Hall of Fame
The agile brain of Bob Zuppke gave more to the game of
football than most could ever hope to donate. As Illinois
coach from 1913 through 1941, Zuppke was the innovator of
"pocket" and "screen" passing, "strategy maps" for
quarterbacks, and was the first coach to use the 5-4-2
defense. His Fighting Illini rolled to a 131-81-13 record on
the way to seven conference championships and two runner-
up finishes. Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1879, Zuppke was
two years old when his family moved to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. He was still coaching at Illinois 60 years later.
During the Zuppke years, Illinois' per-game attendance rose
from 4,500 to 60,000. Zuppke's record his first 17 seasons
was 77-27-8. He did no recruiting, and losing years followed.
He gave witty speeches, and his philosophical remarks were
called Zuppkeisms. These are the seven best known
Zuppkeisms: 1, never let hope elude you; that is life's biggest
failure; 2, the greatest athlete is one who can carry a nimble
brain to the place of action; 3, moral courage is the result of
respect from fellow men; 4, a good back should keep his feet
at all times and never lose his head; 5, men do their best if they
know they are being observed; 6, alumni are loyal if a coach
wins all his games; 7, advice to freshmen: don't drink the
liniment.
