In a Sports Illustrated profile published last summer, Vince Young said that he had sent a letter in 2013 to former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, apologizing for his immaturity during the duo’s partnership years earlier. Young told SI that Fisher had never responded, forcing the quarterback to conclude, “he doesn’t give two s—- about me.”
Fisher declined to comment for SI‘s story, but on Saturday he finally addressed the letter, at local radio station 104.5 The Zone’s SportsFest. And even after hearing his side of the story, it remains tough not to think he went about things the wrong way.
“Yes, I got a letter from Vince,” Fisher said. “And I didn’t respond. My name was spelled wrong on the letter, the letter came from the University of Texas, and I had no way of knowing if it was (really) from him. It came from the athletic department. But my name was spelled incorrectly.
“I still have it. But I didn’t know if it was from him so I felt no need to respond.”
Fisher then reportedly added, “I thought if it was from him, he would have maybe spelled my name right.”
So Fisher has two explanations for why he never responded to Young. 1. He was suspicious of the University of Texas return address. 2. His name was spelled wrong.
Well, the first explanation is profoundly silly. Young was indeed working at the University of Texas around the time of the letter, and it presumably wouldn’t have taken Fisher great effort to learn as much.
And as for the second… holy crap, is it petty to hold a grudge over a misspelling. Sure, Young probably should have known how to spell his ex-coach’s name, but is that really a reason to reject what sounds like an earnest attempt at reconciliation? Vince wanted to make amends with his coach, and Fisher rebuffed him because the quarterback added an extra letter to his name?
Jeff Fisher has never exactly been known as a warm and fuzzy type, but that is not a good look.
