CSM Alumnus honored

John Earl Madden in Bulldog uniform in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of Voices of CSM/KCSM

CSM alumnus, John Madden shakes hands with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after being inducted into the California Hall of Fame on Dec. 1. Photo courtesy of Rich Pedroncelli/AP

http://media.www.sanmatean.com/media/storage/paper796/news/2009/12/14/News/Csm-Alumnus.Honored-3851565.shtml

Sharon Ho
Issue Date: 12/14/09

Pro Football Hall of Famer John Earl Madden, a CSM alumnus, was one of 13 Californians inducted into the California Hall of Fame on Dec. 1.

Madden, 73, was the offensive lineman for the Bulldogs in 1954 and 1955 before obtaining a scholarship to California Polytechnic State University where he graduated with BS and MS degrees in education in 1959 and 1961.

“I am very happy for coach Madden and proud that we could call him a CSM alumnus,” said CSM President Michael Claire.

When told by the anchor on the Dec. 10 KCBS Daily Madden Show that his alma mater CSM was playing in the State Championship, Madden said that CSM was also “Bill Walsh’s alma mater; Dick Vermeil’s alma mater” and he also wished the Bulldogs good luck.

IMG Worldwide, the company representing Madden, did not respond to queries from The San Matean. His agent, Sandy Montag, and Madden himself could not be reached for comment.

Madden was drafted by National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles in 1958, but a knee injury during a training session ended his NFL career in 1959.

At the age of 33, Madden became the youngest head coach in the American Football League coaching the Oakland Raiders. Madden’s .759 regular season winning percentage is the highest in NFL football history.

After retiring from coaching in 1979, Madden became a television football commentator and analyst known for colorfully punctuating his announcements with known words like “Boom!” and “Bang” and wordsmithing words like “Doink!” and “Whap!.”

“I am proud of him; we take great pride for people who have gone through our program and have encountered success in the field; we are happy for Madden and his family,” said former Bulldogs head coach Larry Owens.

Some of Madden’s Hall of Fame artifacts include the 1997 Super Bowl Trophy, all 20 Madden NFL video game covers from 1989 to 2009, the 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst, one of 16 he won in his football commentator career, and a mini version of the Madden Cruiser.

Madden has a fear of flying and travels around the nation in a coach bus he dubs the “Madden Cruiser.”

Madden retired from NBC Apr. 16 this year, citing the need to spend more time with his family and that his five grandchildren: Sam, 9, Jack, 8, Jesse, 7, Aidan, 6, and McKenna, 5, were old enough to notice whenever he was away on football commentating duties.

Madden lives with his wife Virginia, 75, in Pleasanton, CA. They will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Boxing Day Dec. 26.