SAN DIEGO -- Chuck and John Pagano stayed on message in talking to reporters this week about the teams that they coach facing each other. Chuck Pagano is the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and younger brother John Pagano is the defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. Their two teams face off on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. “It’s always cool to see your brother before the game and what not, shake hands, give him a big hug and tell him that you love him,” Chuck Pagano told San Diego-area reporters during a conference call this week. “But it’s the Colts vs. Chargers.” John Pagano offered similar thoughts during his media availability on Thursday. “It’s Chargers vs. Colts,” John Pagano said. “That’s all it’s about. It’s a great opportunity for both of us to be in this profession, and be in it together. But it’s about Chargers-Colts -- that’s about it. Neither one of us is lining up against each other.” The last time the Chargers and Colts met with the Pagano brothers coaching was on Oct. 14, 2013, a 19-9 victory for the Chargers. John Pagano holds an 8-1 edge over his older brother, not that anyone is counting. “What do you think?” said Chuck Pagano, when asked if his younger brother reminds him on occasion of the record. “All I can go back to as a child is all of the battles I won growing up, and he can talk about these. The record is what it is. All that matters is this one and trying to get a win.” The two are taking a more subdued approach to meeting again. Father Sam Pagano, a legendary high school coach in Colorado, will not attend the game in Indianapolis, choosing instead to watch from home. And with the Colts at 0-2, John Pagano understands his older brother has a lot riding on this one. “It’s competitive,” John Pagano said. “He’s got a job to do to get his guys ready, and we’re walking into a hornets’ nest. “I’ve told these guys all week, no matter what the record is or the situation, you'd better be ready and prepared because I walked into many hornets nests when I tried to go into his bedroom when I was a kid. And I learned my lesson real quick. “So I know they’re going to be really prepared, and I’d like to say they're well-coached. So from that standpoint, we have to have our ‘A’ game up.” Chuck turns 56 on Oct. 2, and is six years older than John. Both were standout players for their father, who spent 26 seasons as the head football coach at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, winning three state titles. Sam Pagano also coached overseas in France, Italy and Germany. When Chuck was a hard-hitting strong safety for his father in high school, John served as the ball boy. And John was on the sidelines for games when his older brother starred at Wyoming. John was a good player as well, earning all-state honors as a linebacker in high school and went on to play at Mesa State. Both Chuck and John Pagano said the brothers don’t ever talk during the week leading up to a game between their two teams. “It was fun having a little brother to beat on all of the time,” Chuck Pagano said about growing up with John. “It was great experience. He may tell you that he got the better of a few of them, but that’s a lie. “It was outstanding. We were both blessed to grow up the way we grew up in this great game that we're so blessed and fortunate enough to be a part of.”
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