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You've just got to love Giants' Coughlin

Love never gets old, and apparently neither does Tom Coughlin.

The New York Giants are enjoying both getting better with age.

Maybe that's the most striking lesson to draw from their 21-17 victory over New England in Super Bowl XLVI.

Reports are that on the eve of Sunday night's game at Indianapolis, Coughlin gave the Giants what was described as an emotional address focusing in large part on love.

Tom Coughlin? The same Giants coach who had a reputation as a stern taskmaster? The same guy who early in his Giants tenure was considered too hard on his players?

Yes, that same Tom Coughlin.

Phil McConkey, a veteran of both the U.S. Navy and the NFL, awhile ago posted on footballproslive.com that he isn't surprised that Coughlin has demonstrated a softer side.

“Beneath that rough exterior is an extremely compassionate and caring man,” McConkey wrote.

Kurt Warner played quarterback for Coughlin in New York and saw the same qualities that McConkey saw.

The way the story goes, Coughlin asked Warner for a list of things the coach should do to be better at the job.

That was back when Coughlin would fine players for being two minutes early for a meeting because they were supposed to be five minutes early.

No wonder he had the nickname “Colonel Coughlin.”

Warner essentially suggested that Coughlin communicate his caring side to players.

Not too much later, Coughlin coached the Giants to a victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Four years later he repeated the feat.

Not too many coaches can reinvent themselves just short of their 60th birthdays, especially without compromising their values.

Now, at 65, Coughlin has his two Super Bowl championships with the Giants to match Bill Parcells, his old mentor.

The story gets even better because both of Coughlin's Super Bowl victories came over Bill Belichick, a registered NFL genius with whom he coached under Parcells.

All this despite the several times Giants fans howled for Coughlin to be fired. Maybe there is hope for Lovie Smith.

Late love must seem loverly to Coughlin and the Giants.

Going young always is a tempting sports strategy, but Coughlin wins another Super Bowl at 65 and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa won the 2011 World Series at 67.

Heck, if Theo Epstein were as smart as billed, he would have hired 90-year-old Betty White to manage the Cubs.

Seriously, the nightly news aired a feature last week indicating the trend is to value older workers because they take fewer sick days, tend not to leave for another job and relate better to people.

Coughlin exemplifies all of those. Like, La Russa retired after winning his latest championship, but Coughlin says he is having to much fun to leave.

Why go anywhere when love is in the air, anyway?

What's not to love after Coughlin rallied the Giants from despair midway through this season?

Coughlin has to love quarterback Eli Manning for driving the Giants 88 yards to the winning touchdown.

Then there has to be enough love left for wide receiver Mario Manningham, who made the catch of the game to keep the winning drive alive.

Finally, Coughlin has to love former Bears assistant Perry Fewell, who coordinated the Giants' defense that limited the potent Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady to a measly 17 points.

Let's just say that love conquers all at any age, especially for Tom Coughlin.

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