Later, the former players said they gave Walz a football they had signed, shook hands and hugged him.
Sutton could be seen grinning ear-to-ear with Walz after the speech. He said he was glad to support his former assistant coach and see players he hadn’t seen in decades.
Sutton, 62, spoke in the middle of football practice. Now co-head coach at Farmington High School, he flew to Chicago after practice Tuesday, attended the convention Wednesday and took a 7:15 a.m., flight Thursday so he could still run morning practice, he said.
Sutton said he’s heard the criticisms that Walz is taking too much credit for the 1999 and 2002 runs, but said Thursday that he doesn’t put much stock in them.
“People have inferred in the media that he’s coach and that means head coach — Tim has never said that,” Sutton said. “Tim and I had and have a good relationship. People are going to think what they’re going to think.”
The former players on Thursday said they were flying back home, having first attended a breakfast with Walz. Hood, the former outside linebacker, said while people may disagree with his former coach on policy, he believes in Walz’s character after seeing him again.