SUN HERALD ARCHIVE: Brett wins one for dad

Izell French seemed to be speaking for most of the Favre family.

"I sure hope Brett can win this game for his daddy," said French, Favre’s maternal grandmother. And that’s what Brett Favre did Monday night, completing 22 of 30 passes for 399 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 41-7 win over the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif.

Most of the Favre family came to Irvin and Bonita Favre’s home to watch Brett, Hancock County’s favorite son, just one day after Irvin, the former ball coach, friend, husband and father, died at the age of 58.

From 10 to 15 family members were together at any given moment in what was a somber occasion, even as they celebrated son Scott’s 36th birthday and Brett’s record-setting performance.

However, they all seemed to know the game offered but a mere respite and the reality of the situation would return after the Monday Night Football telecast.

"We know this will be the easiest time we will have," Bonita Favre said. "We have already had some time to grieve, but when Brett gets back (today), it will all start over again."

Irvin Favre died Dec. 22, 2003, the victim of a massive heart attack.

Bonita was a little more animated when actually talking about Irv, saying no one would have wanted to sit near the former Hancock North Central High School football coach once Brett got going in a game.

Like when he completed his first 13 consecutive passes Monday night against the Raiders.

"He would put bruises on you if you didn’t get out of the way," Bonita said with grin. "He would get those elbows and knees to going, and you better hope you weren’t in the line of fire."

Scott, whose 2-year-old son, Max, kept a sense of levity on the evening, recalled his dad’s life and how everyone who had known him had good things to say.

"If there is one good thing to come out of this, it’s all of the love I have seen people show toward Dad," Scott Favre said. "Dad was really all about family. So, for all of us to be here tonight watching (Brett play) is really ironic."

Actually everyone already was scheduled to be together Monday for a birthday party at the family restaurant, Favre’s on the Bayou. The party went on, albeit at home, as cake and ice cream were served and Scott opened gifts.

In fact, other than a photo of Irv with candles in front of it set up in the kitchen area, the house looked much like any Packers Monday night party in the Favre home.

Action figures of Brett were on the coffee table in the living room. Books of Packers history were lying around and everyone was dressed in Green Bay attire.

And when the game started, it was hard to tell anything was going on other than a football game, especially when the crew of 12 in the living room erupted with cheers when Brett connected with another Mississippian, tight end Wesley Walls, for a touchdown early in the first quarter.

"Dad would have enjoyed this," Scott said. "He talked football all the time, and this would have been perfect. I’m not sure the full effect of all of this has set in on any of us completely, but this is a great time for all of us to be together.

"We have all been around football all of our lives with Dad. It’s what we all know," Scott said as he glanced around the room.

Irv had brought football to everyone in that room, and Brett’s performance on football’s biggest stage was proof of that.

The irony wasn’t lost on anyone there.