Originally Posted by Vegas Vic
Many psychics are in concurrence that Bill Walsh, in a previous life, had an impact on the game going all the way back to 1892, when he influenced Amos Alonzo Stagg, the coach of the University of Chicago from 1892 to 1932. Under the guidance of Walsh, Stagg originated many techniques, including the shifts of linemen and backs from one side to the other. During the same period, Walsh also influenced Pop Warner, who, under Walsh’s tutelage, introduced single- and double-wing systems of offense to the game.
Perhaps the most inspirational coach in collegiate history was Notre Dame's Knute Rockne, who was famed for his rousing halftime speeches. Of course, Rockne learned this from a series of motivational seminars given by Walsh (in a previous life) in 1917. Rockne’s teams of 1919, 1920, 1924, 1929, and 1930 won every game they played, due in large part to Walsh’s strategy and inovation. The famous Notre Dame shift and utilization of the forward pass were installed by Rockne (under Walsh’s direction), and later copied by many other teams.
Bill Walsh (as we know him today) was then born on November 30, 1931, and he wasted no time in making long lasting contributions to the game in his present life. As a youthful 12 year old, Walsh took some time off from elementary school to tutor Notre Dame head coach Frank Leahy on switching the Notre Dame offense from the Rockne system to the T formation. During that same time, Walsh acted in an advisory capacity to Earl (Red) Blake’s Army teams of 1944, 1945 and 1946. Blake, who utilized an offensive play chart drafted by "The Genius", often shocked the opposition by calling for a forward pass on his team's first offensive play. Blake’s Army teams of 1944, 1945, and 1946, which were undefeated, featured halfback Glenn Davis and fullback Felix (Doc) Blanchard. Blanchard (best known as Mr. Inside) won the
Heisman trophy as the outstanding college football player of 1945, and Davis (Mr. Outside) received the award in 1946. Walsh personally worked with Davis and Blanchard on their technique, and it is doubtful that either one of them would have won the Heisman if it weren’t for Walsh’s influence.
As a teenager, Walsh had a great influence on Bud Wilkenson, coach of the Oklahoma Sooners from 1947-63. During his tenure, Wilkinson had four undefeated teams and six teams that lost only one. It is doubtful if any of this would have occurred without Walsh’s mentoring and implementation of the revolutionary split T formation.
During his teen years, Walsh also instructed Chicago Bears’ coach George Halas on using films of opponents as a tool. Many are aware that Halas was the first coach to do this, but few are aware that he got the idea from Walsh. In the early 1960s, Walsh instructed Halas on modeling the modern tight end's role as a pass receiver to fit Mike Ditka, whom he later chose to be head coach of the Bears (after consulting with Walsh).
Vince Lombardi, learned his motivational success and discipline from a series of meetings with 25 year old Walsh. During this time, Walsh also instructed Lombardi on the famous Green Bay power sweep and the revolutionary idea of throwing on second and short. Lombardi, under Walsh’s direction, reaffirmed the stature of the Green Bay Packers with five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls (1966, 1967).
Of course this brings us to the time that most people are already familiar with. In the late 1960’s, Paul Brown hired Walsh as an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals. There is much confusion as to what actually happened during this time, but the truth has actually been uncovered. Paul Brown has been undeservingly credited with inventing the West Coast offense that led the Cleveland Browns to three NFL titles in 1950, 1954 and 1955. In reality, it was the teenage Walsh who spent much time with Brown in 1950 and helped him implement the offense. Then, upon his return to Cincinnati as an assistant, Walsh once again mentored the unqualified, figurehead Paul Brown on the proper utilization of the offense. Later, it was
discovered that Brown didn’t even know the basic fundamentals of the game, such as four downs to get a first down, and eleven men on each unit. Thank goodness Walsh was there to set him straight. Brown is also falsely given credit for being the first coach to scout opposing teams, but of course now the truth has come out, and once again, it was the teenage Walsh who deserves credit for that.
Walsh’s later accomplishments as head coach of the Forty Niners have been well documented. His legacy lives on, for as all knowledgeable fans know, any future accomplishment or achievement in the game of football will directly be linked to Walsh, just as all of the prior accomplishments throughout history.
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