Fire Still Burns for Schottenheimer

For 15 years, during the regular season, Schottenheimer's teams did precisely that. But in 11 postseason appearances, he became known more for how he lost. He experienced every imaginable variation of defeat: John Elway's name-making drive in 1987; Earnest Byner's fumble in 1988; Nick Lowery's failed 52-yard field goal against Miami in 1991; Joe Montana's third-quarter concussion against Buffalo in the 1994 AFC title game; Lin Elliott's three failed field goals against Indianapolis in 1996.

After a 7-9 finish with Kansas City in 1998 -- at that point, his worst as a head coach -- Schottenheimer stepped away from the sidelines, working as a television analyst for a couple seasons.

He returned to coaching with Washington in 2001 and, after a disappointing start -- he lost his first five games, including his debut against San Diego -- led the Redskins to an 8-8 finish. Of course, that was same record Washington had compiled the previous year under Turner (7-6 before being fired) and interim coach Terry Robiskie (1-2).

"Unfortunately, it didn't end the way I would have liked it because I thought we'd really finally gotten the thing turned around," Schottenheimer said. "And I've said and I believe that it was as good a coaching job as we've ever done."

What Schottenheimer did not know then was that his hardships were only beginning.

After signing with San Diego in 2002, he struggled through another 8-8 season. He was adamant that the Chargers would improve in 2003, but instead they finished 4-12 and rumors of his dismissal were rampant.

"The [second] year was miserable," Schottenheimer said. "I was so disappointed that we didn't play better."

No one knew Schottenheimer's pain better than his son. Brian, who calls his father "Marty when I'm talking about him, and coach when I'm talking to him," spent his boyhood on the sidelines with Schottenheimer, sharing in his most heartbreaking defeats.

The 2003 season, Brian said, was an eye-opening one for his father. "He went, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a second. Something's wrong,' " he said. "And I think he just completely looked at every facet of this organization, starting with himself, from top to bottom, and decided, 'Hey, I need to make some changes.' And was willing to make some changes. I think that's hard for someone that's had the type of success that he's had over the length of period that he's had."

The changes began with, of all things, the layout of San Diego's locker room.

"It was kind of a locker room that was done in sections," Brian said. "And all the players, they had these little sections where they hung out, but you really couldn't see all your teammates. It was kind of divided."

The room was transformed into a single open space "where guys could see each other, and guys could hang out together, and guys would be held accountable and have to look each other in the eye if things weren't going right."