Jim Costa: “I thank my good friend and colleague Eric Swalwell, Rodney Davis, and Jerry McNerney. I think we are all here to…”

“I thank my good friend and colleague Eric Swalwell, Rodney Davis, and Jerry McNerney. I think we are all here to celebrate a life well-lived. Coach John Madden had such an extraordinary career in so many different areas that I think reflected, with all of that fame and all of that success, a common touch, a common touch that we honor today. I don't think there is anything difficult about being a Raider fan from California and being a 49er fan because the Raiders played in the AFC and the 49ers played in NFC. I think we have had a good run here for many decades because of those two incredible franchises. The same could be said for the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's. But as a kid, John Madden was a hero of mine. He actually started in a very humble way playing at Cal Poly. Cal Poly's program was a smaller collegiate program in those days. Sadly, there was a plane crash in 1961 that took place. Madden was able to avoid that disaster. I think that probably brought about his fear of flying for the rest of his life. But he never forgot Cal Poly, and he continued to support the university as he supported so many worthwhile causes, whether it was athletics in Pleasanton and East Bay or whether it was other important efforts. As my friend noted, I don't know whether his record will ever be topped, with 103 victories, 32 losses, and 7 ties, a regular-season record, and the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.…”