some of the things my buddies said to me — they weren't v e r y r e l i g i o u s , " Crable said with a laugh, recalling the reaction people had about him teaching about the works of St. Augustine or The Council of Trent. "Those people who knew me back when they played, there were more than a couple of chuckles out of it." W h e n a c o a c h - i n g s p o t o p e n e d at Notre Dame un- der head coach Bob Davie (1997-2001), Crable's former Irish coach, George Kelly, wanted him to apply. "I went home and talked to my wife about it," Crable recalled. "She said, 'You can do that. If you get it, I'll call you every night. Other than satisfying your own ego, why would you do this?' I didn't have an answer, and when I looked at it from a family standpoint and not knowing what the future would bring, she was dead on." The father of four (two sons and two daughters) had just seen his daughter start high school, and there was stabil- ity with both families in the area. "If I was a single guy, I wouldn't have even thought about not going," Crable said. "She has been a source of good direction for me. We've had our ups and downs, but she's been the love of my life and the person who has been able to lead me by the hand sometimes, and kick me in the rump when I needed it." Over the past eight years, Crable has been the president of his own invest- ment group in real estate and obtained a real estate license to augment the invest- ment side. Older son Brian played offen- sive tackle at Butler before graduating, while youngest son Matthew was red- shirted this season as a quarterback at Grand Valley State, where Brian Kelly's coaching bones were made. With three granddaughters, the 56-year-old Crable finds joy similar to his playing days in college and the pros. "The game has changed a little from the standpoint of there's a lot more 'look at me,' and a lot less 'look at us,'" Crable said. On the field, the opposing offenses always had to look out for Crable. ✦ Among his many pursuits following his six- year NFL career, Crable taught religion/ theology at Cincinnati Moeller High School while also coaching football from 1992- 2007. PHOTO BY BOB CRABLE