STL All Sports

When Bob Zuppke was coaching his fighting Illini some years ago, he loved to instill fighting spirit in his teams with fiery harangues before the games. With a bunch of untried sophomores, Zuppke was having a tough season when the Iowa game came along. There was little chance for Illinois to win, and Zuppke really poured it on in the dressing room before the game.

"This is the supreme test, men!" he boomed to the assembled squad. "Steel yourselves for your greatest effort! Get out there and be ready to die for Illinois. There'll be no one taken out of the game unless he's dead!"

Out went the raging Illini. They played themselves into the ground trying to stave off the superior Iowa eleven. Late in the game, one of the Illinois players suddenly collapsed on the field. Zuppke sprang up.

"All right, you!" he snapped at a sophomore substitute. "Go out there and replace that man!"

"Yes, sir!" gasped the startled youth. He rushed out on the field, looked down at the stricken warrior for a moment, and then came trotting back to the sideline.

"What's the matter with you?" shouted Zuppke. "Get back there on the field and take that man's place!"

"It ain't necessary, coach," answered the green sophomore timidly. "He's still breathing a little."