Family members cheer on Colts’ coach
Gene Huey done his hometown proud. Huey, in his 15th season as running backs coach with the Indianapolis Colts, was on the sidelines when his team claimed the Super Bowl XLI title.
Far from Miami, family and friends of Huey gathered at the Uniontown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3514 building Sunday night to support the Colts as they defeated the Chicago Bears to win the NFL title 29-17.
Sitting around tables draped in white and blue tablecloths, about a 100 people cheered on the 59-year-old Uniontown native, sitting anxiously on their seats as the Colts struggled to take the lead, overcoming the Bears in the second quarter.
Huey’s Uniontown fans said they can’t wait for the Super Bowl winner to make a return visit home.
“He’s bringing the Super Bowl ring to Uniontown,” VFW Commander Charles “Bucky” Fairfax said. “He promised me that.”
And as proven, Huey keeps his promises.
When Huey was in town for Earl “Ozzie” Minor’s funeral in January, he promised the VFW members he would hold a party for Uniontown residents if his team made the Super Bowl, said VFW trustee Chuck “Snitch” McLee.
At the time, the Colts had to beat the New England Patriots in order to advance in the playoffs.
The Colts won, and kept on winning, and Huey, as promised, threw a party at the VFW.
Colt posters and signs hung on the wall at the VFW building, and many people either wore blue and white or specially made Super Bowl T-shirts featuring Colt’s coach Tony Dungy and Bears’ coach Lovie Smith.
McLee said Super Bowl XLI was a monumental occasion for the black community in Uniontown, not just because Huey was coaching, but also because for the first time in history two black coaches competed in the championship game.
In fact, Sunday’s win made Dungy the first black coach to ever win the Super Bowl.
“It’s something to be proud of,” McLee said.
Two of Huey’s relatives attended Sunday’s party at the VFW building, both saying they are proud of their family member’s accomplishments.
Huey’s sister, Gloria Hodge of Uniontown, said it was “exciting” to watch her brother coach, and that she always watches the games when they’re televised to catch a glimpse of her brother.
Hodge’s eldest son, Aaron Huey of Uniontown, said his uncle has worked hard to become a coach in the NFL.
“We’re just excited for him,” Aaron Huey said. “He’s worked hard to be at this stage, this plateau, in his life.”
Aaron Huey said his uncle’s success can be traced to Uniontown.
“A lot of what he has been able to endure and overcome can be attributed to him growing up here,” he said.
McLee said he’s known Huey since he was just a child, and that the Colts coach played sports in Uniontown and attended dances at the VFW as a youth.
“He was a nice young man,” McLee said of Huey. “He worked extremely hard to get where he is, and he never forgot about Uniontown.”