“We want to put on the best football game in America,” proclaimed moderator Warren Peper Thursday night as the Gridiron Greats Player Panel Discussion, part of the Medal of Honor Bowl week, began at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant.

The panel included Chan Gailey, former NFL and college coach and coach of the National team in the Medal of Honor Bowl, and former NFL players Joe DeLamielleure, Joe Jacoby, Paul Krause and Charlie Brown.

The common theme from the panel seemed to be that football was fun and not work. Recalling a story about receiving a key to the Michigan State weight room, DeLamielleure relayed, “Coach (Lou) Saban said that I would overwork myself if I kept training the way I was. But I like to say that I played very hard, and not worked hard.”

“Football was a game that I played, not a job that I had to work,” added Krause, a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

DeLamielleure, who blocked for the Buffalo Bills and O.J. Simpson, pointed to the United States military saying, “It’s not just about football; it’s about the guys who built our country so we could play football.”

Members of the panel also recalled memorable moments of their playing careers. Jacoby, another Hall of Famer, was a member of the famed “hogs” offensive line for the Washington Redskins. When Peper questioned Jacoby about being the first Redskins offensive lineman to score a touchdown, Jacoby replied, “I was in the right place at the right time. I tripped over the goal line and fell on the ball.”

This and other stories and quips all contributed to the fun, light-hearted nature of Thursday night’s panel discussion involving these NFL greats. Brown, a Lowcountry native and former Redskins receiver, was asked about his long arms and what he would do about fitting his suits, he replied, “Oh, I had no problem with that; I would get them tailor-made.”

Coach Gailey talked about his three G’s of retirement from football: gardening, golf and grandchildren. “I have gotten really good at retirement,” he admitted.

Overall, the panel discussion was a fun and insightful night, and emphasized life after the game. All of the attendees as well as the Medal of Honor Bowl Game participants got a great take on life during and after football.