by Charlie Adams, StokeTheFireWithin.com
As you are building a program, or trying to get the kind of impact recruits that will be program changers, I wanted to share some things about the Miracle on Ice of 1980 that can inspire you.
When Herb Brooks’ team took to the ice against Sweden in the opening game of the 1980 Winter Olympics, there were several thousand empty seats in the 7,700 seat arena. Hardly any media was there. They were off covering what they felt were more important things. There was a guy from the 500 watt radio station in nearby Saranac, New York and a few print reporters.
Al Michaels and Ken Dryden did the game for ABC. Between them they had called a whopping one game..ever.
Less than two weeks later, there would be 11,000 jammed in the 7,700 seat arena with New York state troopers having to keep others from trying to somehow get inside. Forty million people would be watching on ABC as Herb’s boys took on the Soviet dynasty team. The President would send Air Force One to bring them to The White House a few days later.
They went from being unrecognized on the streets of Lake Placid with no autograph requests and thousands of empty seats at the Sweden game, to Mike Eruzione being signed to a $30,000 speaking contract for IBM the day after the Games. Every player was given a parade. They became, literally, national heroes.
When you think about what that team accomplished in beating the Soviets 4-3 and then winning gold, it is staggering:
* Greatest sports moment of the century in the United States. You can make that all time as there was nothing in the 1800’s and nothing 15 years into this century to compare.
* Greatest upset ever. Some say the 1950 USA 1-0 win over England in the World Cup was the greatest upset ever, but not many know of that Miracle on Grass because Team USA lost to Chile in the next round and did not make it out of the first round.
* Greatest sports call ever in “Do you believe in miracles, yes!’ Whenever fans are polled on the greatest call ever, Al Michaels’ call wins in
overwhelming fashion.
* Most famous Sports Illustrated cover. In over 60 years, S.I. has only had one issue with no caption, and it was of them. Why? Because the editor said everyone in America knew their story.
All of this came through recruiting. While it was a little different than when he was recruiting high school players while as a coach at the University of Minnesota, Herb had to recruit his Olympic team in many ways. And like you don’t get them all in recruiting, neither did Herb. He really wanted Joe Mullen, star at Boston College, but Joe’s Dad had died and the family needed the NHL signing money, so he had to go that way. He would become the first American player to score 500 goals and to reach 1,000 points in his NHL career. Imagine what our 1980 team would have been like with him on it.
Herb did know there were certain players he had to get, like defenseman Ken Morrow and scoring ace Mark Johnson, and he got them. Without them, there would have been no win over the Soviets.
So no matter where your program is now, think about how those boys went from totally unknown to national heroes in less than 2 weeks. What they did was NOT a miracle. It was earned. There were really good players on that team. It was not an all star team because Herb felt all star teams did not win. It was not a dream team, but a team of dreamers. Herb picked very talented players with the inner fire to somehow come up with a way to outscore the Soviets 4-3.
Use them as inspiration. When you really know their back story, I firmly feel you will feel there is nothing you cannot overcome or accomplish. Every college program should know their story. That is why I am dedicated to telling it, so that their fascinating journey lives on.