Famous Marv Levy Quotes There's three parts to football: offense, defense, and special teams. ~ Marv Levy. Then Levy, wearing a blue Bills sweater, walked up behind Kelly, who handed his coach the microphone. Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Darryl Talley received $100,000 from a crowdfunding campaign for his medical expenses. But this crowd, this franchise and this decadeslong storyline of fandemonium? From 1988 to 1997, the Bills had the second highest winning percentage in the NFL, behind only the San Francisco 49ers. (Thurman Thomas losing his helmet prior to Super Bowl XXVI against Washington stands as the signature moment for the idea that the Bills, too often, weren't ready to play.) He couldnt win on the road.. For the man who would later coach the National Football League's Buffalo Bills to four straight Super Bowl appearances, it was the start of a career that led to him being inducted today as the 209th member of the 209th member of the Des Moines Sunday Register's Iowa Sports Hall of Fame. I dont know the first thing about football. ". After the era's most glorious momentthe Bills' 35-point comeback against the Houston Oilers in the 1992 playoffs, the biggest come-from-behind victory in NFL historyLevy told his players, "I just coached the greatest comeback in the history of the NFL, and I want you to know, I couldn't have done it without you. It is not a great thing for the fans, but it is a good thing for the players. Instrumental in establishing guidelines and programs through NAHB, USGBC and a variety of regional initiatives, he has more recently worked with the International Code Council in the development of both the National Green Building Standard (ICC 700) and the International Green Construction Code. On Monday night, more than 60,000 people were let in on it and, according to the many comments about it on social media, the sound from Highmark Stadium after Levy spoke one of his most famous lines left people with chills and in tears. After the war, Levy enrolled at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You have permission to edit this article. He was a smart, bookish young man who was on track to be a lawyer, but he knew his heart was in coaching. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Why? ", Throughout his career, Marv Levy dazzled, delighted and sometimes confused players, fans and reporters with big words and quotes worthy of a statesman or philosopher, which became known as "Marvisms. Now, about those Super Bowls. (Arguably, Levys most famous sound bite blends his football passion and his classical education. As if that wasn't enough, Levy also had to take over one of the history classes taught by a professor who was ill and needed a year to recover. He ran in the Drake Relays three times as a member of Coe's mile relay team, missing out on a fourth appearance because of a leg injury. This quote is dripping with irony, and Levy's Buffalo Bills teams epitomized it. Levy sees these virtues reflected in football, and he isn't cynical about it. But in the words of an old song, I wouldnt have missed it for the world, because on every step of this joyous journey, Ive been accompanied by some remarkable companions.. Coach is cool, but don't confuse that with license to disrespect him, they told the rookie. It became a shorthand for the grit, resilience and the determination even in the face of disappointment that was a hallmark of his Buffalo teams. '", Repeating Levy and emulating Kelly and Smith, who stood behind their coach and pumped their fists on "right here, right now.". When he was 13, he was sweeping up one day when his father snatched the broomstick out of his hand: "Go home and play football," he told him. Levy, who earned a master's degree in history from Harvard on the GI Bill, has stayed in Chicago to cultivate a life of the mind. This is not a must-win; World War II was a must-win (Referring to the Super Bowl). ', Many Bills fans stumped by identity of social media influencer who announced third-round pick, Bills' draft grades from Buffalo News writers show hits and misses, Ex-Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, on the payroll through 2027-28, comes out of retirement to play in Germany, Departure of 5 UB women's basketball commits raises eyebrows among coaches, analysts, Mark Gaughan: Buffalo Bills' winners and losers after 2023 NFL draft, Alan Pergament: JP starts on WECK Monday after all; Jennifer Stanonis rejoins WGRZ-TV, Former waitress sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison in $50,000 lottery scheme, Bills trade up in first round, select Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid at No. Before his success at Buffalo, Levy suffered through a season coaching the Chicago Blitz of the ill-fated USFL. Track was the best of his three sports at Coe, and before he blew his whistle for the first time as a head football coach, Levy won two championships in basketball first at Country Day, then at Coe. You know, while Marv Levy is over there reading about Harry Truman, [Defensive Tackle] Jimmie Jones is on his bed, belly-laughing at Fred and Barney on The Flintstones." My first day, Levy remembered, the owner, Sam Berger, said to me, Marv, youre going to love me as an owner. "Where else would your rather be than right here, right now!" "He always took the harder courses. He spontaneously blurted the line out to his players, not knowing what else to say. But now, faster and faster the years fly by. He considers himself a Democrat, but voted for Republicans like Dole, Reagan, and Eisenhower. Four of his great-uncles were part of the Jewish massacre by Nazi forces at Babi Yar in Ukraine in 1941, so enlisting in the military was never a question. He's very intense, but off the court, has a great sense of humor. "The alternative is to sit on your butt and watch TV.". "I am grateful that one of the cooks in the dining hall didn't quit, too," Levy wrote in his autobiography, "Where Else Would You Rather Be?". Cunningham found that spot, on the school's "C" team. It was after warmups prior to his first game, and he took in the atmosphere: the pretty cheerleaders, the marching band. ", Fast forward to the snowy afternoon of Jan. 20, 1991, when the Bills hosted the Los Angeles Raiders in the AFC championship game. Since that retirement, Levy has written an autobiography, a novel and found new fame among younger fans with his appearance in one of those amusing Coors Light commercials. She kissed me just right, like only a lonely angel can. The same is true of football. After Buffalos kicker Scott Norwood missed a last-second field goal against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, Levy was philosophical, regrouping his players for the campaigns to come with an ancient Scottish poem his mother taught him. Like most of his generation, the war had a deep impact on Levys life and the lessons learned from the war and the decisions of its commanders, especially British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, would be used by Levy on the football field. 25 overall in NFL draft, M&T to relocate 400 employees as it sheds 12% of local office space because of remote work, Inside the NHL: With cap problems looming next season, Bruins have major issue trying to salvage Game 7. Thus his pleasantness and faith in people. There is a mistake in the text of this quote. When I retired, I had the time. In addition to assisting and guiding homeowners in establishing green building priorities at the Ron Jones, Co-Founder and President of Green Builder Media, is recognized as one of the fathers of the green building movement. Marv Levy Attitude, Team, Winning 54 Copy quote What you do should speak so loudly that no one will hear what you say. When I told him, there was this long pause. It seems only appropriate to end here with another Marvism: The age factor means nothing to me. Levy, who hadn't boarded a plane to travel from Chicago since before the Covid-19 pandemic, readily agreed. If there was ever a time period you could go back to in life, all 24 would say it would be that time.". Second to None: The Relentless Drive and the Impossible Dream of the Super Bowl Bills, p.15, Triumph Books. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 4, 2001. This is not a must-win; World War II was a must-win, was once how he described the Super Bowl. "Early in the summer, we started having conversations about what we could do to really elevate the environment during the home opener and create a special moment for our fans," said Jordan McCarren, the Bills' vice president of marketing. A tickling image of Levy's career: the overhead NFL Films shot of the little white-haired man in the middle of the mob, surrounded by huge, fire-breathing men in red helmets. "Here was a guy that put his job security on the line to allow me to call my own plays," Kelly said. And even if today's world now considers us old. On Monday night, more than 60,000 people were let in on it and, according to the many comments about it on social media, the sound from Highmark Stadium after Levy spoke one of his most famous lines left people with chills and in tears. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The Sept. 5 start of the 2013 National Football League (NFL) season presents an opportunity to reflect on the careers of famed Jewish coaches, such as Gillman and Marv Levy, who helped shape the . "And then the old Marine said simply, 'Be a good one!'". He always has good words for the guys, which is very important. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago, son of a middleman in the produce business who bought wholesale produce from downstate farms and then sold it to local grocery stores. His four straight trips to the Super Bowl is something no other coach has accomplished. Levy, who earned a master's degree in history from Harvard on the GI Bill, has stayed in Chicago to cultivate a life of the mind. His overall fastidiousnessnot a hair out of place, not a sentence poorly constructedhas kept his bearing together. After the anthem, just minutes before kickoff against the Tennessee Titans, fellow Hall of Famer Kelly took the microphone and led the crowd in a rousing chant and response of "Hey-ay-ay-ay" and "Let's go, Buffalo!" Medicine has changed. He is inspired by the country's mid-century triumph over Jim Crow. "What he stood for, his brilliance, his command of the language," Levy says. Levy is fond of telling a story demonstrating his own measured firmness. Levy returned to the NFL in 1978 as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, but after five seasons, he was fired at the end of the strike-shortened 1982 season with a 3-6 record. The game is the beer. As he tells it, Levy was writhing in psychological agony in the wee hours after the Bills lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, when an old Scottish poem, from a book his mother had once given him, popped into his head and provided comfort: Levy posted the poem in the locker room the next day. ", Tartick's friends were "puzzled, perplexed, confused," he said. So did the Grinnell College team, which was staying at the same hotel. I've been a journalist and author since age 16 and write about social and political issues, popular culture, sports, business and anything - and anybody - that is interesting. He quit law school, enrolled in graduate school and never looked back. "When I look back on it, the first thing I talk about is leadership," Kelly said. The single most important decision of Levy's career was itself a drastic act of ego subordination: converting the Bills to a full-time no-huddle offense. Levy, who is 97 and famously led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, was coaching at the University of New Mexico in the 1950s when he first started rhetorically asking his players before games, "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?". And I pause for a private moment of thanks for all those wearing our nations uniform and recall what it was like to spend Thanksgiving on a different continent because thats just one of the ways we are keeping our part of the bargain. The war also taught him that football was not everything. ". Despite losing in the AFC Championship game to Cincinnati, the Buffalo had a nucleus of players ready to compete for a championship. He lasted one semester. Instead I will, with surging inspiration. Do you know why Hitler lost World War II? he asked them. Like. After the anthem, just minutes before kickoff against the Tennessee Titans, fellow Hall of Famer Kelly took the microphone and led the crowd in a rousing chant and response of Hey-ay-ay-ay and Lets go, Buffalo! from the teams Shout! theme song. You have permission to edit this article. Matt Sabuda, director of the Buffalo Fan Alliance, a nonprofit devoted to keeping the Bills in Buffalo that was active around the recent sale of the team, remembers Levy jogging around the city's southern suburbs and waving hi to well-wishers. The country was all-inof a population of 130 million, 16 million were enlistedand teenagers like Levy took seriously their duty to be brave and patriotic. In 1978, while coaching the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Films caught calling an official You over-officious jerk.). {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, As supporters pray, Kim Pegula's father shares her words: 'I will continue to fight', Prayer and healing vigil for Bills and Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula scheduled for Saturday, WGRZ meteorologist Elyse Smith exiting station after three years, DeAndre Hopkins Watch: Receiver posts on Instagram, 'Who says I wanted to leave? "Where Else Would You Rather Be?" He once berated an official by calling him an "over-officious jerk.". But someone had to put all those parts together, former wide receiver Don Beebe said. Once, in college, he was told by a member of a fraternity that they didn't accept Jewish pledges"very apologetically," Levy adds. "Never, never, never, never surrender," Levy said. It takes a naturally positive outlook for Levy to spend his old age writing poetry, and to be at peace with the defining aspect of his coaching career: going to four straight Super Bowls, and losing them all. After a two-year. With the NFL draft set to begin Thursday, speculation continues to intensify that the Arizona Cardinals will trade wide receiver DeAndre Hopki, Bills fans of a certain age were left largely befuddled by the choice of Josh Richards to announce the Bills' third-round pick at the NFL draf. "Why don't we just have Coach Levy deliver it?". The Bills offense was lining up and running plays faster than what defenses were ready for. Championship Games. The Lobos beat the Aggies that day, 16-7. The championship season got off to a slow start, and the Kohawks stood just 2-4 when Pursell told Levy the team was never fresh enough to play because the practices before and after games were too taxing. After a while I went back and said, 'You didn't tell me the other guys were going to have 12.' We didn't hide things. Marv Levy first uttered the words nearly 70 years ago: Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?. When the basketball coach, Tommy Thomsen, left for Creighton in 1955, Levy was bumped up to replace him. He graduated from South Shore High School in 1943. Levy became a meteorologist at the Army Airfield in Apalachicola, Florida. He's a guy I admire as much as my father.". Marv Levy confided it in August: Where would her at her be on a Mondaynight in September than Orchard Park? he says. All the buildup and hype, everything else, is foam. Raiders You've heard the famous Marv Levy line, "When it's too tough for them, it's just right for us." This was the day he delivered it. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "I didn't know that until I got to the Blitz.". Where else would you rather be than right here, right now? Marv Levy is 89 now, but he looks much the same as he did when he was coaching in the 1990s: more like a kindly Jewish grandfather than a football coach. The "A" team was the varsity, the "B" team had promising players who weren't quite ready physically for the varsity and the "C" team had all the rest, freshmen and undersized sophomores. "were our players gunned up and ready to play yesterday or what? Levy knew nothing about the small eastern Iowa school, but he took the plunge. Why do we call this fun to kill this creature [who] was as happy as I was when I woke up this morning." -- Marv Levy #Morning #Fun #Father "When it's too tough for them it's just right for us!" Marv Levy _____ #Quote #QuoteOfTheDay #QOTD #Inspiration #WeeklyInspiration #Aspirational 46 WALLPAPERS 4,300 POINTS. Its been a long trip from the south side of Chicago to Canton, Ohio, he said. "When it's too hard for them it's just right for us!". ', Many Bills fans stumped by identity of social media influencer who announced third-round pick, Bills' draft grades from Buffalo News writers show hits and misses, Ex-Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, on the payroll through 2027-28, comes out of retirement to play in Germany, Departure of 5 UB women's basketball commits raises eyebrows among coaches, analysts, Mark Gaughan: Buffalo Bills' winners and losers after 2023 NFL draft, Alan Pergament: JP starts on WECK Monday after all; Jennifer Stanonis rejoins WGRZ-TV, Former waitress sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison in $50,000 lottery scheme, Bills trade up in first round, select Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid at No. He acknowledges that the losses still hurt. There is no other distractions before the players. But this crowd, this franchise and this decades-long storyline of fandemonium? "He was always one of those guys who would put something together and talk about it and it would have meaning at the end. His Bills teams remain a testament to consistency and tenacity. Heres five reasons why. Two weeks before the term ended, an offer finally came, from Country Day High School in St. Louis. It was 1951 and Marv Levy was looking for a job coaching football, insisting he was serious despite curt warnings from the placement office that employers came to Harvard to find bankers,. Uber offering horse drawn carriage rides in honor of royal coronation. Sam Levy took shrapnel all over his body and was gassed. "We deliberately didn't publicize that he was going to be at the game or involved in the ceremony," McCarren said. It would become a Bills rallying cry. Arriving at the field with his wife, Fran, their daughter, Kimberly, and 7-year-old grandson, Georgey, Levy (with help from Jim Kelly and Bruce Smith) greeted the sold-out stadium with his classic pre-game quote: "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?". During a telephone interview from his home in Chicago, the former Buffalo Bills coach said, Theyve asked me to come back for their Monday night game.. "I told him I think we need a little break.". Im old enough to know my limitations and Im young enough to exceed them.. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. 11 likes. Expect rejection, but expect even more strongly to overcome it. In the midst of four consecutive runs to the Super Bowl, with each resulting in a loss, Levy uttered the famous line. And I have become even more of a sucker for those feel good stories, like the one about the guy who left a $3,000 tip on a $7 bar tab, or the fellow who rushed into waist-deep water to save his little dog from a hungry alligator, or the countless examples of little kids who come up with simple but ingenious ways to help others in need. Authors Marv Levy Marv Levy Quotes and Sayings - Page 1 "When I was twelve, I went hunting with my father and we shot a bird. Levy would shout. Thomas used to pull out a dictionary during team meetings and pretend to look up words. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. And the character he showed always came through. They're literally like, Wait a second: Your fan base is so loyal that you guys are referencing a quote made by one of your coaches decades ago? Technology has changed and it evolves. 6 comments. I don't think you necessarily would bring a Bill Parcells here and have the same connection." 123 subscribers Buffalo Bills Head Coach Marv Levy's motivational quote taken from the Super Bowl, "When it's too tough for them, it's just right for us!" A great football. (In practice, this order was not fully enforced.) Levy, the winningest coach in Bills' history, recorded a 112-70 regular season record and was 11-8 in the playoffs during his 11 1/2 seasons with the Bills. World War II was a must-win. 25 overall in NFL draft, M&T to relocate 400 employees as it sheds 12% of local office space because of remote work, Inside the NHL: With cap problems looming next season, Bruins have major issue trying to salvage Game 7, Marv Levy comes back to Buffalo, because you know the rest, Complete coverage: Buffalo Bills rout Tennessee Titans 41-7 on 'MNF', Reggie Gilliam carves out a consistent role through Bills' first two wins, Bills have lengthy injury report on short week ahead of facing Dolphins, Bills prep for Dolphins with injuries across defense: 'You can't let it freeze you', The Editorial Board: It seems to us Marv Levys magic, a saving grace of the Pegula era and Chris Jacobs does right, Still hurting from the Buffalo Bills' end of season? There was no time to study.". One day, Copeland caught Levy, and joyously ripped a "Deez nutz!" Our goal is to develop our team, to earn what we get, to learn, to develop unselfish attitudes. Statistics. When I was twelve, I went hunting with my father and we shot a bird. He was laying there and something struck me. to his almost-70-year-old coach. Marv was a master psychologist at knowing what buttons to push.. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. It helped that Levy eventually had four future Hall of Famers in Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas, defensive end Bruce Smith and wide receiver James Lofton. "Then we were home relaxing. It was a 29-23 Bills victory. But can he coach? Post-Standard columnist Bud Poliquin asked, Can Levy dissect the Xs and Os as easily as he can Hamlet?. Ill tell you why. He finally said, You better be a good one. ". If you have everything prepared, the rest will take care of itself. When it's too hard for them, it's just right for us. It is not a great thing for the fans, but it is a good thing for the players. "I was honored and fortunate to be where I was [as Bills coach]. ), Levy offers no easy answers, no nuggets of literary wisdom. As the wind howled through Rich Stadium and blew the snow sideways, Levy said linebacker Darryl Talley asked to speak. I came to the realization that I wasnt going to be happy unless I tried it, he told the Baltimore Sun in 1991. To the greatest fans in football, Levy said to the crowd of 60,000-plus, Id like to say to you, before the game, what I said to our players before every game.. Forty-seven years of joyous celebrations after victories and crushing disappointments after defeats are encompassed in it, but it is about more than just touchdowns and interceptions. He had grown up listening to a radio announcer named Bill Stern in Chicago, a Chris Berman type who announced the college scores with a melodramatic schtick. 6. But he kept his promise and the Kohawks reeled off 18 straight victories. (Levy is Jewish but was never observant. In our culturally polarized age, words like "bravery" and "patriotism" are closely aligned with one side of the debate, rendered abstract by the fact that United States is fighting two distant, perpetual wars without mandatory enlistment. "Yeah, you have to have players who lead by example, but he was the guy who always prepared us, the guy who always had us ready.