As the music world mourns the loss of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, the 69-year-old member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band who died Saturday of complications from a stroke, it’s important to remember that Clemons had a strong connection to the football world, too.
Clemons once was scheduled to try out for the Browns. A serious car accident the day before caused Clemons to miss the session, and that was the end of his flirtation with pro football.
“I loved the sport, I loved the game,” Clemons told Bill Lubinger of the Cleveland Plain Dealer earlier this year. He played center and defensive end at Maryland State College, now known as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, from 1960 through 1964. Clemons eventually attracted the attention of the Browns, who viewed him as a possible offensive lineman.
When Springsteen and his band served as the halftime entertainment at Super Bowl XLIII, Clemons realized a dream, in a slightly different way.
“I finally made it to the Super Bowl,” Clemons said. “Maybe if I had made [the Browns], I might have taken them there, I don’t know.”
We send our condolences to Clemons’ family, friends, and colleagues.
