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Record-breaking start

12/01/2009


With a 11-0 start, Jim Caldwell broke the long-standing record for the best start by a rookie head coach.
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It is not generally easy for rookie coaches in the National Football League to make history but that is exactly what Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell did this past weekend. The Colts improved to a perfect 11-0 with a 35-27 comeback victory over the Houston Texans in Week 12 action on Sunday. The win allowed Caldwell to break the 48-year-old record for the best start by a rookie head coach.
 

Caldwell supplanted the mark held by Houston Oilers coach Wally Lemm who began his head coaching career in 1961 with a string of 10 straight victories. That year Lemm took over the coaching reins from Lou Rymkus in Week Six of the season after the team stumbled out of the gate with a 1-3-1 start. From then on it was smooth sailing for the Oilers as Lemm guided the club to nine straight wins to finish the regular season with a 10-3-1 record. The record 10th straight success occurred in the AFL championship game with a 10-3 triumph over the San Diego Chargers.

Caldwell’s 11 straight wins has not been easy. This past weekend’s rally was the Colts’ fifth consecutive win after trailing in the fourth quarter. Hopefully for Colts fans, the record will translate to a league championship just as it did for the Oilers almost 50 years ago.

 
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