VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY - nfl.comForty years ago today, Vince Lombardi resigned as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Many Trinity International University (TIU) students hail from Wisconsin, and to their dismay the Packers will not compete in Super Bowl XLII.
But Lombardi will be there, making his $25,000 sterling silver entrance, just as he has every year since 1971.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy was named in honor of the Green Bay coach who led the Packers to six division titles, five National Football League (NFL) West championships and to win Super Bowl I and II in the ‘60s. His post-season record was 9-1.
The undefeated New England Patriots are fated to be champions Sunday, and the win over the New York Giants would be Super Bowl championship number four for head coach Bill Belichick, and a 14-3 playoff record – second best in NFL history, as he trails only Lombardi.
Some NFL fans have tossed around the idea of a replacement “Bill Belichick Trophy,” and their voices have been heard in less reputable outlets – mainly sports comedy formats, late night television types, and random internet forums.
“It would be a dishonor to rename the trophy and replace the legend Lombardi,” said TIU student and Kevin Geldon, a Packers fan who calls Wisconsin home.
Others think it is inappropriate to compare coaches from different eras and dissimilar football styles of play.
“Lombardi is the history of football and one of the greatest coaches of all time. Football is the way it is now because of him,” said Rhode Islander Loryssa Simas, a Patriots fan. “Belichick is more of the now and he will be history. He’s hall of fame worthy.”
But Belichick’s entrance in to the Hall of Fame was potentially marred by accusations of illegal spying. In September the NFL confiscated a tape from the Patriot’s sideline and after an investigation Belichick was fined $500,000. The Patriots were fined $250,000 and lost a future priority draft pick.
The NFL prohibits taping an opponent’s signals on the sideline. Video recording is not allowed in the coach’s booth during the game, on the field or in the locker room.
Some Patriot fans are skeptical about whether Belichick really authorized the operation.
“Nobody knows if he was directly involved,” said Simas. “The Patriots aren’t the first ones to videotape games and read plays off of opponents lips. Whoever did it was just the first one to get caught.”
New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, a former Belichick assistant, was the one who knew of the Patriots spying tactics and ratted them out. But Mangini has been suspected of spying too.
