Remembering Dr. Frank Ryan

Relatively often on these posts, I have written about December 27, 1964, its meaning, all in the hope of that wonderful day when Dr. Frank Ryan, who died days back at age 87, threw three touchdown passes to Gary Collins, leading the original Cleveland Browns to their last NFL crown, those memories do not fade away.

Ryan was a tremendous example of physical and intellectual excellence, being a mathematics standout and title winning NFL quarterback.

He contributed mightily on the campuses of Yale, Rice and Case Western. I wish I had talked with him.

Tributes from elsewhere come in and I know enough to cite his fine play in non-title, but mostly playoffs seasons for “my” Browns, including a conference crown/title tilt loss at Green Bay, in the great Jim Brown’s last Browns’ game, after the 1965 season.

Most of all and by far most meaningful and cherished regarding Dr. Frank, is that title winning day, as cited before, me sitting in an upholstered chair, with my parents and grandmother present–(Dad a N.Y. Giants fan and oh that Browns/Giants rivalry!!)–watching Cleveland win (27-0) vs the great quarterback, John Unitas and the Baltimore Colts on December 27, 1964.

I will “seek (it is hard to) and find” another Frank, the fine broadcaster, Messer’s broadcast calls, as Dr. Frank threw those 3 TD’s to Gary Collins, that wonderful day.

Perhaps faded with time, (think, I guess Mr. Tracy’s speech regarding passion/love in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,”) but not to be forgotten or measured less.

The NFL, for better or worse was built on the greats that played then, before and after.

That memory for me and others when their team won, requires a “higher calculation” that DR. Frank Ryan might, as he did the memory, produce.

Go easy Frank and I know Jim (Brown) loved catching your passes so that might now resume. Please be careful playing chess with him as I doubt his passion to win has faded. I hope this in any case.

Frank Ryan, pictured above, likely after the Browns’ ’64 Title Game win.

“Exact” 56 Year “Anniversary” Of The Browns’ Last Title on December 27, 2020

Above, a previous post about the ’64 Title Game, which includes Frank Ryan’s passes, Frank Messer’s call on the first highlight a Jim Brown run and a still needed opinion, that Gary Collins belongs in The Pro Football Hall of Fame.