Texans president Jamey Rootes saluted legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula at the grand opening of Shula's restaurant in Houston.
An evening that combines great food with football and charitable giving sounds pretty much perfect. Well, that's exactly what the Texans got when they helped legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula celebrate the grand opening of Shula's Steak House in Houston.
"On behalf of Bob McNair and the entire Houston Texans family, it gives us great pleasure to welcome to Houston and to the Texans Shula's Steakhouse," Texans president Jamey Rootes said.
Rootes welcomed Shula to the city by presenting the winningest coach in NFL history with a game ball singed by the entire Texans team.
"Coach, we admire you for all you have done in your career," Rootes said to Shula. "We respect all that you stand for, but tonight we thank you for bringing this great restaurant to our community and we toast you."
{QUOTE} After leading the crowd in a toast to Shula, Rootes turned to the focus of the evening: raising support for the Houston Texans YMCA.
"We are very passionate about the game of football and we are equally passionate about out community," Rootes said. "Just recently, we announced a unique partnership with the YMCA to have a tremendous impact on the youth of our community, building the first-ever Texans YMCA."
The Texans hosted silent and live auctions, which featured Texans, NFL and other sports memorabilia, to benefit the Houston Texans Foundation. The auctions raised a total of $20,000, all of which will go toward the construction of the Houston Texans YMCA, which will be built at the corner of Griggs and MLK.
Channel 11's Giff Nielsen emceed the gathering of approximately 400 people, which included former Oilers such as coach Bum Phillips and quarterback Dan Pastorini and Texans players and coaches.
Right tackle Eric Winston and center Chris Myers, who both played in college at Miami, enjoyed hearing from Shula and looking at historic Dolphins memorabilia.
Attendees were treated to a tour of the restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency and a delicious spread of seafood and steaks.
Shula's restaurant pays homage to the 1972 Dolphins' "Perfect Season" when Miami became the only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated and win the Super Bowl. Shula spoke to guests about the legacy of football in Texas and the bright future of the Texans.
All in all, the night was pretty much perfect.
