Earl Blaik

Bio

Football is a Spartan game in which youth, spirit and condition count heavily. Thus spoke Colonel Earl "Red" Blaik, developer of some of the greatest teams in Dartmouth and Army history. A player at Miami of Ohio, Blaik also played end for two seasons at West Point, making third-team All-America. Following service in the cavalry, Blaik worked in a Dayton construction business before deciding to become a full-time coach. He served a year as assistant to George Little at Wisconsin, 1933, became a head coach at Dartmouth, 1934-40 and spent 18 years at Army 1941-58. His teams had unbeaten streaks at Dartmouth, 22 games in 1934-37, and at Army, 32 games in 1944-47. He coached numerous Hall of Fame players at Dartmouth, and Army. He coached three Heisman winners--Glenn Davis, Doc Blanchard, and Pete Dawkins at Army and won national titles in 1944 and 1945. Blaik was named Coach of the Year in 1946 and finished with a record of 166-48-14. After his coaching career ended, he became a vice-president with Avco Corporation. He wrote, with Tim Cohane, a book, "You Have to Pay the Price." Blaik wrote a syndicated newspaper column, published twice a week in football season, and donated the proceeds to establish graduate scholarships for football players. This program was administered by the National Football Foundation.