Remembering "Great Man," Monsignor Higgins

Monsignor Laurence E. Higgins, a beloved Bay area icon, died on Wednesday, sad news that inspired fond reminiscence among his many long-time friends in the Buccaneer family.

Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, Coach Jon Gruden, and Monsignor Laurence HigginsIn the heyday of the great Tampa Bay Buccaneers clubs of the late '90s and early '00s, the team had a secret weapon, a master motivator of men: Monsignor Laurence E. Higgins.

"We loved his 'pregame speeches,'" said former Buccaneer safety John Lynch, laughing and verbally putting that phrase in quote marks. "I'm talking about his homilies on Saturday nights before games, of course. He was an athlete himself and he'd get into it. He'd get so fired up…