NHS Coach George Gettle feels blessed by time with Bears QB Grossman

By FRANK PHILLIPS
Friday, February 2, 2007 6:04 PM CST

frankphi@hotmail.com

It was in the late 1990s when an experienced high school football coach, George Gettle, took the position of Quarterback Coach with Bloomington South High School. He had coached teams at Terre Haute North and Jennings County high schools before going to Bloomington.

He soon learned he would work with a player whose talent comes around but precious few times in a coach's career.

"Coach (Mo) Moriarty prepped me for the job," Gettle said Friday afternoon. "He told me how special the kid was I would be working with and how high expectations were for the team.

"It was obvious (Rex Grossman)had as much talent as I had ever seen in a high school football player."

The Rex Grossman everyone will be watching Sunday night, the Rex Grossman who is the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears, is the third generation who have been recognized for their football prowess.

Grandfather Rex played for the Baltimore Colts and the Detroit Lions. Father Rex is Dr. Rex Daniel Grossman Jr., a former all-state quarterback, who played for IU.

But the family resemblance doesn't end there.

"Little Rex" who will play for Chicago Sunday night also has an aunt who was married to the late Terry Cole, who played for the Colts and the Dolphins and was in Super Bowls III and VI, according the Chicago Sun-Times Web site, http://www.suntimes.com.

"I cherish the time I was (at Bloomington South)," said Gettle, Northview's head football coach, who led his team to Northview's first undefeated season."It was a real blessing to be able to work with someone like him."

"I take no credit for (Grossman's) success," he said. "He was destined to be in the Super Bowl."

Does Gettle anticipate coaching another player with the stature of Rex Grossman?

"I won't say never, but such kids are few and far between," he said.

So, when the coin is tossed at Miami and the game begins Sunday night, who will Coach Gettle be rooting for?

"I will most definitely be rooting for Rex Grossman," he said. "He deserves the very best."