Bum Phillips, Legendary Houston Oilers Coach, Dies At Age 90

Legendary former Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans of the NFL) head football coach O.A. "Bum" Phillips has died at the age of 90 years old.
Phillips was the coach of the Oilers during the mid to late 1970's and early 1980's before moving on to the

Bum Phillips

New Orleans Saints for a brief time later in the decade.
He coached some great teams that could never quite get past the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers teams during the late '70's but they did finally (in Phillips' words) "kick it (the door) in" during the 1980 season as they beat them 6-0 late in the schedule to eliminate the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Steelers from playoff contention.
Among some of the players on the Oilers' teams in that span were running back Earl Campbell, quarterbacks Dan Pastorini and Kenny Stabler, tight end Dave Casper, wide receiver/kick returner Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, wide receiver Ken Burrough and defensive stalwarts Curley Culp and Elvin Bethea.
Perhaps the most well known moment of the Phillips era in Houston came on a Monday Night Football game in late November of 1978 when the Oilers beat the Miami Dolphins in the old Houston Astrodome. That was the game where the slogan "Luv Ya' Blue" was born as the fans loudly sang the team theme song, "We're the Houston Oilers" as the team hit their stride that year to forge the rivalry with Pittsburgh.
Phillips was known for his country charm ways and manner of speaking in simple tones along with his country-western wardrobe, including the signature ten gallon cowboy hat and cowboy boots.
He was definitely one of a kind.