Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 12, 2015 16:29:23 GMT
Falcons coach Dan Quinn remembers 9/11 on his birthday
The date of Sept. 11 has significant meaning to Dan Quinn, and not just because he turned 45 years old on Friday.
The tragic events of the 9/11 terrorists attacks will forever have an impact on the Falcons head coach. Quinn, a New Jersey native, lost a friend as a result of the tragedy.
Quinn was in San Francisco serving his first year as the 49ers' defensive quality control coach at the time of the attacks. His wife, Stacey, was working in New York at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Quinn received a call from her that morning at 5 a.m. PT.
"It really hits home for me not only from friends passing, to people who lived in our town who passed," Quinn said. "And then, just like the remembrance of that day. All of us --- we kind of talked about that in our team meeting -- will never forget that. It was as tough as it can get for our country.
"I told some of the young guys, who were really young at the time, football stopped. And it was all about us coming back together. Yes, definitely one that hits home for me on that day, and one I think about a lot during the year, and especially on this day."
Quinn said his friend, whom he did not name, is recognized on one of the memorial pools constructed in memory of the lives lost during the attacks.
As part of his observance of the 9/11 attacks, Quinn decided to play music from just New York artists during Friday's practice, including Nas, Notorious B.I.G. and Mobb Deep.
The date of Sept. 11 has significant meaning to Dan Quinn, and not just because he turned 45 years old on Friday.
The tragic events of the 9/11 terrorists attacks will forever have an impact on the Falcons head coach. Quinn, a New Jersey native, lost a friend as a result of the tragedy.
Quinn was in San Francisco serving his first year as the 49ers' defensive quality control coach at the time of the attacks. His wife, Stacey, was working in New York at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Quinn received a call from her that morning at 5 a.m. PT.
"It really hits home for me not only from friends passing, to people who lived in our town who passed," Quinn said. "And then, just like the remembrance of that day. All of us --- we kind of talked about that in our team meeting -- will never forget that. It was as tough as it can get for our country.
"I told some of the young guys, who were really young at the time, football stopped. And it was all about us coming back together. Yes, definitely one that hits home for me on that day, and one I think about a lot during the year, and especially on this day."
Quinn said his friend, whom he did not name, is recognized on one of the memorial pools constructed in memory of the lives lost during the attacks.
As part of his observance of the 9/11 attacks, Quinn decided to play music from just New York artists during Friday's practice, including Nas, Notorious B.I.G. and Mobb Deep.