“What do you think about the execution of the team?” (sports joke)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head football coach John McKay (1923-2001) was asked by a reporter after a loss what he thought about the execution of the team’s offense. “I’m in favor of it (execution—ed.),” McKay replied. The joke quickly became a sports classic.
 
The line has been cited in print since at least November 22, 1979. The citation indicated that McKay’s remark had been made “after his Tampa Bay Bucs lost a game recently.”
 
“What do you think of the musician’s execution?”/“I’m in favor of it” is a performing arts version of the joke that became popular in the early 1900s.
 
   
Wikipedia: John McKay (American football)
John Harvey McKay (July 5, 1923 – June 10, 2001) was an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Southern California from 1960 to 1975 and of the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976 to 1984. In 16 seasons at USC, McKay compiled a record of 127–40–8 and won nine AAWU/Pac-8 conference titles. His teams made eight appearances in the Rose Bowl, with five wins. Four of his squads captured national titles (1962, 1967, 1972, 1974).
 
Following a disappointing 1975 season, McKay moved to the NFL as the first head coach of the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1976 and 1977, Tampa Bay lost the first 26 games, but improved by the end of the 1970s. The Bucs made the playoffs three times under McKay, including an appearance in the NFC Championship Game in 1979. McKay was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1988.
 
22 November 1979, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), “Browns notes” by Russell Schneider, pg. 2-C, col. 6:
Rutigliano shared a story from the coaches’ fraternity relating to John McKay, after his Tampa Bay Bucs lost a game recently. He was asked, “What do you think about the execution of your team?” McKay replied with a straight face. “I’m all for it.”
 
Google News Archive
5 November 1980, The Press (Pittsburgh, PA), “Tampa’s McKay Never At A Loss For Words” by John Clayton, pg. F-1, col. 1:
Yes, John McKay. The master of the one-liner. Somebody once asked him about his team’s execution, and he replied, “I’m in favor of it.”
 
9 November 1981, San Diego (CA) Union, “Music Reveals Chargers’ Malaise” by Barry Lorge, pg. D-2, col. 2:
Which brought to mind an old line from John McKay. the Tampa Bay coach who is earthy and imaginative enough to be a Country & Western lyricist. Asked once after a particularly galling loss what he thought about his team’s execution, he said: “I’m in favor of it.”
   
Google Groups: alt.sports.football.mn-vikings
Sherman is OC
Ron Gibson
3/15/99
(...)
He was a great coach.  In our early years we had a terrible offensive line.  They couldn’t block air.  After another terrible day Coach McKay was asked, “What do you think about the execution of the offensive line?” He replied, “I’m all for it.”
 
Google Groups: alt.sports.football.pro.tampabay-bucs
John Mckay Remembered: Favorite Quotes
Joe Cool
6/10/01
(After a Bucs game where the offense was anemic)
Reporter:  “What do you think about the execution of your offense?”
John McKay: “I’m in favor of it…”
   
Sports Illustrated
Originally Posted: September 27, 2004
They Said It
Think of the people quoted here as the spiritual descendants of Yogi Berra, imparting precious pearls of wisdom
JOHN MCKAY, 1980
Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach, asked what he thought of his team’s execution following a 34—27 loss to Cleveland:
“I think it’s a good idea.”
 
Twitter
Anthony Andro
‏@aandro
A fitting quote for tonight from John McKay ... Q: What do you think about the execution of your team? McKay: I’m in favor of it.
10:21 PM - 10 Jun 2014
 
Twitter
mike freeman
‏@mikefreemanNFL
Reporter: Lovie, what do you think about the execution of your offense tonight?
Lovie: I’m in favor of it.
9:54 PM - 18 Sep 2014
   
247Sports—Carolina Blue
November 16, 2014
UNC’s passing thwarts Robert Morris’ zone
Brooke Pryor
(...)
“It’d be that old joke about, ‘what do you think about the execution of our team’ and the coach says, ‘I’m in favor of it,’” Williams said of his team’s execution against the zone Friday night.