Funny recruiting story about former LSU player and Bear Bryant

quote:

---

Mark Ippolito came out of Brother Martin in 1977, ranked as the crown jewel of Louisiana's recruiting class and rated as one of the top targets that season by recruiters. Major Ogilvie, Ronnie Lott, Freeman McNeil and Chris Collinsworth were other standouts. Ippolito would go onto join Hokie Gajan and Lyman white in the '78 signing class for the LSU Tigers. It came down to Alabama, Oklahoma and LSU. One of his in-home visits might have been a strange one for one coaching legend.

He received two of what he considered prank calls before he realized that it was Bear Bryant trying to reach him. "(Bryant) told me that he would be arriving at the Lakefront airport at 5 p.m. and could I pick him up, I told him 'yeah sure'. Walking through the airport with someone as well-known as Bryant was like being with a current rock star, autograph seekers and well wishers were everywhere."

When the party arrived including Coach Bryant, Ippolito and his brother, the coach discovered that the family was entertaining relatives from Italy, not one of which spoke English.

"We served a normal five-course Italian meal, including home made wine," Mark recalled with a smile. After a few shots of the local brew, the Bear asked for 'something stronger'. "My dad fixed him a Jim Beam. It was crazy. I had friends peeking through my windows trying to get a glimpse of Coach Bryant. In the meantime, my relatives didn't know who he was but asked in Italian about the 'elderly man consuming all of this alcohol that everyone was making a big fuss over?' My dad had to translate. Bear broke into a hysterical laugh. He admitted that he had never been to anyone's house where he was unknown. Instead of being insulted, he was amused."

When it came to decision time. Ippolito realized where his future lied. "(LSU) Coach (Charlie) McClendon told me that if I went to Alabama or Oklahoma, I would always be remembered as the guy that left after I graduated. At LSU, I would be remembered as the guy that played at LSU for life. It was a lifestyle, not just four years. That stuck with me."

---

quote:

---

Back to player stories, John Fourcade was recognized as the Gatorade state prep player of the year following a stellar career at Archbishop Shaw. He broke many of Archie Manning's records while quarterbacking the Ole Miss Rebels. Fourcade spent 17 years of his athletic career in professional football.

John shared the spotlight on the national level with QB Art Schlichter, OT Luis Sharpe, WR Lindsay Scott and LB Bob Crable in the 1978 class. "Art Schlichter and myself shared the top spot," Fourcade stated. Schlichter would eventually sign with Ohio State. Tommy Wilcox and Bobby Hebert also came out the same season.

Fourcade recalls numerous offers, some behind closed doors. One SEC institution furnished Fourcade's parents living room, tossing in a washer and dryer. He found 10 suits delivered to his front door. One university promised him a stockbroker's position following graduation starting at $70,000 per year. Another alum from one school was in the food brokerage business. He promised the young QB that his refrigerator would be constantly stocked.

On one recruiting trip, Fourcade headed north to South Bend, Indiana. Ara Parseghian had been recruiting John aggressively but had already departed. "It was the same weekend that the Notre Dame basketball team ended the UCLA 88-game winning streak. I was roommates with Vito Kab for the weekend (a tight end who would eventually sign with Penn State)."

Anticipating that the southern player would be caught up in the hype of the Fightin' Irish - plus the atmosphere of the big basketball game going on that same weekend - led then head coach Dan Devine to believe that Fourcade was wide-eyed. "I was sitting in (Devine's) office and he walks in with a huge bowl, the biggest cereal bowl that I had ever seen in my life, filled with cereal," John said. He's talking to me and eating out of the bowl at the same time." Devine told the young recruit 'not to be nervous'. John replied, "I'm not nervous. I've met Bear Bryant." At that point Devine's demeanor changed a bit.

John did indeed have a one-on-one meeting with Bear Bryant. While in town for a Sugar Bowl matchup with Penn State, Fourcade was invited to meet privately with the legendary coach at the Hyatt. As John entered the private suite, he shook hands with Bryant and was told to 'have a seat'. Reacting immediately, John planted his derriere on top of the Bear's houndstooth hat which was on the sofa. "I handed it to him completely flattened," Fourcade laughed. "I didn't expect to find a hat where I was sitting." Bryant assured him under a growl that it was 'okay'.

---