Article CategoriesAFM Magazine
|
Earl Blaik© More from this issueWhen Earl "Red" Blaik took over a floundering Army program on Christmas Day in 1940, it marked the start of a new chapter in the history of West Point football—what became the most successful era in the history of the U.S. Military Academy. The Black Knights would win 121 games and three national titles over the next 18 seasons. In addition to winning football games, Blaik will forever be remembered for coaching back-to-back Heisman Trophy winning Cadets Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard in 1945-46. And his book You Have to Pay the Price will always be emblematic of his no-nonsense, hard-nosed coaching philosophy. Legendary sideline figures Vince Lombardi and Sid Gillman were among the greats who coached under him. Blaik was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1964 and was accorded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1986. "There is no substitute for work. It is the price of success." "I don't want anyone limping through a workout. If you have to limp, don't work out. But if you work out, don't limp." "The essence of the game - the only 'fun' of the game - is the soul-satisfying awareness that comes not only with victory but also with the realization that victory more than justifies all the communal work and sacrifice that went into it." "Young men respect authority and a football team cannot be coached by committee action." "I was just as concerned about the injured man as you were. But to be consoling an injured man is bad for you and bad for him. It breeds a softness that is inimical to success." "You don't develop good teeth by eating mush." "There never was a champion who to himself was a good loser. There's a vast difference between a good sport and a good loser." "Inches make a champion and a champion makes his own luck." "Good fellows are a dime a dozen, but an aggressive leader is priceless." "There's no end to ideas. I sleep with a pad alongside my bed." "Football is a marvelous game because of its limitless permutations and combinations of men in action." |
|
HOME |
MAGAZINE |
SUBSCRIBE | ONLINE COLUMNISTS | COACHING VIDEOS |
Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved