When Marty Schottenheimer was head coach of the Browns from midway through the 1984 season, when he was promoted from defensive coordinator upon the firing of Sam Rutigliano, until just after the conclusion of the 1988 season, when he either resigned or was fired, whatever you choose to believe, he was asked one time by a reporter what advice he gives to his son, Brian, then a young quarterback at Strongsville High School.

“I tell him to listen to his coach,” Schottenheimer said simply.

I thought of that story when I saw the photo on the front page of USA Today’s sports section the other day of Brian, all grown up now, sitting next to Jerry Jones, who had a wide smile on his face, at Schottemhrimer’s introductory press conference as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

It is his first head-coaching job at any level.

I don’t know how Schottenheimer will do in his new very, very high-profile job of coaching America’s team. I want to think that he will succeed, but you just never know.

I also don’t know if Jones will respect Schottenheimer enough, as he did one-time no-nonsense head coach Bill Parcells, to refrain from running right over top of him to micro-manage the team, as he is want to do. I want to believe that Jones has learned his lesson in that regard, but I don’t know if he ever will.

But I do know this: Schottenheimer comes from very good stock, so he is well-versed in football, coaching and, even more important, integrity, fairness, leadership and a strong understanding of the difference between right and wrong in sports, and life.

And I also know that somewhere up in Heaven, his dad is looking down and smiling broadly, even moreso than Jerry Jones. After all, every father secretly hopes that his son will follow in his footsteps.

Steve King