Letting Lydell tell the tales of the 1975 Baltimore Colts

With the 50th Anniversary of the Baltimore Colts amazing 1975 season being celebrated on Saturday at Union Brewing, it was a thrill to welcome former running back Lydell Mitchell back up the middle to tell Nestor everything he ever wanted to know about Bert Jones and the first team that he loved as a kid on 33rd Street at Memorial Stadium.

Nestor Aparicio interviews Lydell Mitchell about the 1975 Baltimore Colts and Bert Jones. Mitchell reflects on the team’s early struggles, their turnaround in 1975, and the camaraderie among players. He recalls key games, including a 64-yard touchdown run against the Jets and the fog game against the Browns. Mitchell discusses the impact of Bert Jones’ injury and the team’s eventual decline. He also shares personal anecdotes, such as meeting Joe Herman at JCPenney in 1975. The conversation concludes with plans for a reunion at Union Brewing to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Colts.

Lydell Mitchell’s Love for the Baltimore Colts

• Nestor Aparicio introduces the show and mentions the upcoming Cleveland Browns game and the return of Joe Flacco.
• Nestor expresses his love for the 1975 Baltimore Colts, specifically Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, and Roger Carr.
• Nestor shares a personal story about meeting Joe Herman at JCPenney in 1975, which sparked his love for the Colts.
• Nestor mentions an event at the Babe Ruth Museum to honor the 1975 Colts and plans to wear a Baltimore Colts belt buckle.

Lydell Mitchell’s Current Life and Work

• Nestor asks Lydell Mitchell for an update on his life, mentioning that people often ask about him.
• Lydell explains that he is still busy with a company he started with Franco Harris and is winding down but staying active.
• Nestor and Lydell discuss the tradition and culture of the Baltimore Colts, including the early struggles and eventual success in 1975.
• Lydell reflects on the love affair with the city and the small-town mentality that made the experience special.

Memories of the 1975 Colts

• Nestor shares a personal memory of attending a football game where Joe Namath was injured by Stan White.
• Nestor recounts attending several games in 1975, including the Linhart fog game and the New England game.
• Nestor and Lydell discuss the early struggles of the Colts and the eventual turnaround in 1975.
• Lydell reminisces about the camaraderie and team spirit during the 1975 season.

The Departure of Lydell Mitchell and the Colts

• Lydell recalls the shock of being drafted by the Colts and the initial struggles of the team.
• Lydell explains the financial challenges faced by teams in those days and how it affected the Colts’ performance.
• Nestor and Lydell discuss the team’s decline and the departure of key players, including Lydell himself.
• Lydell expresses his love for Baltimore and the impact of leaving the team.

Bert Jones and the 1975 Colts

• Nestor and Lydell discuss Bert Jones’ talent and the impact he had on the team.
• Lydell compares Bert Jones to John Elway, highlighting his exceptional throwing ability.
• Nestor asks Lydell about the impact of Bert Jones’ injury on the team’s performance.
• Lydell reflects on the tumultuous period after Bert Jones’ injury and the challenges faced by the team.

The Legacy of the 1975 Colts

• Nestor and Lydell discuss the legacy of the 1975 Colts and the impact they had on the community.
• Lydell shares memories of the team’s success and the camaraderie among players.
• Nestor mentions the upcoming reunion at Union Brewing and the list of attendees.
• Lydell expresses his appreciation for the memories and the support from the community.

The Impact of the Ravens on the Community

• Nestor praises the Ravens for their efforts in honoring the legacy of the 1975 Colts.
• Lydell discusses the positive impact of the Ravens on the community and their commitment to player development.
• Nestor shares personal stories of attending games and the impact of the Colts on his life.
• Lydell and Nestor discuss the importance of community involvement and the lasting impact of the 1975 Colts.

Final Thoughts and Reflections

• Nestor thanks Lydell for sharing his stories and memories.
• Lydell expresses his gratitude for the support and recognition from the community.
• Nestor and Lydell discuss the upcoming reunion and the excitement of seeing old friends.
• Nestor concludes the interview by expressing his appreciation for Lydell’s contributions to the community and the game of football.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Baltimore Colts, Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, 1975 Colts, Joe Flacco, Joe Herman, Roger Carr, Fred Cook, Tony Lenhart, Ted Marchibroda, Joe Thomas, Union Brewing, Babe Ruth Museum, Ravens, 50th anniversary.

SPEAKERS

Nestor Aparicio, Speaker 1, Lydell Mitchell

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Nestor Aparicio  00:01

Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T. Am 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We are Baltimore. Positive. It is certainly a big week around here as we get ready for Cleveland Browns football and the return of Joe Flacco. But if you’re watching out on the screen, you’ll see that I’m wearing a version of Baltimore Colts blue, on behalf of my friend Leonard Raskin, who also grew up a Baltimore Colts fan. For those of you who have not heard me, crow about my love of Bert Jones and Lydell Mitchell and Roger Carr, as well as Joe Erman, who signed an autograph for me at JCPenney and East Point mall in 1975 that made me fall in love with the 1975 colts, and this week, they’re being honored 50th anniversary. The Babe Ruth museum put together an event over at the Union brewing. I love that. It’s a, it’s a, it’s a bull roast, shrimp and bull roast. I’m coming hungry. I know there’s going to be beer over there, and I will be wearing to honor my guest, who I have met. I think we’ve taken a picture somewhere, and I told you how much I love you. Lydell Mitchell, but I have not spent a lot of time around you. Certainly spend a lot more time around Artie and a whole bunch of other old Colts. But I’ll be wearing my childhood bought at Sears and Roebuck by my parents Baltimore Colts belt buckle. I’ll be wearing that this week

Lydell Mitchell  01:16

like you’ll be easy to find, right man, people tell me they golf

Nestor Aparicio  01:20

with you around town. They’re like Liddell lives right over there, right over here. Why do I not run into you more often? So I can tell you how much I love that football team.

Lydell Mitchell  01:29

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Apparently. Do you play golf? No, I don’t play enough golf. That’s why you don’t run into me.

Nestor Aparicio  01:34

Oh, you’re out there enjoying the fresh air. Man, yes, I am. What’s going on with your life? Give me an update on it, because people say, How’s Lidell? So now I gotta say, Alright, I got Lydell on the radio. How’s Lydell?

Lydell Mitchell  01:46

I’m well, thank you. I’ve just been busy, still doing some work with company we started years ago with, with my dear friend Franco Harris. And so I continue to do that. Just try to stay busy. But you know, I’m winding

Nestor Aparicio  02:02

down. Yeah, what does that mean? Winding down? Well, you

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Lydell Mitchell  02:06

know, just, I’m not tired anything like that, but maybe you just want to kick back a little bit and just smell the roses, you know. But I think you have to stay active, and that’s what I try to do, you know, keep your mind sharp and all those things and and that’s what I try to to continue to do on on everyday basis. Well, we’re gonna

Nestor Aparicio  02:28

get together and honor you for the 75 Colts. What’s been the best part of your life through all this 50 years later? I mean, you’re still here, obviously the Baltimore connection, your departure, the earth say, the Colts departure. I mean, a lot’s gone down here, you know, over 50 years, really?

Lydell Mitchell  02:44

Oh, sure, sure, it has. And you know, I understand the tradition, how it all started when we came in, the culture champions. And we were not that good when we first started in 7273 74 then we kind of turned it around in 1975 and I guess we were loved again. You know, well, how often did we get booed and stayed here, man? And it wasn’t any fun, but it’s a great love affair with with the city. It’s a big city, but yet it’s a small town mentality, so you get to really know a lot of people and have a lot of fun. And I think that’s the enjoyment of it all.

Nestor Aparicio  03:21

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Lydell, I’m you lived a really blessed life, so I you know this 75 colts thing every time I see Stan white, and literally, the last time I saw him, and he and I had a lot of fun with this one. I told him the first football game I ever attended. And let’s see if what your recollection of this day was, my dad took me to see Joe Namath play. Johnny had just gone. People were pissed. The starting quarterback that day was Marty Damaris. Colts got beat 34 to maybe 10. But in that game, Joe Namath had his shoulders separated on a play by Stan white with a big hit. That was the first football game I ever went to I was born on born in October 68 that game was in September 73 I was five years old. My father took me to football games when I was a very young man, and I went back because I went to several of the 75 games. I was at the Linhart fog game. I was at the New England game. So but I found the only ticket sub i could find is this one. This is the New York Jets game. Game Six. You rush 14 times for 98 yards, scored a touchdown, 52 to 19 victory. Roger Carr caught a touchdown pass. So I was there. I have memories I don’t have I was at the Browns game that year, but that’s that period of time you talk about. The first thing you said to me all these years later, so we got booed early on. And I’m like, Oh yeah, I went out and I met Marty Thomas many years later. That period of time, Joe Thomas Schnellenberger, a march abroad to the hope of Bert Jones, the hope of you. It didn’t happen right away. And you know, there was that period, and certainly the beginning of the bad. Is about to happen with Earth. Say, so. I mean, you kind of came into it at a time where I’m a child, and it was glorious. 7576 77 goes to the post. But like for you, you have a whole different story about your early period here, and even departure at the end.

Lydell Mitchell  05:17

Yeah, it was quite shocking, probably in the beginning, when, when I remember when we got drafted, Franco Harris myself, you know who? We went to Penn State together, and he cried to me every day. Man, I’m getting drafted by these Steelers. They’re a lousy team. Never won anything. You’re going to the Colts. Man, they won the Super Bowl and all that. And of course, it reversed. You know, quickly they start winning, and obviously we went downhill. I think what happened back in those days is that, and you won’t see it happen anymore, is the teams back then, they didn’t make a lot of money. I mean, they made decent money, obviously, made more than than average person on the street, but they let the teams grow old together. And when I got to Baltimore, that’s what it was. It was an old team, and offensive line was old. Defense was still pretty good, but they got some injuries, and no, I think at that time, maybe Johnny might have been 4142 years old, you know, at a lot of miles on on his body and everything, and so you can see the just watch it deteriorate and and obviously, I think that’s what, what really did it. And it took a while to turn things around again. You know, you had to bring some young people in and give him opportunity and trust Him and And back in those days, it was all it was almost like a little click, you know, you you had to belong to be part of that team.

Nestor Aparicio  06:50

Well, you were so young, and a lot of those guys were so old. And, I mean, yes, Tom Maddie, and I guess so Mike Curtis at that point, just Ted Hendricks was coming through when I but, you know, I see it so differently as a child. And I remember, I was at the fog game. I was at the kroner airplane playoff game. I was a ghost to the post to the end on Christmas. Yeah, some great games. I mean, yeah. And I have my ticket stubs of most of it. I definitely have my goes to the post ticket stub. I was under glass for a number of years. I mean, I, you know, I went through just to find the Colts ticket stubs. I could find the handful that I still had, and even the programs. But those memories are, you know, indelible for me. So I just want to go one by one. Okay, just, let’s just talk about Bert Jones. Just about Bert and swashbuckling bird. I had Pro Football Hall of Fame writer Clark, Judge, I’ve collected humans all my life here. Lydell, 35 years of doing this crazy radio show, he covered the 8283 colts, but so admired Bert and your era, and had been in Baltimore as a sports writer before he went on. His 40 years of covering the 40 Niners and the chargers, I would say, for Bert. I was trying to explain to my wife. How would you explain to my wife what Bert Jones was?

Lydell Mitchell  08:07

Well, he was one of the greatest talents ever seen playing quarterback position. I felt that anytime any position on the field, that we could win because of Bert. I mean, his arm was strong, he could throw the ball. And the way I describe Bert is, you know, you take John Elway and Bert Jones, and if they didn’t have a uniform on, and they both threw the ball, you think it was the same person. Bert was Elway before Elway was Elway. That’s how I describe Bert. I mean, and very, you know, very relaxing and I mean, very, very always into the game. I mean, you knew you had a partner man because he was in there grinding with you, and that’s how you always felt. But very, very talented, and to this day, I think he’s one of the most talented throwing throws of the football

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Nestor Aparicio  09:00

now, you weren’t on the team when he got injured in that preseason game, right?

Lydell Mitchell  09:04

So I was not, I was gone. That’s the year that I left. Man must have been

Nestor Aparicio  09:09

something for you to even just hear that you’re out in the west coast and he gets injured in the preseason game, and things, things were never the same here. I mean, I would say after you left, right? I would always blame it on the bird injury, and say, but you were a part of the departure that, like, it got tumultuous with with Bob, kind of quickly, right before we could even have the kind of success we wanted to have. It was really a mess inside, right? Yeah, it

Lydell Mitchell  09:32

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really was. And certainly, you know, I was a big part of the team. And I tell everybody, you know, when you get traded, it happens. And, you know, I kind of knew that it was time, and I asked, I say, Guys, I think I need to be treated. And, you know, the thing is, you go somewhere else, and you go there, and you try to fit in. But when you’re on a team like the Colts, you. I was one of the leaders of the team, and knew it. You know, guys respected me. They looked up to me and everything the younger guys. And yet, when I went to the to the chargers, I got more money than I asked for, believe it or not, but you never really felt part of it. I left. I always tell people I left my heart in Baltimore, I really did, you grew up with those guys, and we had some great runs there with years, 7576 7778 and it was just fantastic. But, you know, it just didn’t work out.

Nestor Aparicio  10:37

Goes to the post. Was your end, right? That was, that was the last game he

Lydell Mitchell  10:40

played. Yeah, that was the last game. That’s correct, yeah. I mean,

Nestor Aparicio  10:43

I’m looking back now. I mean, I remember it all vividly, and I could piece it together and guess. But with the with the help of the internet, Lydell Mitchell is here, the man, the myth, the legend, the golfer, the fog game, Tony Lenhart fall game, I I remember that game vividly because my dad, we got bad seats, and my dad moved me into better seats because we’re trying to see the field. And my dad left me to go to the bathroom and came back and couldn’t find me, and they said my name on the loudspeaker that day. I’m a seven year old boy, and I had to reconnect with my father. I got lost in the fourth quarter. Now, the kick and all we saw. I remember where I was. I mean, I was in Section 38 right behind the baseball dugout at 1520 yard line. I have such vivid recollections as a young boy and the pictures of that game for those who weren’t there, but the pictures bring me back there when I see it, even in black and white.

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Lydell Mitchell  11:38

Liddell, you know that game, they probably had to call their field go good if it wasn’t good, especially during Baltimore. But I think I the thing I remember about that game is I think they came out, scored right away, on us, if I recall, and then they were up seven, nothing, and then we got the ball. And I think I scored on those, if I remember, like a 64 yard touchdown tie the game up and but it was a tough, physical game. And obviously Tony came through at the end, and we win the game. Was a great game.

Nestor Aparicio  12:16

Well, yeah, let’s see Lydell Mitchell, 64 yard raw. That was a different game. That was we clobbered them. That was insane, that that was the the early game in the season, when we beat him up in October in 77 so they all run together for 28 years later, I

Lydell Mitchell  12:33

thought that was all tied in together, but, but was a great game. I certainly remember the game and the kick and everything. And, you know, Tony was hero.

Nestor Aparicio  12:42

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Well, yeah. And you know, we’ve lost some heroes. Let’s talk a little bit about getting back together here. I’m looking forward to seeing bird. I am thrilled that you’re joining me here on the show. Lydell Mitchell is here on Saturday getting together over at Union brewing. There have been some reunions, and I think maybe I have a picture with you and me from 2025, years ago. Years ago. Lenny did a thing corralling the Colts one night after he lost his son. And there were things that were were going on, but the 75 colts specifically in getting together, and I see the list that the Babe Ruth folks have sent over to me. This is quite a thing. 50 years later, i i I can imagine you’re looking forward to seeing your friends too. Are there a couple of these guys you haven’t seen in a long time?

Lydell Mitchell  13:27

Yeah, I’m sure there is, you know, looking forward to it as well, 50 years a long time. Man, wow. And you know you some guys you if I haven’t seen in a long time I might not recognize that.

Nestor Aparicio  13:42

Let’s go through, let me, I’m gonna go through some names here. Yeah, Roger Carr, oh, sure.

Lydell Mitchell  13:46

Roger Dodger, that’s my man. Always on the same side, you, you know, on the on the weak side, and Roger, throw along. Bert, throw along. Let’s go long. You know, it was

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Nestor Aparicio  13:57

Roger. Oh, is he? Was he saying that? I’m saying the same thing.

Lydell Mitchell  14:00

Oh, first play the game. He’s ready to go along.

Nestor Aparicio  14:03

Alright, Fred Cook, he’s tentative for this Saturday. We’re a couple guys. We’re hoping Don McCauley, Stan white, we’re hoping to get him out. But Fred Cook, man, part of the sack pack.

Lydell Mitchell  14:12

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That’s my man, good, good people. I mean, he just wore it on his heart. Man, on his sleeve. Just, just a great guy and and I remember we when we played Denver, out in Denver, we offense was messing around, and we had a couple interceptions, maybe a fumble, and every time the defense goes in and get the ball back for us, and oh, Fred was just hot man, you guys keep turning the ball over, but he’s Great guy. That was a great, great group of guys up front there.

Nestor Aparicio  14:44

I can’t mention Fred cook. We got John Dutton and Joe Erman. Now I see Joe. I mean, I prayed with Joe, hung with Joe. You know, you know love Joe. Reached to Joe. And some times of trouble in my life, when my wife had cancer, Joe reached to me. I mean, I Joe. Herman, 1975 probably, you know, sometime in October, he was signing autographs over at the JCPenney at East Point Mall. And I’m a kid. My dad loved the Colts. My I told you, my dad took me to games. My dad’s like Joe Herman signing autographs Monday night over JCPenney, six to eight. Let’s go over. And we stood in line, and Joe signed a little five by seven for me as a as a boy, I’ve never let him forget that he was the first Colt I met, first Oriole I met, was first my cousin, but also Brooks. I met Brooks at East Point. Well, Brooks had a Brooks Robinson store at East Point. Well, I’m sure you remember, you know Brooks Robinson stores and hostile cones back in the day, what a great guy. I mean, you came into Baltimore, into this glory, right? But so did Herman, all of these guys and saying, you’re going to go to the mall, you’re going to sign autographs, you’re going to go over to luskins and meet the cheap sky town, you’re going to be a part of our community. Because that’s what Johnny and Artie, that’s everybody, Lenny, everybody did that here, right?

Lydell Mitchell  15:54

All grew up together. We really did just, just, just great times. Man, it’s hard to describe it, you know, and especially you know, when you come together, as we did as a team, who we were losers, man, for a couple years there and then all of a sudden, things just start turning around for us. And I think that happened to us in Buffalo. And you might remember this in 1975 and I think we went into Buffalo, and we’re might have been one in four at the time. And at halftime, Ted March abroad gave us a little speech. And Tim was always emotional, you know, he cried a lot.

Nestor Aparicio  16:32

Oh, I mean, I love Ted. I got to know Ted 96 here, and it was just the greatest thing ever.

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Lydell Mitchell  16:37

And so we, you know, we lose at halftime, and all of a sudden we we go out and we win the game, and we beat buffalo up in Buffalo and then eat the juice. That’s when we win nine straight games. And who saw that coming? No one and, and, but the crazy thing about it is that when you went on the trips, on the way home, you always got two beers. Everybody. If you wanted two beers, you got two beers. They were Coors beers and and so we are so bad that Joe Thomas took the beers away on the trips. And so at the end of the year, I never forget, at the year when we made the playoffs, someone you know hollered in the back and asked Joe Thomas, can we have our beer back now? So I think we are playing for beers, man, so we end up making the playoffs. Obviously, we didn’t go far. I think the Steelers beat us out in Pittsburgh, but it’s good time, you know. And I think that was really what happened. We just came together as a group and and then we had a nice run there for a few years. Really, really, was a good time.

Nestor Aparicio  17:45

Can you tell me the craziest Earth say, story that maybe I’ve heard or haven’t heard, but like the plane in the upper decks crazy? You know the fact that you were gone and Dutton was gone, and then Burke gets hurt, all within five minutes, and the thing goes to hell in a handbasket, and we lose the franchise five years later. It’s so bad that Elway doesn’t even want to play here and the franchise that that’s how I try to put this into perspective for young people. Lydell of what five or six or eight years is now that I’m 57 to say all of that goes to the post was 7778 it fell apart. 84 it’s over. My dad’s crying in my kitchen in March of 84 we don’t have a team anymore. I mean, it was just that crazy a time. But how much happened to make that happen? And I’m sitting here holding Steadman book, you know, the illustrated book of Colts. And Steadman was like a crazy grandfather to me early in my career and chronicling all of this, but I was at the paper in 84 I was a 15 year old kid when the team left, and I just, I don’t think you can chronicle it for how crazy it was to the series of events that led to the franchise leaving. That you left, you were early, early part of it, but it started way before, when he’s firing general managers and coaches in locker rooms at halftime, right?

Lydell Mitchell  19:05

I will never forget, we’re playing in Philadelphia, and that was birch rookie year. I guess that was 73 church rookie year, and when mister kept calling downstairs and told Howard snowing burger to put bird in the game. Put bird in the game, and he had a few words with him, and he didn’t put him in the game. And so we end up losing to Philadelphia, up in Philadelphia. And, you know, after the game, Coach always has a few words to say, and then he goes in the back, and we start to get ready shower and leave. The door opens up. Here comes mister, saying, with his guys and and he tells us right then says, snow emburgers retired, Joe Thomas, I mean, is fired, and Joe Thomas is your, your coach now. So it just happened like. Up, and all of a sudden, you hear all this screaming howling in the back and and five minutes later, here’s howling burger getting escorted out of the locker room by Mr. Jose’s men. And so, I mean, that’s it was just wild back in those days, and before it turned around and got better for us.

Nestor Aparicio  20:22

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Well, I mean, so that happens, and then you start winning. And when you start winning, you know, then the negotiation winning cures. A lot, yeah, but it also it got me, you, you departed in all this, John Dutton departed, and all there was money, there were contracts, there was just the general anarchy of it. Would you say? I mean, did was there a little bit of a breath when you left to go to San Diego that maybe your life was getting better in some way,

Lydell Mitchell  20:52

not necessarily? I mean, you know, again, I think you like to start your career somewhere, and stay as long as you can, or stay forever if you can. And that was always my intentions. And so, like I said, when I left Baltimore to go to San Diego, it’s like, you know, I left my heart here, but I went out there to play football. And so consequently, I don’t think you play as well as you like sometimes because of that. So, yeah, I missed it and everything. I made good money and everything, but you miss it, because I really felt part of the fabric of the city. You know, again, it was a it’s a large city, but it was like a town mentality. It was like small little pockets of people, and everything is little different than a New York City or or Philadelphia and places like that. It was just small town mentality, and they just embrace you and they loved you. And I think that’s what you miss about this area.

Nestor Aparicio  21:56

Well, the legacy of all of it for you, Lydell, having Penn State blood in you. And then you talk about Franco and what Pittsburgh has done. But here, you made a life here, you’ve always made a life here, successful businessman, you all the things that you’ve done here, a lot of golf, apparently, but watching the ravens and watching 30th anniversary this week, they’re going to be honoring you and all the 75 colts, along with Ozzie Newsome and everything else. By the way, I did. I did get the Chargers up belt buckle too. So I got, you know, I broke that out for you, because that’s of the era, you know, I figured I’d have that for you. All my ticket stubs. I, you know, I’m trying to be authentic about, like, how much I really love your team and how excited I am. We really appreciate that. Oh, all about getting together, and then on Sunday, you’re going to get honored. Here. This hasn’t always been normal man like, and I’m a guy like, I covered the league for 30 years. You can Google me and all my nonsense, being a media member and dealing with the Ravens. But I, you know, I’ve been in St Louis where Jack youngbloods names up and they’re wearing rams helmets, and then they go back to LA I’ve been a part of this whole Cleveland, Baltimore, Indianapolis, you know, all of my life the triangle who’s got the records? I once took a walk with bashati and Jimmy Irsay trying to figure out how to get Johnny Unitas his records back to Baltimore and not be under Indianapolis. And so, I mean, I’ve been a part of all of this, all of these years. And I think for guys like you, Stan, Bruce, lair, Johnny while he was alive, Howard Stevens, the people that lived in this community that didn’t have an association, Joe Herman, that didn’t have Association, the Ravens. The Ravens have really tried to make this thing whole and right. And I think certainly from a citizen standpoint, have delivered on the promise of Super Bowls here right as Joe Flacco comes back this week.

Lydell Mitchell  23:40

Oh, no, no doubt about it, and that’s the good thing about it. I mean, when I look at organizations, I look from the top down, and you know, Steve does a fantastic job, you know, but he gets out of the way. He let the folks do their job. And obviously, if they don’t do the job, then he needs to step in and make things right. But that’s what I really enjoy about the Ravens. I mean, from from top to bottom, they’re just top notch. And, you know, whenever there’s a player out there, so Oh, the Ravens gonna get that player, they do a fantastic job pulling all this stuff together. And, I mean, they’ve been certainly great for the community, and the guys get out there and participate and you know, their presence in the community, which I really, really like, and I think that happens throughout the league now.

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Nestor Aparicio  24:29

Well, you said that, yeah, the ravens are going to get that guy. No, no, no, that guy’s going to want to be here, right? No doubt about, you know, and that’s a difference between people wouldn’t want to sign up to play for Bob or say, back in the day, right?

Lydell Mitchell  24:40

It just the way it is. Yes, no question about

Nestor Aparicio  24:44

it. Steve’s not going to come down at halftime and fire John Harbaugh on Sunday. We hope, at least we hope that’s not going to happen. Lionel Mitchell is here. The reunion is Saturday at Union brewing. You can go to Babe Ruth museum find out all the information. It’s in the. Afternoon, because we all go to bed early, because these guys got to get up and you have to play football on Sunday, but you’re going to get down there. Let me get the list here one more time. Roger Carr, Frank Cook, some of these are tentative, just we’re hanging in. Not everybody’s just sprying healthy as light out loud, golfing. Dan Dickel, John Dutton, Joe Erman, Ken Hoff, one of my dad’s favorites. Marshall Johnson, one of my favorites. Jones, George coons. My dad loved George Coons and Ken Mendenhall. Bruce Laird, Darryl Luce, Tom McLeod Don McCauley, tentative. He was always in the backfield with you. Lydell. Lydell, obviously on the list. Doug nettles, the great Howard Stevens. My dad loved Howard Stevens. My dad hated Howard Stevens. My dad yelled at Howard Stevens. Howard and I are the same size, so I love Howard. I’ve loved Howard all my life. So Howard, I’m looking forward to seeing you and David Taylor, Rick Volk Stan white, Bob van doin, so, so I have a whole list here. Talk to me about Ted a little bit. I’d love Ted. There’s some dearly departed that can’t be with us here this week that were part of that. Ted was a part of my life, and I know. So here’s where I’m going to get it. I made it 28 minutes with Lydell Mitchell. And I haven’t done the Hey Diddle Diddle thing, but I’ll come at you now with, hey, diddle, diddle, light out up the middle.

Lydell Mitchell  26:23

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Yeah, I should have trademarked that, shouldn’t I go? I hated it, but then I should have trademarked that. Wow. But no, it was a good time. And you mentioned Ted very passionate. We understood what he wanted done. Worked hard. And, you know, he came in and he organized everything. He made it make sense to you. You know, we understood why we were doing what we were doing. You know, we knew how to attack defenses and everything. And, you know, it’s very simple. You know, it’s sometimes even today, you know, if they play up, you know, maybe you throw the ball, if they play back, you run the ball. You know, if they’re going to stack the line of scrimmage, obviously, now you want to throw the ball, if they’re playing off, then you’re you, you run the ball. So, different things that you can do. I mean, football hasn’t changed in all these years. It’s still basic, blocking, tackling, still the same. Hasn’t changed at all,

Nestor Aparicio  27:28

alignment, assignment, technique and, and, you know, when you mentioned Ted, Ted liked to teach. Ted was a teacher. Ted was, like, literally, a school teacher.

Lydell Mitchell  27:36

Yes, yeah. And, you know, and he got his start, obviously, with George Allen. You know, the great coach with the Washington Redskins over the years and and that’s where Ted learned all that. He reminded me of George Allen quite a bit.

Nestor Aparicio  27:52

Well, we had a lot of fun bringing him back and getting Vinny Testaverde, getting that offense started up back in 96 with the flying bees, Lydell Mitchell, we are celebrating, really, for me, lied out a lifetime of football. You were, you might have had the first touch in the first game I went to and saw the Jets in 73 and you know, through all of these years you’ve lived here, you’ve been a part of the community. You’re being honored all the 75 colts being honored this weekend. I wanted to honor you and have you on and say hello and say thank you for the time. Thanks for the stories, man, I I love that I’ve waited all this time to have you on as a grown up and sit here and talk about these things all these years later, it’s been a pleasure.

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Lydell Mitchell  28:30

I appreciate it so much. And I say to everybody, I mean, very simple, you know, thanks for the for remembering us. That, to me, is the most important thing. I mean, we been going for a long time, but it’s great that people like you are around that can remember 50 years ago. That’s a long, long time. That’s some for a lot of people, that’s a lifetime. And we really appreciate that. And so we’re going to come and have a little bit of fun and reminisce and and see some of the guys we haven’t seen in a while, and just, just enjoy it.

Nestor Aparicio  29:05

Well, look at this here. I think on this particular day, I wound up getting Lenny Moore’s autograph, because Lenny signed an autograph for me. I swear he was wearing that jacket. This is from the Steadman book, and it’s a pictorial. And, you know, I’ve got it, and it, Stedman actually signed it so the memories are near and dear to me. You’ll get me crying if I start talking about taking taking a bus on Sunday morning, my mom making me hot chocolate in a thermos, and me having gloves because she needed me to stay warm at the games, because it snowed during the Patriot game, and it got a little chilly because we always had to kick off later because of the church and the sun always said, and it was always colder in the fourth quarter, and it was dark. And oh, man, the lights were on, and OJ was running, or Namath was out

Speaker 1  29:51

there, and Lido, this was some great games

Nestor Aparicio  29:55

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light out. Man, thank you for the memories. I appreciate

Lydell Mitchell  29:58

you. Man, thank you. And look to look. Forward to seeing you this weekend.

Nestor Aparicio  30:01

Listen, you have no idea how much my wife and Luke have heard the last three days that you agreed to come on the show, how excited I’ve been. Everybody knows. So thank you. Appreciate My pleasure. Thank you. And I get a beer with you, and you can have two, if you want. You can have three. There’s no Joe Thomas rule in the back of the bus. We’ll figure it out. Thank you. All right. Light, oh Mitchell, my appreciation. I am Nestor. We are W N, S T, get over and see the old Colts. And if you don’t, you’ll see him on the field on Sunday before the Ravens in the Browns for Baltimore positive. Stay with us.