My Long winded Story (Good Day)

[82IU]

The mid to late 40's were a turning point in the University's Athletic Department. The School had enjoyed several years of success on the gridiron and hardwood. Students of Color were welcomed to join the varsity squads opening up a new and hopeful chapter in College Athletics. Things seemed to be positioning themselves like a Rocketship heading for greater heights. Then in 1947 the very successful Football Coach decided to move on to a greater challenge. The Coach had been set up very well financially by the University and was even given the Athletic Director's position to further enhance his security. Coach Alvin had a sweet deal. He had what most coaches would die for yet he was longing for more. So in February of 1948, he signed a contract to coach in the NFL. His college success did not follow him to the Big Leagues and after 3 years he mutually agreed to part ways with his first NFL team. In February of 1951, Alvin signed on to help another NFL franchise. After coaching two games, he underwent stomach surgery to correct what the doctors thought was an ulcer problem. They found something much worse, it was stomach cancer. Sadly, Coach Alvin died in March of 1952 of a heart attack and a great innovator, former College star player and great leader of young men was lost to the Football World.
The University where he coached would go on to keep hiring and firing coaches for the next 75 plus years and would rarely find any extended success. Coach Alvin led his College Team " those Po little boys" to a Big Ten Title and an undefeated season in 1945 and put his permanent stamp of success on the Football history of that School. What was thought to be the start of College Gridiron superiority for Alvin and his teams ended rather abruptly in 1948 with his decision to move on. Oh to think what might have been if he had stayed. But like so many of the chapters that have been written at this famous institution it was destined to end in tragedy, this time in all probability by health reasons. The University has struggled mightily since his departure to say the least.
If you haven't already figured it out by now, Coach Alvin Nugent "Bo" McMillin was that great coach and the School he led is our beloved but very often beaten Indiana University Hoosiers!
And sadly, we now know the rest of the story!
82

 

[vesuvius13]

Just as we didn't get to see what IU would do with DeBoer and Wommack as the OC and DC for several years building up IU rather than quickly leaving. I know why both left and I don't resent their departures, but I do dream of what might have been much like Bo McMillin staying at IU.

 

[destewart]

The mid to late 40's were a turning point in the University's Athletic Department. The School had enjoyed several years of success on the gridiron and hardwood. Students of Color were welcomed to join the varsity squads opening up a new and hopeful chapter in College Athletics. Things seemed to be positioning themselves like a Rocketship heading for greater heights. Then in 1947 the very successful Football Coach decided to move on to a greater challenge. The Coach had been set up very well financially by the University and was even given the Athletic Director's position to further enhance his security. Coach Alvin had a sweet deal. He had what most coaches would die for yet he was longing for more. So in February of 1948, he signed a contract to coach in the NFL. His college success did not follow him to the Big Leagues and after 3 years he mutually agreed to part ways with his first NFL team. In February of 1951, Alvin signed on to help another NFL franchise. After coaching two games, he underwent stomach surgery to correct what the doctors thought was an ulcer problem. They found something much worse, it was stomach cancer. Sadly, Coach Alvin died in March of 1952 of a heart attack and a great innovator, former College star player and great leader of young men was lost to the Football World.
The University where he coached would go on to keep hiring and firing coaches for the next 75 plus years and would rarely find any extended success. Coach Alvin led his College Team " those Po little boys" to a Big Ten Title and an undefeated season in 1945 and put his permanent stamp of success on the Football history of that School. What was thought to be the start of College Gridiron superiority for Alvin and his teams ended rather abruptly in 1948 with his decision to move on. Oh to think what might have been if he had stayed. But like so many of the chapters that have been written at this famous institution it was destined to end in tragedy, this time in all probability by health reasons. The University has struggled mightily since his departure to say the least.
If you haven't already figured it out by now, Coach Alvin Nugent "Bo" McMillin was that great coach and the School he led is our beloved but very often beaten Indiana University Hoosiers!
And sadly, we now know the rest of the story!
82

Good story. In WL our story is similar and involves the man with the highest winning percentage of any football coach in Purdue history. His name was Noble Kizer. He had an illness that forced him to give up the football reins and become AD. He lived four more years and died at age 40 in 1940. The front page of the sports section was full of stories about Kizer who was a Notre Dame alum and former Knute Rockne player. Had he lived he might have been coaching into the mid 1960’s. His son, also named Noble, lived in WL his entire life before passing several years ago.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

It is easier to GET to the top, than to STAY there.

Years ago, with a good man in charge, if we had gone 2-10 then 3-9, I'd have been fighting everybody to keep the rebuild going.

But give us a taste of that crack/heroin called "success," and I'm down down down.

But if we aren’t gonna compete in NIL, I say keep Allen. No NIL = coach doesn’t matter.

 

[Radio Zero]

But if we aren’t gonna compete in NIL, I say keep Allen. No NIL = coach doesn’t matter.

I think you’re probably right about this.

 

[CaptainZigZag]

It is easier to GET to the top, than to STAY there.

Years ago, with a good man in charge, if we had gone 2-10 then 3-9, I'd have been fighting everybody to keep the rebuild going.

But give us a taste of that crack/heroin called "success," and I'm down down down.

But if we aren’t gonna compete in NIL, I say keep Allen. No NIL = coach doesn’t matter.

after witnessing the unwinding of Quinn Ewers, I am more convinced that NIL is unregulated, now legal, rat poison