I found these beautiful words in my parents house in Dublin, Ireland. Who wrote these words? Does anyone know?
Does anyone know who wrote this? Grantland Rice, Alumunus Football, Only the Brave and Other Poems (1941) seems to be credited a lot however, my old Celtic letters version says Newbolt (would this be Cardinal Newbolt)? I’ll post the original Celtic letters version in ‘spread the moment’ section in a few days. Meanwhile, does anyone know, for sure, who wrote these words?
You can download this as a poster by clicking on it or print it out and post it onto a notice board, or a dressing room. The debate also continues elsewhere on this Great Moments Of Sportsmanship site.
I know these words well from my father, who himself was a great sportsman. Jim McCarthy, captained Munster and Ireland and played with the Lions. Dad regularly uses this quote. He is now 84 years old and in great form. I will ask him where he first heard that quote and hopefully answer your query.
Cooleen it would indeed be an honour to hear how your father came across these words. Perhaps he might also have some stories of sportsmanship (I’ll bet he has) which I would love to share with others.
Meanwhile the Independent newspaper (11 October 2007) endorsed this spirit of sportsmanship (and your father in particular):
“But when were men’s finest hours defined solely by the ultimate outcome? What of their spirit, individual acts of supreme courage and bravery? What of their honesty, the way in which they represented their countries and enhanced the great values of their sport? Such qualities are the bedrock of the game, and the Lions of the Fifties were the epitome of those values.” This was taken from an article in the Independent news paper which your father might enjoy. Click on the title: Paris the perfect setting for reunion of ‘Invincible Lions’
One South African journalist wrote: “South Africa owes a manifold debt to the British Isles rugby touring team. They have rescued our rugby from becoming a matter merely of boot and brawn.”
The independent article continued: “J S McCarthy, perhaps Ireland’s greatest ever open side and a member of Ireland’s only Grand Slam team of 1948, was a particular good friend of [the late] Peter Kininmonth’s (no.8 for Scotland and the Lions). As Tony O’Reilly said: “They were like ‘The Odd Couple’, Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, inseparable and enormous fun.”
This quotation comes from the poem, “Alumnus Football”, by Grantland Rice. Rice was a great sportswriter who coined the phrase “The Four Horsemen” of Notre Dame and is also credited with the name “The Crimson Tide” for the University of Alabama football team. He is featured as a character in the movie “Bagger Vance” as well. You might enjoy reading the whole poem, which is on the theme of perseverance.
b sullivan
I would love to read the whole poem again. My parents too had a small metal plaque on the wall with those famous words thereon circa 1925
George
Well George. The plot thickens. Circa 1925 eh… as an earlier comment suggested 1930s. So the search goes on. I’ve yet to find the full poem ….but pls ignore Sheetz’s Amendment:
“It’s not whether you win or lose but how you place the blame (in John Peers 1001 Logical Laws . . . 1979).”
If anyone does find the full poem – pls send it to me as we really need to publish it here also.
We will find it!
Paul
One of the great sports poems of all time by one of the greatest sports writers…
Alumnus football
Grantland Rice
Bill Jones had been the shining star upon his college team.
His tackling was ferocious and his bucking was a dream.
When husky William took the ball beneath his brawny arm
They had two extra men to ring the ambulance alarm.
Bill hit the line and ran the ends like some mad bull amuck.
The other team would shiver when they saw him start to buck.
And when some rival tackler tried to block his dashing pace,
On waking up, he’d ask, “Who drove that truck across my face?”
Bill had the speed-Bill had the weight-Bill never bucked in vain;
From goal to goal he whizzed along while fragments, strewed the plain,
And there had been a standing bet, which no one tried to call,
That he could make his distance through a ten-foot granite wall.
When he wound up his college course each student’s heart was sore.
They wept to think bull-throated Bill would sock the line no more.
Not so with William – in his dreams he saw the Field of Fame,
Where he would buck to glory in the swirl of Life’s big game.
Sweet are the dreams of college life, before our faith is nicked-
The world is but a cherry tree that’s waiting to be picked;
The world is but an open road-until we find, one day,
How far away the goal posts are that called us to the play.
So, with the sheepskin tucked beneath his arm in football style,
Bill put on steam and dashed into the thickest of the pile;
With eyes ablaze he sprinted where the laureled highway led-
When Bill woke up his scalp hung loose and knots adorned his head.
He tried to run the ends of life, but with rib-crushing toss
A rent collector tackled him and threw him for a loss.
And when he switched his course again and dashed into the line
The massive Guard named Failure did a toddle on his spine.
Bill tried to punt out of the rut, but ere he turned the trick
Right Tackle Competition scuttled through and blocked the kick.
And when he tackled at Success in one long, vicious prod
The Fullback Disappointment steered his features in sod.
Bill was no quitter, so he tried a buck in higher gear,
But Left Guard Envy broke it up and stood him on his ear.
Whereat he aimed a forward pass, but in two vicious bounds
Big Center Greed slipped through a hole and rammed him out of bounds.
But one day, when across the Field of Fame the goal seemed dim,
The wise old coach, Experience, came up and spoke to him.
“Oh Boy,” he said, “the main point now before you win your bout
Is keep on bucking Failure till you’ve worn the piker out!”
“And, kid, cut out this fancy stuff – go in there, low and hard;
Just keep your eye upon the ball and plug on, yard by yard,
And more than all, when you are thrown or tumbled with a crack,
Don’t sit there whining-hustle up and keep on coming back;
“Keep coming back with all you’ve got, without an alibi,
If Competition trips you up or lands upon your eye,
Until at last above the din you hear this sentence spilled:
‘We might as well let this bird through before we all get killed.’
“You’ll find the road is long and rough, with soft spots far apart,
Where only those can make the grade who have the Uphill Heart.
And when they stop you with a thud or halt you with a crack,
Let Courage call the signals as you keep on coming back.
“Keep coming back, and though the world may romp across your spine,
Let every game’s end find you still upon the battling line;
For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the Game
John, thank you so much. I’ve just sat and indulged every word and line. What pictures he paints with words and all layered with wisdom too. Wonderful stuff. Thanks again. Paul Smith
According to an exerpt from http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu
the poem, Alumnus Football, first appeared in an article written by Grantland Rice for the Nashville Tennessean in 1908 to describe a Vanderbilt alumnus football game.
Thank you. For verification, the complete address is http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/speccol/research/guides/bios.shtml
Thanks Richard
interestingly this source says:
“It’s not how you win or lose, but how you play the game,” is a misquote from the poem….!
I have also got some feedback from Linkedin Sports discussion which I wil try and dig out and post here soon.
This is intriguing. Interesting to see who the World Cup heroes are – see home page for my 3 World Cup Sportsmanship heroes. Thanks again.
Paul
The illuminated plaque which has Grantland Rice’s poem attributed wrongly to Newbolt (Sir Henry Newbolt, not Cardinal Newman) is confusing “how you played the game” [Rice] with “Play up! Play Up! and play the game!” [Newbolt]. Easily done, I suppose, … but on a wall plaque!?
David, that is very helpful. Do you, by any chance, have the full poem by Cardinal Newbolt (and year of publication)? It would be good to post it here so that we have both poems for reference. Many thanks for your clarification. Paul
There is a boys camp in Goshen Pass, Va called Camp Virginia. The directer was Mac Pitt,Baseball Coach and Athletic directer at University of Richmond. This quote was on a huge poster on the wall of the mess building. He preached this the whole time we were at camp…Too bad most professional athletes don’t have a clue what it means,,,
“For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the Game”
Many thanks Mike. Great to hear others use these great words also. FYI I just posted a link to a video of an American basketball player Chris Herren, ex pro and recovering addict, and one who sees what sport is all about – fun. He pleads with parents to let kids have fun and they’ll keep at it – that is sportsmanship also. Check it out on my home page – the video is pretty powerful. Thanks again & very best wishes to Mac Pitt and all at Uni Richmond from a Dubliner in London.
I’ve had the Great scorer quoted at my for more years than I care to remember,I knew it was by Grantland Rice but never until today seeing the full poem I thought it was like,Vitai Lamparda ‘ Play up and play the game’by Sir Henry Newbolt about cricket,guess your never too old to learn something new
Indeed Pam.
However the debate continues because the beautiful graphic styled verse that I found in my family home
clearly says Newbolt – see the graphic http://www.greatmomentsofsportsmanship.com/spread-the-moments/
Scroll down to the poster. Pass it on and see if anyone else has a clear view on it.
Regardless of who wrote it – they are powerful words and an acid test as to whether a coach or a player really believes in sportsmanship – will they post the poster up?
Regards, Paul
I first heard the line spoken when watching the movie: Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius. I never forgot that line. In fact I wrote it down because I was so impressed by it. That was a couple of years ago. I often wondered about the line. I didn’t realise it was an actual quote and not just a line made up by a brilliant scriptwriter.
And then to find this site and to read about the origin of the line…simply remarkable. Thank you.
By the way, the movie was good too!
Thanks hhevers, I’ll watch out for the movie. Also feel free to use the poster – it may inspire others! http://www.greatmomentsofsportsmanship.com/spread-the-moments/
Regards
Paul