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Nashville, tenn. – The Indianapolis colts and the state of Indiana as a whole, lost one of its main contributors to the owner Jim Irsay last month after fighting health problems.
Dallas Clark, who played nine seasons with the colts and helped them win a Super Bowl in 2006, was one of the many current players, leaders and coaches who attended the Irsay funeral.
While everyone remains in mourning, Clark said he really understood what Irsay meant for the colts and the football game after learning more than he could never among his peers.
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Dallas Clark is inducted into the ring of honor in a match against Miami dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Indystar USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“During his funeral, just crazy the things I learned about him,” said Clark to PK Press Club Digital by frequenting a university tight again as one of the key legends among the group of more than 80 participants. “Being the youngest managing director, and all of this made sense. This man lived this football game every day of his life, and we were so honored to represent him and his family. What a huge and enormous loss.”
Clark recalled the moment when he was drafted by the Colts, when the director general Bill Polian and the front office released the owa 23rd star in the general classification in 2003. While he was trying to make a good impression on his new NFL team, Clark was also able to see the type of owner Irsay.
“I didn’t understand it at first, like:” I don’t know why you need me. You are frightening “” said Clark about the writing of Indianapolis. “I remember that we entered this group the first time and it was like” it will be interesting. “”
The big colts reggie Wayne returities with tears while remembering the late owner Jim Irsay: “ he had the biggest heart ”
“But to be there [Irsay]Seeing the impact he had on the city. He really liked his players and took care of us, and we were not only an investment, we were not only a concert. He experienced the football of the colts. “”
Irsay took possession of the colts in 1995 following a legal battle after the death of his father. Before that, Irsay was the director general of the team from 1982 to 1996 and became the youngest owner of the NFL at 37.
Since then, the colts have had a huge success with Peyton Manning as a quarter-tree, but they were evolving since Manning left the team and Andrew Luck suddenly retired.
Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis colts, is addressed to fans of the enthronement of Reggie Wayne in the Ring of Honor at the Lucas Oil Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
In addition to worrying about his foals, Clark knew how much Irsay meant for the community, and it was not a magnificent screen every time he did.
“He was the embodiment of what a restoring, what really cares, really kissing the state of Indiana, the whole nation of the colts, the organization,” said Clark. “I hope that all the owners have learned something from him, about him, and how you behave and how you have a real owner of the representation of your team. The power he would have, and the impact he would have – so many things he did were under the radar. It is the beautiful thing about him: he did not try to put himself in the spotlight or something like that. He was always trying to find an impact.”
Although Clark is sad that “Mr. Irsay” is no longer at Lucas Oil Stadium on Gamedays, he is delighted to see how his three daughters – Carlie Irsay -Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson – honor their father and lead the team in their own way.
The owner of the Indianapolis colts, Jim Irsay, on the right, gives Dallas Clark a colt jersey in the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center Indianapolis. (TMB / ICON SMI / CORBIS / ICON SPORTSWIRE via Getty Images)
“I know that the girls will do a phenomenal job to honor it and keep their inheritance in front of their management, but also make it their own means and find ways to do their own and change things for good,” said Clark.
“The impact he had on so many people, it will be difficult. So happy that they will honor him the first week, will put him in the Ring of Honor, and it will be a special day.”
