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Sometimes a man's successes in his chosen fields of endeavor shine so brightly that, to the world, his basic attributes are little known. Such a man was <em>Robert R. Neyland, Jr.</em>, born an intellectual, disciplined a brilliant scholar, blessed with physical attributes, and trained to be an almost perfect athlete. His accomplishments both as a student and as a soldier will be recorded in the annals of military history. His record as the most successful major football coach in the history of the game will long be remembered. We who know him, worked with or for him, or played under him, look with pride on his military and coaching records. But it was not these aspects of Robert Neyland's life that filled our thoughts when we realized that he was lost to us. The world knew well what a brilliant mind he had, but his associates and former students knew also what a friend he could be. We appreciated his capabilities and fairness, loved his honesty, strove for his respect, but above all else, treasured his friendship.</div>
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Few men's lives touched as many facets with success as did the life of Bob Neyland. He was born to greatness—a stunningly handsome man, striking in every way, with charm, a gracious manner, and always a gentleman. As a cadet he was an excellent football player, and for three years was heavy-weight boxing champion of the Academy. However, his greatest athletic fame was gained in baseball, where he won 35 of the 40 games he pitched, 21 of them in a row. Not once did he taste defeat at the hands of the Navy.</div>
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Early in life, he learned self-discipline, became a perfectionist with an analytical mind, and thereby a great student, athlete, soldier, and the greatest football coach of all time. It would appear that the coach with the greatest winning record in the history of football might have been driven by an insatiable desire to win. We who worked with him felt that his only desire was for perfection. As a coach, he employed an offense that provided power, precision, and deception. In his striving for perfect execution, each offensive play and defensive maneuver of his teams became a medley of rhythm, timing, and co-ordination—all directed at accomplishing the goal of the moment. No man every understood better the value of organization and thorough preparation. With all his fine qualities, his only genius was for industry. His enthusiasm for work was infectious. He had the knack of instilling a flaming spirit in those with whom he worked. He was an excellent companion who knew how to enjoy life, and to admire others' accomplishments. It was easy for one to work with and for him. He never put his own opinion ahead of the opinions of his coworker, at least not until the situation had been discussed completely; and therein perhaps, one might find his formula for success.</div>
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Each day was lived simply at the level of his highest conscience, with great ambition for the university, none for himself. He had the faculty of bringing to life latent ability, and of inspiring ideals in the young men with whom he worked. He could take a player, arouse his interest, give him praise and encouragement, and create in him an urge for achievement and work—never failing to give caution in the most important part of one’s being a man. He was the opposite from the demagogue. He met his students on their own level, as a demagogue never does.</div>
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In that Bob Neyland spent a large portion of his life in the athletic world, perhaps it is not out of keeping to mention some of the terms used to describe him and to quote some of the statements made at his passing. From the very beginning of his coaching career, his opponents constantly advised their teams, "Don’t make a mistake against Tennessee." Some called him, "The Wizard of the Single Wing." Others called him, "The Fox"—"The Scourge of Dixie." He was-known as "the fundamentalist of football." He was the most feared of all coaches in the land. His teams were always alert. They played for the break; and when it came, they scored. They would hit you and hit you again. They learned to love the contact of a hard block, and Tennessee was known as the hardest hitting football team in the nation. That his teams played hard football is a fact. The uninitiated sometimes called them rough, but not justifiably so—such teams just weren’t used to the game the way Tennessee played it. The respect held for Neyland and the fear felt for his teams were phenomenal. Many who didn’t know him held him in awe. It is of interest that his greatest rivals always referred to the close personal friendship that they shared with him. Knute Rockne referred to him as "the outstanding defensive thinker in the game." Wallace Wade said, "He coaches all phases of the game better than any other coach. We had quite a rivalry and were close personal friends." Bobby Dodd, one of The General’s celebrated proteges, stated, "He always seemed to know exactly what would be needed to prevail over a given opponent." Herman Hickman wrote, "No coach has done a more masterful job. I speak for scores of former Tennessee football players when I say that one of the greatest privileges of my life was to play under General Neyland and to have an off-the-field association with him, which I shall always cherish." He himself referred to his method as just another way to play the game. His time at Tennessee is referred to as "The Neyland Era." To all, he was "The General." His name and reputation are legend.</div>
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The legend, however, did not just happen—it is the result of the incessant training which built coordinated machines made up of men, each of whom knew his duty and his responsibilities, and accepted them as such. In his coaching, Neyland never left anything to chance. He was direct and forceful. He looked like a West Pointer, and acted like one. In his practice sessions, he demanded condition, finesse, spirit, and eagerness. One of the most human things about his career is the many anecdotes that each of the boys tells about what happened while each was a member of his squad. His practice sessions and dressing rooms were not without laughter; but like his drills, the laughs were well-timed, and everyone knew when to laugh and when not to laugh. He stayed near his players, knew their schedules, knew their work habits. As head coach, he did not hesitate to assign responsibility to his assistants and to give them autonomy in their duties.</div>
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No other coach in the last 35 years has had such a tremendous impact on college football. Over an extended period of 21 years, his record as head coach was 172-32-12. Over the period of 35 years while he was at Tennessee, the school’s record was 258-70-18. Only Notre Dame, with 244-74-10, approaches such a record. He wrapped up his coaching career as he started it—as a conqueror, winning 32 of his last 37 games. As athletic director, he was an excellent administrator. He built the university’s Shield-Watkins Field from a seating capacity of 3,200 into a stadium which houses dormitories and dressing rooms and has a seating capacity of 54,000. With all his success, however, it is significant that in spite of the University of Tennessee’s perennial high standing, the NCAA never saw fit to investigate his athletic program. He was capable of a brilliant intellectual grasp of opportunities and of unfailing good judgment. The University of Tennessee will not see the like of him again.</div>
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His character was as clear as crystal, strengthened with integrity, magnanimity, and a stern sense of duty and truth. He was human, compassionate, entirely unselfish, and of a gentle nature. His fellow men trusted him absolutely. His integrity was complete.</div>
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One would think that the acclaim of the crowd would have made Bob Neyland enjoy public appearances, but for years he avoided them. He was judged to be unconcerned with public opinion—nothing could have been further from the truth. He had the highest regard for the public, but his natural modesty, sometimes amounting to bashfulness, made him fear the podium. His first remark on his entering his office following the announcement that he had been employed as head coach was, "We can get the coaching job done—but how in the world are we going to meet the public?" Public contact was his only fear; and, as so frequently happens, for it, he sometimes was misjudged.</div>
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The list of those who hold Bob Neyland in their hearts would be a long one. So greatly was he loved that, everywhere, people felt his death their personal sorrow. The great players coached by him are too numerous to mention, as are his former students who have become famous coaches, doctors, lawyers, and leaders in many fields throughout the nation. Most of them counted the four short years that they spent with him as the most interesting and the happiest of their lives. Many of them felt the death of their coach so intensely that they could find no way through which to express their love, their prayers, and their sympathy to his family. Self-concern filled their thoughts. In sending their sympathy, they did so with the plea that they be privileged to share the grief.</div>
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The world is not likely to know another Bob Neyland. </div>
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<em>—Lenox D. Baker, M.D.</em></div>
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