Famous I became on October 4, 1969. I did my part to keep it that way.
I was first asked the question on Monday, October 6, 1969. I was in the 4th grade. The Saturday before, October 4, was the first prime-time, nationally televised college football game. It happened at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Ole Miss Rebels 33-32. But more importantly, Archie Manning’s performance that night (436 yards passing with two touchdowns and 104 yards rushing) made him famous.
Archie also made my name famous.
Yes, my last name is Manning. At school that Monday, it seemed everyone wanted to know if I was kin. Little did I know that I’d be asked the same question over and over again for the next fifty years.
In 1971, Archie was drafted to the NFL, where he played for 13 years. I was 23 years old when he retired, and Manning’s fame had widened over the years. And, somewhere over those years, I fabricated a lie. When asked if we were related, I’d say, “Archie is my 3rd cousin, once removed, on my mother’s side.”
Courtesy Colorado Springs Gazette
But, in truth, it couldn’t be possible. My mother’s family is not from the Manning line. Besides, I’ve lived most of my life in Tennessee, and Archie’s family is from Mississippi. My fabrication was hardly believable ,,, until his son Peyton signed with the Tennessee Vols.
Over the next four years, Peyton became a legend in Tennessee. So, what had been a question asked from time to time now became a constant inquiry. Suddenly, my lie became believable. It became even more credible when Peyton bought a house in my hometown!
But rather than fess up, I kept repeating the falsehood: “Peyton is my 3rd cousin, once removed, on my mother’s side.”
Over the years, I’ve wondered just how many people have thought, “What the hell! That can’t be true.”
All of this bothers me because it doesn’t fit my personality otherwise. I’m an introverted, private person. But I must admit: I’m proud to carry one of the most famous last names in sports.
My only regret is that my wife and I didn’t name our only son Archie, Peyton, Eli, or Cooper. My niece did name her dog Cooper, but I guess that doesn’t count.
