| Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley | | | | "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase |
| College football's annual bowl season is full of | | | | perfection we can catch excellence." |
| surprises and spectacular moments. Famous coaches | | | | "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect |
| have had some memorable remarks about American's | | | | practice makes perfect." |
| most popular sport, and here are some of them by | | | | "Success demands singleness of purpose." |
| legendary Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi, | | | | "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's |
| who many consider to be the best of the best. | | | | whether you get up." |
| Lombardi's head coaching record in the National | | | | "It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline |
| Football League was second to none. In 9 years with | | | | when you're a winner, when you're number one. |
| the Green Bay Packers, Lombardi's regular season | | | | What you got to have is faith and discipline when |
| won-loss percentage was 73% (96-34-6), his | | | | you're not a winner." |
| postseason was 90% (9-1) and his total was 75% | | | | "The measure of who we are is what we do with |
| (105-35-6). | | | | what we have." |
| He took a 1-10-1 team in 1958 to an NFL title in 3 | | | | "We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time." |
| years, and went on to win 5 NFL titles in 9 years | | | | "Teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers are all |
| (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967) and three titles | | | | about. They didn't do it for individual glory. They did it |
| consecutively. He led the Packers to the first two | | | | because they loved one another." |
| Super Bowl titles in 1966 and 1967. | | | | "The difference between a successful person and |
| Lombardi's discipline was legendary. A lifelong Catholic, | | | | others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of |
| he spent 4 years in Cathedral Preparatory Seminary | | | | knowledge, but rather a lack of will." |
| to become a Catholic priest before becoming a | | | | "Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are |
| standout football player at St. Francis Preparatory | | | | a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their |
| High School. | | | | player and motivate." |
| An undersized guard at 5 foot 8 and 185 pounds, he | | | | Here are some quotes by Lombardi's players: |
| was offered and accepted a football scholarship to | | | | "When Lombardi said 'sit down,' we didn't look for a |
| Fordham University in the Bronx to play for "Sleepy" | | | | chair." - Forrest Gregg, Hall of Fame tackle. |
| Jim Crowley, one of the Four Horsemen of Notre | | | | "He prepared us so well, and he motivated us so well, |
| Dame in the 1920s. He would become part of the | | | | I felt he was a part of me on the field." Fuzzy |
| "Seven Blocks of Granite" that held Fordham's | | | | Thurston. |
| opponents scoreless several times during a 25-game | | | | "He pushed you to the end of your endurance and |
| winning streak. | | | | then beyond it. And if there was reserve there, well, |
| After coaching at Fordham, Lombardi became the | | | | he found that too." Henry Jordan, Hall of Fame |
| offensive line coach for West Point under another | | | | defensive tackle. |
| legendary head coach, Colonel Red Blaik. Lombardi | | | | "He made us better than we thought we could be." |
| then became the offensive coordinator for the New | | | | Jerry Kramer. |
| York Giants, working with defensive coordinator Tom | | | | "Coach Lombardi showed me that by working hard |
| Landry and head coach Jim Lee Howell, before | | | | and using my mind, I could overcome my weakness |
| becoming Green Bay's head coach in 1959. | | | | to the point that I could be one of the best." Bart |
| Lombardi was 59 years old when he died of cancer in | | | | Starr, Hall of Fame quarterback. |
| 1970. Grown men and Hall of Fame football players | | | | "The fear in my mind was not him but that for some |
| openly wept at his funeral. | | | | reason I would not be a part of the team and be |
| Here are some of Vince Lombardi's best known | | | | with this man." Forrest Gregg. |
| quotes: | | | | "He made you a believer. He told you what the other |
| "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do | | | | team was going to do, and he told you what you |
| they keep score?" | | | | had to do to beat them, and invariably he was right." |
| "I firmly believe than any man's finest hour, the | | | | Willie Davis, Hall of Fame defensive back. |
| greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that | | | | (Editor's Note: I have read and studied one of the |
| moment when he has worked his heart out in a good | | | | best biographies on Lombardi: When Pride Still |
| cause and lies exhausted on the field of | | | | Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi. Written by |
| battle-victorious." | | | | Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss, I highly |
| "There is no room for second place. There is only | | | | recommend his book as a great read.) |
| one place in my game and that is first place. I have | | | | Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with |
| finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I | | | | Analysis and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, |
| never want to finish second again." | | | | Movie Reviews, Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, |
| "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." | | | | and Internet Marketing. Read my sports articles on |
| "Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence." | | | | "The Sagarin Ratings: What They Are, How to Read |
| "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender." | | | | Them and What to Do With Them" and "If You |
| "Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." | | | | Thought SEC Was the Toughest NCAA Conference, |
| "Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit." | | | | Think Again". |
| "If you can accept losing, you can't win." | | | | |