Sam Wyche needs a heart transplant

The 71-year-old former coach of the Bengals and Bucs—and one of the most interesting and innovative minds in football over the past 40 years—is in the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte this morning, his case the highest priority among transplant hopefuls. In fact, Wyche is in the same room that Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was in when awaiting his new heart in 2009. When I spoke to Wyche over the weekend, he said he'd had an unexpected visitor: Richardson. Twice.

"He told me his experience, and he was incredibly encouraging," said Wyche, sounding a bit worn. He's in a hospital renowned for its heart care and transplants. "He told me not to worry about the surgery. And then he came again, to see how I was. It was really incredible. He told me not to worry—heart transplants are like changing a tire to the doctors here."

Wyche came down with cardio myopathy, a disease of the heart muscles, from a virus in 2001. His heart has been steadily weakening, and now he said the left side of the heart has stopped working entirely. Two weeks ago, Wyche was working in his yard in Pickens, S.C., and noticed he was panting, and any little exertion took his breath away. After being examined and sent to the Charlotte heart facility, doctors discovered how seriously ill he was. They put Wyche with the highest-priority candidates for a transplant, meaning he'd be a prime candidate if a heart is found within a 500-mile radius.

His attitude is great. There's no hard-and-fast timetable for when he has to receive a heart; his vital signs are good, and he's in good spirits. He sounds neither morbid nor down for the count when he says: "I'm not afraid of dying, not at all. The main reason is because I have been saved. I believe there's a better place."


http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/09/12/jimmy-garoppolo-patriots-jack-del-rio-raiders-nfl-week-1

Peter King ‏@SI_PeterKing
Big news: A heart has been found for Sam Wyche, awaiting a transplant. Final match prep now underway. If a match, surgery could be tonight.

For those who dont remember:

I remember Sam Wyche. Was bummed when I first heard about his current condition, but am happy to hear he has found a donor and will be praying for him during his operation and for his recovery. My first memory of Sam Wyche was as the Bengals HC in Super Bowl XXIII, I found out later he was with the 49ers before that. I've always liked him, and recall him on one of the morning shows he was on for a bit. I also recall that he had some sort of vocal chord issue so he can't yell anymore or something to that effect. One of the many good people the 49ers were lucky enough to have in their organization over the years.

Awww man. Best Superbowl ever. Two best of friends competing against each other. Amazing finish. No losers. Ultimate Superbowl.

It was probably the stint coaching the Bucs that did his heart in.

Fine man and very good coach.

Wish him well!

Originally posted by Bluesbro:

It was probably the stint coaching the Bucs that did his heart in.

He drafted many of the foundation players that blossomed under Dungy....it was the crappy TB ownership* that ran the team for profit that did him in (sound familiar?)

*the Culverhouses, not the Glazers