Legendary Football Coach Emory Bellard Passes Away

Emory Bellard, who invented the famous "wishbone triple option offense" that energized college football in the 1970s, has died at the age of 83.

Bellard, who was suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, died in Georgetown. Bellard learned only last summer that he had ALS, when his doctor told him he was in the latter stages.

Bellard is widely regarded as the father of the "wishbone", which he developed as an assistant at Texas under Darrell Royal.

Using the innovative offensive scheme, Texas won 30 straight games and two national championships in the late 60s and early 70s.  Bellard brought the offense to Texas A&M, where he coached from 1972 through 1978.

After A&M, Bellard coached at Mississippi State from 1979 to 1985, then returned to coaching high school football in 1988 at Westfield in the Houston suburb of Spring.

via Former A&M coach Emory Bellard dies | Bryan/College Station, Texas - The Eagle.

Emory Bellard was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame last year.