Vince Lombardi was a great man, many say. He exemplifiedthat American ideal that greatness can only be achieved byhard work and discipline. However, Lombardi’s life was farfrom perfect. He did not begin his career as the head coachof the great Green Bay Packers of the 1960’s; hardly, as hebegan as a lowly assistant at a run down Catholic highschool, just scraping by. Soon, however, it became apparent that Lombardi was noaverage coach. His intensity, his undeniably scorching hotpassion for football made him an immediate success. Soon hewas the head coach of St. Cecilia High School, leading it tosuccess for the first time in its history. Of course,success is the knock on the door of opportunity, and sooncolleges came calling.Lombardi made his return to his alma mater of Fordhamjust as the program was being restarted after World War II. As the offensive coordinator, he ignited a Fordham team thathad been de-emphasizing football right before he got there.However, his success actually hindered him. Soon, agroup of boosters began to secretly prepare to dispose ofhead coach Ed Danowski. While Danowski was truly unfit forthe position, the media began to rally around him as theproper temperament for the highly explosive Lombardi. WhileLombardi made it publicly known that he had nothing to dowith the attempted coup, Danowski treated him with contemptfrom there on out, quickly pushing Lombardi to want toleave. After Danowski gave the ultimatum that either he orLombardi must go, Vince, was asked to leave his dream ofreturning Fordham back to its glory days of when he was aplayer there. Nonetheless, Lombardi would not be held down. He soonbegan coaching at West Point for Army. There, he learnedthe regimented practices that you would assume occurred at amilitary academy. He learned to focus his efforts at thisparticular moment, and not to waste any time that was notnecessary. After coaching at West Point, Lombardi moved o...
