[1] He was an All-America fullback at Texas A&M University and a two-time All-Pro with the Los Angeles Rams (1963) and the Washington Redskins (1971).

After completing college at Texas A&M, Pardee was selected with the first pick of the second round (14th overall) in the 1957 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams as a linebacker.

With Kelly and Doug Flutie both vying for the role of starting quarterback, and Herschel Walker in the backfield, the Generals were poised to dominate the USFL, but the league folded prior to the 1986 season.

During his three-year stint, the Cougars, using the same offense he coached in the USFL, produced the first-ever African American quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, Andre Ware.

[6] Not long after Pardee's arrival, however, Houston was slapped with crippling NCAA sanctions due to numerous major violations under his predecessor, Bill Yeoman.

In 1990, Pardee packed up the run-and-shoot offense and moved across town, and back to the NFL, by joining the Houston Oilers.

The Oilers won another division title in 1993 on the strength of winning their last 11 games despite their season being wracked with turmoil on and off the field.

However, after losing in the second round of the playoffs, owner Bud Adams made good on a threat to hold a fire sale if they did not make the Super Bowl.

Birmingham owner Art Williams thought Pardee's roots in the six-man game made him a natural fit.

In December 2007, Pardee, then 71, was contacted by athletic director Dave Maggard about the vacant head coaching job at the University of Houston.

Signaling interest, he made it as far as a finalist for the position, but the school moved forward with Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin.

His grandson Payton Pardee then was tight ends coach at Texas A & M University-Commerce [10] after playing wide receiver at the University of Houston.