My first favorite football team was Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers and their QB was my favorite player, Bart Starr. When Lombardi left the Packers, I became a Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings fan. But my earliest memories of football are the team with the gold helmets, like my Dad's Boyle County teams wore.
One of the ways I can stay connected to my love for the game of football is reading Vince Lombardi's RUN TO DAYLIGHT every summer. It is the diary of a week from the 1962 season as they prepared to play the Detroit Lions. I enjoy reading the names of great Packers and Lions as they prepared that week. Names like Herb Adderly, Jimmy Taylor, Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, Ron Kramer, Jerry Kramer, Fuzzy Thurston, Forrest Gregg, Will Wood, Alex Karras, Joe Schmidt, Night Train Lane, Milt Plum and many more.
Reading the book, you can imagine Lombardi saying the words on the pages. It allows the reader to see more of how Lombardi interacted with his players and those around him. Yes, he was very tough. But, he also listened to others and was much more thoughtful in how he dealt with his players than the typical way that Lombardi is portrayed in popular culture. Bottom line, it is really cool to feel like you are having a conversation with Coach Lombardi.
I learn something new every time I read his book and it always makes me a better coach. What I learn would probably bore many people. And, writing about all of those insights would turn into plagiarism..... MOST of the pages in the book have either turned down corners or particular passages highlighted.
All of that is beneficial, but not the reason WHY I try to read it before every season.
Reading Run To Daylight keeps me connected to my original love of football.
When I was a little guy, I always wanted to be around my Dad's players at games and practices. Hard to believe now, but one of my best memories was after a Boyle win at Anderson County, I got to ride the bus home with the team. My love of bus rides has diminished significantly.
I also watched every bit of college and pro football on TV. And, then, of course, would have to go outside to BE those guys that I had just watched with my Dad.
I enjoy being a head football coach. But, there is a bunch of stuff that goes with the job that have very little to do with football. A bunch of that stuff is not fun either. If I don't make a conscious effort to prevent it, that "stuff" gets bigger than the game of football and can take my focus off all the things I enjoy about football, our coaches, and especially being around our players.
Just this morning, we had a scouting rep at our workout. He couldn't get over what a great indoor facility we have at Mercer. He was very impressed. It really struck me how much I take for granted and that I don't always appreciate we have an indoor football field with grass and lines! If I were 5 years old, my Dad wouldn't be able to get me out of there!
Today is our last workout day until July 10th. I am excited about the season. Lombardi's book has reconnected me to a bunch of great memories of my Dad and first experiences with the game of football.... to the point that I can't imagine that I could ever walk away from coaching. And as for me and Lombardi, at least I can say I like hamburgers and probably eat as many as he did. :)
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