Earl Blaik

When Earl "Red" Blaik took over a floundering Army program on Christmas Day in 1940, it marked the start of a new chapter in the history of West Point football—what became the most successful era in the history of the U.S. Military Academy. The Black Knights would win 121 games and three national titles over the next 18 seasons. In addition to winning football games, Blaik will forever be remembered for coaching back-to-back Heisman Trophy winning Cadets Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard in 1945-46. And his book You Have to Pay the Price will always be emblematic of his no-nonsense, hard-nosed coaching philosophy. Legendary sideline figures Vince Lombardi and Sid Gillman were among the greats who coached under him. Blaik was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1964 and was accorded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1986. "There is no substitute for work.