Ex-Aggie John Ralston Speaks

Remember John Ralston?

Neither do I, except by reputation. But I was introduced to him in the press box at Saturday’s SJSU-Utah game. He was trim and healthy looking at 83. He said he exercises daily.

I asked if he followed Utah State — a team he coached in football from 1959-62, going 31-11-1.

“Oh, yes,” he said.

Referring to the nationally ranked Utes, I said, “When you were coaching the Aggies, you used to handle these guys pretty easily.” To which he replied, “They beat us my first year, but I think I won the rest.”

He actually lost the first two and won the last two. Against BYU he lost the first season but won the next three.

Ralston, who also coached in the NFL and at Stanford and San Jose State, noted the passing of Aggie great Merlin Olsen, last March.

“It kills me Merlin Olsen died at 69 years old; that’s not fair,” Ralsotn said.

He added an interesting note by saying, “In a lifetime of football, Merlin was by far the best competitive football player I coached, and I had Jim Plunkett at Stanford. I can’t say enough about Merlin.”

Ralston went on to say the 6-5, 265-pound defensive lineman could run a 10.0 100-yard dash.

Was Olsen the greatest Aggie player of all? Any other contenders?

As for the future of the WAC, Ralston said, “I liked the WAC the way the WAC was. It breaks my heart (to see the changes.)