Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden extols MIAA: ‘That’s some (darn) good football’
I’m unsure of how it started, but college football teams have been sending boxes of swag to former Raiders/Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden and he opens them in videos shared on social media.
Gruden’s encyclopedic knowledge of college football comes through as he talks about former players and coaches at the schools as he’s looking at the gift boxes full of shirts and pants. Sometimes the schools throw in helmets and shoes, too.
A few weeks ago, Gruden posted videos of the gear he received from a couple of local Division II programs: Pittsburg State and Missouri Western.
“In this MIAA conference, there’s some good football, man,” Gruden said. “That’s Pittsburg State. Remember we talked about them? That’s Emporia State. I mean, Northwest Missouri, Washburn. There’s some damn good football in this conference, and they’ve had some good alumni here.”
Gruden pulled out a shirt from Missouri Western and added: “Look at this. Griffin football. Look at that. This is where Jonathan Owens played. You know, that guy that married Simone Biles, the gymnast. He married her. He plays for the Arizona Cardinals right now. He’s been around the league a little bit, but they’ve had some good players, a kicker, Greg Zuerlein, a bomber kicker in the NFL, and some really good coaches. Paul Rhoads went to Northwest Missouri. He is currently, I don’t think coaching, but he was head coach at Iowa State.”
Gruden then recounted his visit to the Chiefs training camp, which is held at Missouri Western.
“I was there with the Kansas City Chiefs as like a guest for five days, I stayed in the dorm,” Gruden said. “And the Chiefs have made a great contribution to Missouri Western football, the practice fields. I mean, the stadium, the weight room, phenomenal. And your players get a chance to train like freaking Griffons.”
Love for Pitt State
Gruden also opened a box of fun stuff from Pittsburg State and he mentioned that actor Gary Busey once played for the Gorillas.
“This is one of the greatest football programs nobody really knows about,” Gruden said. “Everybody’s into the college playoffs and all this. NIL money and transfer portal, Pittsburg State is Division II, and they’ve won more games in Division II football than any other ball club ever. Hell of a program.”
Gruden mentioned former Gorillas coaches Chuck Broyles and Dennis Franchione, as well as current Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who played at Pittsburg State.
Gruden was an assistant at Southeast Missouri State in the 1980s, and he often visited MIAA schools.
“This Pittsburg State football team in Pittsburgh, Kansas, it’s about 30 miles from Joplin,” Gruden said. “You know how I know this? I know this because I used to recruit the Kansas junior colleges when I was a college coach. I’d go to Dodge City, Hutchinson, Garden City, Independence, Butler. I’d go to all these different Kansas junior colleges. And I’d see Pittsburg, Kansas. And I love Pittsburg, Kansas. This is the home of the Gorillas, man. Twenty-seven conference championships. I’m telling you, this is where really good, talented, tough football players go.”
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM.
