This might come as a surprise to some, but there was actually a time that I loved the 49ers. One of my most cherished childhood memories came in having the pleasure of seeing Steve Young firsthand as a part of the USFL’s LA Express. It was only natural for me to follow his every move once he became a part of San Francisco. Joe Montana was Mr. Everything to me too, and I remember having an autographed 8 x 10 picture. I think I actually still have it at my parents house somewhere. Then there was Roger Craig & Jerry Rice, the thunder & the lightning. All were a fond part of my 80s school daze in the Bay.

Then, somewhere along the way, maybe as I transformed into my East Coast self in the 90s, I somehow drifted astray from that allegiance. By the time I moved back to the Bay Area in 2003, the modern-era 49ers franchise was just too far gone to ever hold my interest.

Then today that all magically changed.

The 49ers first had a delay of game call in announcing they would fire head coach Mike Nolan after next week’s game. How bizarre is that? They then opted to just go for it and give Nolan his walking papers effective immediately. His interim replacement is assistant head coach Mike Singletary. And with that move alone, the Niners might just be able salvage what’s left in this season. I can actually, once again, cheer for them as I have long been a Mike Singletary fan. You will have to wait for my book for me to discuss what I refer to as ‘My Waco Years,’ but Coach Singletary once starred for the Baylor Bears under the legendary Coach Grant Teaff, hence my connection and never-ending props given.

Who cares that Coach Singletary has never been a head coach or even coordinator? He is a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and, on the real, was a serious head bussa in his day. I bet he can still make these youngins look like shook ones in the backfield on a 3rd down stop! No doubt he will have all ears in that locker room. And with his reputation for intensity, I bet it won’t be too many of these player personal-conduct issues popping up on his watch either. No sir.