Young Raiders Will Drive to Greatness Down Al Davis Way

Al Davis’ name has been synonymous with the Raiders from the day in 1963 when he took over as coach and general manager in Oakland, and it will continue to be that way—even in Las Vegas.

A new version of the Al Davis Torch, this one 92 feet tall, has been erected inside $2-billion Allegiant Stadium, and outside a street sign that reads Al Davis Way was posted in the last several days at the intersection with Dean Martin Drive.

“I think the changing over of the street name (to Al Davis Way) is an important step in highlighting the legacy of the incredible franchise and the work that so many people put into this stadium,” Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft said. “The thousands of men and women who literally built the stadium—the reward of that is soon to be seen and noticed around the world.”

Al Davis Way is a short portion of the street that leads to the private road of Allegiant Stadium at a three-way stop including Hacienda Avenue and Aldebaran Avenue, a name which soon will be changed to Allegiant Stadium Way.

The Oakland Raiders were a struggling franchise coming off seasons of 2-12 and 1-13 in the American Football League when Davis became a coach and general manager in ’63 and changed the team colors of black and gold to the now-famous Silver and Black.

Not only that, but Davis also led the Raiders to a 10-4 record that season, beating the AFL champion San Diego Chargers in both meetings, and was voted the AFL’s Coach of the Year.

The Raiders’ early success under Davis helped lead to sellouts of 53,000-plus fans at the Oakland Coliseum, which opened in 1966.

In the years to come, Davis built the Raiders into one of the most famous franchises in sports, with fans around the world, and during a short stint as AFL Commissioner in 1966, he helped force the merger with the National Football League that went into effect in 1970.

Davis returned to the Raiders as managing general partner, never to coach again, but molded the team that would win Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII, and ran the team until the day he passed away in 2011 at the age of 82.

Davis’ son, Mark, took over control of the Raiders and orchestrated the team’s move to Las Vegas, just as his father did in moving the Silver and Black to Los Angeles in 1982, before bringing them back to Oakland in 1995.

It was Al Davis, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, who came up with the Raiders’ slogans of “Commitment to Excellence,” and “Just Win, Baby!”

Even when the Raiders were on top, Davis also said constantly: “The greatness of the Raiders is in the future.”

Looking at the promising young players General Manager Mike Mayock and Coach Jon Gruden have brought in, that figures to happen sooner rather than later in Las Vegas.

Fittingly, they will do it after driving down Al Davis Way.

Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

Want the latest breaking Las Vegas Raiders news delivered straight to your email for FREE? Sign up for the DAILY Raiders Nation newsletter when you CLICK THE FOLLOW button on the main page. Don't miss any of the latest up to the second updates for your Las Vegas Raiders when you follow on Twitter @HondoCarpenter