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More thanfour decades afterhis death, VinceLombardi remainsone of the mostrecognizable sportsfigures of all time.His name gracesthe Super Bowl trophy.His likeness canbe seen in a 14-footstatue at LambeauField. A flamboyantfigure, his nameremains attached to some of the most famous quotes in Americansports history.In his career as head coach in Green Bay, Lombardi steered thePackers to five NFL Championships, including victories in Super BowlsI and II. He tallied a career record of 105-35-6 (regular and postseasoncombined), 98-30-4 in Green Bay.And yet, Lombardi’s name wasn’t always so recognizable.In early 1959, Green Bay was coming off a 1-10-1 season – theworst in team history. Winners of six NFL titles under Curly Lambeau,the team hadn’t had a winning season since 1947.Ray “Scooter” McLean, head coach in 1958, resigned after oneseason. Searching for McLean’s replacement, Dominic Olejniczak –then the president of the organization – became interested in a Giantsassistant coach.To that point, Lombardi had never held a head-coaching positionbeyond the high-school level, so when Olejniczak recommended himto the Packers’ executive committee, committee member John Torinusreplied, “Who the hell is Vince Lombardi?” It didn’t take long to find out.On Feb. 2, 1959, Lombardi arrived and told the committee, “Iwant it understood that I am in complete command here.” Technicallyhe wasn’t, not yet, but within two days of his arrival Olejniczak gaveLombardi not only the head-coaching job, but the vacant generalmanagerposition as well.Lombardi immediately changed the way the team looked, the way itplayed and especially how it thought. In 1959, he ordered that thePackers’ uniforms be revamped. The resulting design was almostidentical to the uniforms the team continues to wear today. In fact, theonly major modification since was the addition of the “G” helmet logo,which was added in 1961 and has never left. The logo was designed bythen-equipment manager Dad Braisher, at Lombardi’s request.Lombardi’s offense was basic and methodical. Its most famousplay, now often referred to as the “Lombardi sweep” or the “Packerssweep,” consisted of Paul Hornung or Jim Taylor following pullingguards Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston. Lombardi was famous forhis pursuit of perfection, often dedicating long hours of film study orpractice to just one element of one play.In his first team meeting after being named head coach and generalmanager, Lombardi made it clear just how determined he was to win.Looking into the eyes of players who just a season before had gone1-10-1, Lombardi said, “I have never been on a losing team, gentlemen,and I do not intend to start now.” True to his word, Lombardi neverknew a losing season as a head coach.His first season was a stunning success. He used many of thesame players from that 1-10-1 team of 1958 and finished 7-5 in 1959,winning unanimous Coach of the Year honors. His first game was a 9-6victory over the Chicago Bears in new City Stadium – later renamedLambeau Field – and when it was over, the players carried their coachoff the field in triumph.In 1960, the Packers won the Western Conference title, going 8-4.That brought Lombardi to his first NFL Championship Game, which thePackers lost 17-13 to the Eagles at Franklin Field.It didn’t take long for Lombardi to earn redemption, however. In1961, after an 11-3 season, the Packers demolished his former team,the Giants, 37-0, winning the team’s first title since 1944.His teams went on to capture four more NFL crowns: in 1962, 1965,1966 and 1967. Green Bay also won the first two Super Bowls after the1966 and 1967 titles, respectively. In Lombardi’s final game as GreenBay head coach, the Packers defeated Oakland 33-14 in Super Bowl IIat the Orange Bowl in Miami.But the Packers’ 1967 season isn’t remembered for that Super Bowl.Instead, the ’67 campaign is remembered for the NFL Championshipagainst Dallas, perhaps the most famous game in football history. NowVINCENT THOMAS LOMBARDI521commonly referred to as the “Ice Bowl,” the Lambeau Field temperatureat kickoff that day (Dec. 31, 1967) was minus-13, with the wind chilldipping to 46-below.Lombardi had heating coils installed underneath the Lambeau Fieldturf prior to the season. But on a day when they were dearly needed,the coils malfunctioned or – some believe – were intentionally turnedoff. As a result, thefield turned into asheet of ice.With 13 secondsleft, BartStarr’s 1-yardtouchdown plungegave the Packers acome-from-behind21-17 victory.Lombardiretired as headcoach after theseason, butretained his generalmanager’sduties for onemore year.Ultimately,Lombardi wasbored being “outof action” and in1969 acceptedthe head coachingposition withthe WashingtonRedskins, a teamthat hadn’t had awinning seasonin 13 years. InLombardi’s firstand only seasonin Washington,the Redskins went7-5-2.Shortly afterLombardi’s 1970death, beforeSuper Bowl V,CommissionerPete Rozelle madeLOMBARDI AT A GLANCE• In early 1959, president Dominic Olejniczakphoned George Halas to ask aboutLombardi. Halas reluctantly told him ifthe Packers hired Lombardi, the Bearswould be in trouble. Lombardi’s teamswere 13-5 against Halas.• His first club in 1959 went 7-5; rosterof 1958 squad (1-10-1) included LB BillForester, T Forrest Gregg, DB Hank Gremminger,T Dave Hanner, HB Paul Hornung,G Jerry Kramer, E Max McGee, LB RayNitschke, QB Bart Starr and FB Jim Taylor– all keys to ‘60s dynasty.• Lombardi’s players carried him off thefield at least five times, including his firstand last games coaching the Packers(Sept. 27, 1959, vs. Chicago, and SuperBowl II, Jan. 14, 1968, vs. Oakland).• Had little patience for players who madecontract demands, and did not discriminate.Lombardi shipped 1950s superstarBilly Howton to Cleveland. Then, in 1964when future Hall of Famer Jim Ringo andhis agent showed up in Lombardi’s office,the coach allegedly left for five minutes,then returned to tell them he’d justtraded Ringo to the Eagles.• Revamped uniforms in 1959 (they’vebarely changed since); asked equipmentman Dad Braisher to design “G” helmetlogo, added in 1961.• Oldest of five children, he toiled severalyears (including a job at duPont for $20/week) before landing only previous headcoachingpost – at St. Cecilia’s (N.J.) HighSchool, where he also taught chemistry,physics, algebra and Latin.• Recruited to Fordham by Jimmy Crowley,who played football at Green Bay EastHigh School.what remains arguably the greatest tribute in league history, naming theSuper Bowl championship trophy the Vince Lombardi Trophy.In August 2003, before the rededication of a renovated LambeauField, the Packers unveiled statues of Lombardi and team founderCurly Lambeau in what is now the Robert E. Harlan Plaza outside theLambeau Field Atrium. Each statue is 14 feet high atop a 4-foot baseand 2-foot steps.Lombardi was named head coach of the Packers when he was 45years old. Before coming to the Packers, he was an assistant coachwith the New York Giants. Lombardi also coached at Army. As aplayer, he was one of the legendary “Seven Blocks of Granite” as aguard at Fordham.Perhaps the most famous quote commonly attributed to Lombardiwasn’t even his own. Legendary actor John Wayne uttered the phrase“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!” in a 1953 film calledTrouble Along the Way. Lombardi may have borrowed that phrase,but many of his other memorable quotes are believed to be his alone.Vincent Thomas Lombardi, born June 11, 1913, in Brooklyn, N.Y.,died of cancer Sept. 3, 1970, at the age of 57.Year COACHING W L T Pct Finish Playoffs1959 Green Bay 7 5 0 .583 3-NFL Western Conference -1960 Green Bay 8 4 0 .667 1-NFL Western Conference 0-11961 Green Bay# 11 3 0 .786 1-NFL Western Conference 1-01962 Green Bay# 13 1 0 .929 1-NFL Western Conference 1-01963 Green Bay 11 2 1 .846 2-NFL Western Conference -1964 Green Bay 8 5 1 .615 2-NFL Western Conference -1965 Green Bay# 10 3 1 .769 1-NFL Western Conference 2-01966 Green Bay# 12 2 0 .857 1-NFL Western Conference 2-01967 Green Bay# 9 4 1 .692 1-NFL Central Division 3-01969 Washington 7 5 2 .583 2-NFL Capitol Division -NFL totals (10 years) 96 34 6 .739 9-1Green Bay (9 years) 89 29 4 .754 9-1#—Won NFL championshipCOMMUNITYADMIN. &COACHESDRAFT &VETERANS FREE AGENTS 2012 REVIEWLOMBARDIVINC3E LOMBARDILAMBEAUFIELD MISC.