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Murney's Men
by Dave Weinbaum
Evanston Township High Dedicates Football Field to Coach
Murney Lazier
In a gathering reminiscent of the movie “Field of Dreams”, approximately
200 players and coaches of all faiths, races, and religions, left their
homes from all over the USA to gather in Evanston , Illinois to honor
their hero and high school football coach, Murney Lazier. You could
almost hear the whisper, “If you rename it, they will come.”
His last game was 33 years ago.
In his 18 years at Evanston , Coach Lazier and his “Men” achieved a
125-17-4…less losses than seasons, 5 state championships, and 13
Suburban League Championships.
He is STILL the winningest football coach in Illinois history.
Knute Rockne, Vince Lombardi, and Atilla the Hun all rolled
into one
The night before the dedication “Murney’s Men” gathered in the back of
the Prairie Moon Restaurant in Evanston . The two rooms in the back
were a tight squeeze. When the coach entered, clipboard in hand, a
large cheer shook the building. Now in his early 80’s, the coach looks
little worse for wear. His physical regimen still consists of weight
training. His white mane intact, yet receding, his face full of character,
his eyes misting from the memories. Coach took time to embrace them
all. The old lion seemed as grateful to them as they were to him.
Never give up, never let up and you’ll never let yourself
down.
You bet.
Innovator and motivator
Coach Lazier brought Lacrosse to Evanston. Illinois high schools soon
adopted it as a sanctioned sport.
He emphasized year round conditioning and weight training.
He demanded academic achievement.
He stressed technique and fundamentals.
He studied film and tendencies of opponents.
Murney’s Men were offered 160 college scholarships during his tenure.
nine went on to play in the NFL.
Murney Men Pros and college players attested to going backwards in
the programs they were elevated to from Coach Lazier’s teachings.
Murney’s men, to the last one, attest to the coach preparing them for life
through the lessons he taught on the field.
Victories often occur when you see now way to succeed,
but refuse to give up anyway
Why do I care so much about this?
I lived it.
I still do.
I always will.
I’m one of Murney’s Men; Dave Weinbaum, 154 pound starting offensive
guard for Evanston Township High School Suburban Champs of 1966,
and football scholarship awardee from Minnesota State University .
As I told coach Lazier during our embrace, he was the most influential
man in my life other than my other great coach, my father, Mel.
Most important, I got to tell the coach I loved him.
Dave Weinbaum is a regular contributor of one-liners and commentaries to many
regional and national publications and Web sites, including the Reader's Digest,
National Enquirer, Forbes, and is a regular pundit for the prestigious www.
jewishworldreview.com . Readers can reach Dave at dwquote@prodigy.net.
Evanston Township High Dedicates Football Field to Coach
Murney Lazier
In a gathering reminiscent of the movie “Field of Dreams”, approximately
200 players and coaches of all faiths, races, and religions, left their
homes from all over the USA to gather in Evanston , Illinois to honor
their hero and high school football coach, Murney Lazier. You could
almost hear the whisper, “If you rename it, they will come.”
His last game was 33 years ago.
In his 18 years at Evanston , Coach Lazier and his “Men” achieved a
125-17-4…less losses than seasons, 5 state championships, and 13
Suburban League Championships.
He is STILL the winningest football coach in Illinois history.
Knute Rockne, Vince Lombardi, and Atilla the Hun all rolled
into one
The night before the dedication “Murney’s Men” gathered in the back of
the Prairie Moon Restaurant in Evanston . The two rooms in the back
were a tight squeeze. When the coach entered, clipboard in hand, a
large cheer shook the building. Now in his early 80’s, the coach looks
little worse for wear. His physical regimen still consists of weight
training. His white mane intact, yet receding, his face full of character,
his eyes misting from the memories. Coach took time to embrace them
all. The old lion seemed as grateful to them as they were to him.
Never give up, never let up and you’ll never let yourself
down.
- Was this the same man who terrified the bejesus out of all of
them? - Was this the same man who knew just what buttons to push to
bring each boy to the brink of quitting or consider running
through a brick wall, just to show coach up? - Was this the same man who ambushed future 12 year pro and
super bowl champion Emery Morehead (Bears ’85) after catching
him loafing during an algebra class, slam him against lockers, and
threaten to boot him from the team unless he took his studies
serious? - Was this the same man who didn’t cut kids, but culled the herd by
making them work their tails off? - Was this the same man who gambled he could win with tough,
sometimes undersized players VS the better athletes with ‘tudes
that quit or never came out for the team? - Was this the same man who promoted a slow fifth (last) string 154
pound lineman to starting left guard on a line that averaged
around 220 pounds because he beat the men in front of him
during challenges and during practices?
You bet.
Innovator and motivator
Coach Lazier brought Lacrosse to Evanston. Illinois high schools soon
adopted it as a sanctioned sport.
He emphasized year round conditioning and weight training.
He demanded academic achievement.
He stressed technique and fundamentals.
He studied film and tendencies of opponents.
Murney’s Men were offered 160 college scholarships during his tenure.
nine went on to play in the NFL.
Murney Men Pros and college players attested to going backwards in
the programs they were elevated to from Coach Lazier’s teachings.
Murney’s men, to the last one, attest to the coach preparing them for life
through the lessons he taught on the field.
Victories often occur when you see now way to succeed,
but refuse to give up anyway
Why do I care so much about this?
I lived it.
I still do.
I always will.
I’m one of Murney’s Men; Dave Weinbaum, 154 pound starting offensive
guard for Evanston Township High School Suburban Champs of 1966,
and football scholarship awardee from Minnesota State University .
As I told coach Lazier during our embrace, he was the most influential
man in my life other than my other great coach, my father, Mel.
Most important, I got to tell the coach I loved him.
Dave Weinbaum is a regular contributor of one-liners and commentaries to many
regional and national publications and Web sites, including the Reader's Digest,
National Enquirer, Forbes, and is a regular pundit for the prestigious www.
jewishworldreview.com . Readers can reach Dave at dwquote@prodigy.net.