Vince Lambardi Essay, Research Paper

Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi was a father, and a husband, and he had a great impact on today s

view on professional football as well as other sports.

On Jun 11, 1913 born (and grew up) in Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, NY;

first of five children (2 sisters, 2 brothers) to Henry Lombardi and Matilda Izzo

Lombardi. And in the 1920s experimented with boxing as a teenager and didn\’t like it. In

1928 started his studies for priesthood at Cathedral Prep in Brooklyn. 1930 decided not to

become a priest; switched high schools and went to St. Francis Prep; played fullback on

the football team.

In 1933 he graduated from high school and went on to Fordham University;

played guard on the freshman football team. And from 1934 to 1936 he played guard on

the varsity football team at Fordham. In 1936 was one of the \”Seven Blocks of Granite\”

on the Fordham football team.

In 1937 graduated from Fordham University magna cum laude; went on to

Fordham Law School at night; worked as an investigator for a finance company; played

semi-pro football for a couple of years, including a stint in 1939 with the Wilmington

Clippers of the American Football Association.

In 1939 took job as assistant football coach at St. Cecilia High School in

Englewood, NJ; also coached basketball and baseball and taught Latin, algebra, physics

and chemistry for $1700 per year. And in 1940 married Marie. In 1946 turned down a

$15,000 a year construction job to keep his $3500 a year coaching job at St. Cecilia.

In 1947 left St. Cecilia to become freshman football coach at Fordham University.

1948 became varsity assistant coach at Fordham. An in 1949 left Fordham to become

varsity offensive line coach at West Point. But in 1954 took first NFL job as assistant

coach for New York Giants.

In 1959 took job as Head Coach and GM with Green Bay; arrived in Green Bay in

February. In 1968 retired from football after 9 seasons with Packers. But in 1969 came

back to NFL as head coach of Washington Redskins. May 16, 1970 one of five charter

members inducted into the Fordham University Hall of Fame.

Sep 3, 1970 died at Georgetown University Hospital; had only coached one season

at Washington. 1971 inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jan 1975 inducted into

the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.

Vince an outstanding coach. As the head coach of the Green Bay Packers his

record was 141 wins and 39 loses and 4 ties including pre and post season games. When

the Packers won the Superbowl against the Raiders in 1968, Lombardi gave his players

rings with three diamonds for the three straight NFL Championships and also to honor his

retirement from coaching. Vince was also named four time Coach of the Year by his

players and his fellow peers. Vince believes that you have desire and preparation in order

to have success on or off the field.

Vince Lombardi was a hard coach, who believed in discipline. He gave his team no

interference, no letdowns, and gave them no sign of weakness or pity. In below zero

degree weather, he had his players in unbearable style practice because he believed if your

going to play in it your going to have to practice in it. Vince established what is now

known as a summer camp for the returning players. They return during the off season to

get back in shape for the up coming season in professional football.

Lombardi s job was football and the closest he ever got to the football end of

football was making trades. (Klein 109) After a devastating lost to the Minnesota Vikings,

Lombardi made a trip down to the locker room and talked to a few of the players softly,

and then he roamed around looking at all the players and said There are to many damn

blue shirts, too many damn sideburns! What he was trying to get a cross to the men is

that they all need to grow up and put foolish things behind them. He would not take the

crap that today s players would give him. In order to get respect from a man like Vince

you would have to earn it from him, because you will not get it any other way. He

believed desire and preparation determined success whether on the football field or on the

business field. (Lombardi Jr. 1)

In 1968, he resigned as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He instead became

the manger. (Klein 107) Lombardi redesigned the Press Box at Lambeau Field to have a

sound proof room in the corner. This was so he could yell at the team, and no one will

hear but himself and the selected few with him. That way what is said stays in the room.

He transformed the Packers into a powerhouse-full of glory and pride. Lombardi was last

of the old breed. He emphasizes teamwork, character, loyalty, discipline, and

obedience. (Jones 82)

Vince could survive today s harsh football career. He s flexible as a coach which is

a must in today s game. Vince is widely regard as one often greatest coach is sports today,

he is a model of excellence for the other coach out there. Lombardi takes complete

responsibility for his team action on as well off the field, and he also cares for his players.

He treats them with such admiration and love as if they were is own son. Vince Lombardi

is a great man with a great sense of coaching that was before his time. In 1971 Vince was

put in the Hall of Fame. He has an uncanny ability to motivate and has a drive for

success. (Lombardi Jr. 1) On June 24, 1970 Vince was put in to a hospital at

Georgetown University in D.C. after having pains in the abdominal. After 12 hours of

surgery they found he had terminal cancer of the intestinal. On September 3, 1970 at

7:20am Vince died with his wife Marie at his side. He has influenced many of today s

coaches not only in football but in all other kinds of sports as well.