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Book Review: That First Season: How Vince Lombardi Took The Worst Team In The NFL And Set It On The Path To Glory, by: John Eisenberg - By Bryan Hersh Jan 16 2010

I recently completed reading the book That First Season: How Vince Lombardi Took The Worst Team In The NFL And Set It On The Path To Glory, by: John Eisenberg. Although I do have an interest about NFL history, most of my interest is obviously 49ers centric. The opportunity to read about the rival Packers is not something I would normally seek out. With the 49ers in a state of flux for the better part of a decade, complete with revolving doors in the front office, coaching booths, and on the sidelines, the chance to read about Lombardi, and how he built a dynasty could not have come at a better time. I think that is further underscored by having Mike Singletary as the current head coach of the club.

There are three reasons why I would recommend this book to 49ers fans:
1. The football history. There is a reason - and a good one at that - why the Super Bowl trophy is named after Vince Lombardi.
2. The connection to the 49ers history. YA Tittle and the 49ers had a really hot start to the season the year Lombardi took over in Greenbay. There is some light 49ers history intertwined throughoughout this novel.
3. The formula for success.


It is this third reason, I believe, that this book has the most value. As fans we have watched as Mike Singletary has taken the 49ers squad from barely competitive, to a hard working, fairly well disciplined, increasingly more confident and tough, and of course better football team. Singletary is not without fault (nor was Lombardi who also suffered a mid-season losing streak after starting out 3-0 in his inaugaral year), but there are signs of an improving team and a formidable future for the 49ers - as there were for the Packers.

When Greenbay selected Lombardi to coach there were other bigger names out there - much in the same way that there was when the 49ers promoted Singletary from interim to full time head coach. Lombardi at the time was considered close to being too old to get a chance as a head coach, but when he did get that chance, he ran with it, much as Singeltary did as far as last season when he motivated the team to finish strong. Lombardi found himself surprised by the talent on the roster, Singletary was rather content (though less surprised) with the existing roster as well. Both coaches were also handed a quarterback dilema.

Now I am not going to sit here, and predict that Singletary will be the next great coach, but there are some very interesting similarities between what Singletary is doing, and what Lombardi did. Ultimately, what I think Singletary has done, which is smart, is look at how dynasties were built, and understand what men like Lombardi and Bill Walsh did to bring success to their teams - and try to emulate much of it, and adapt it to today's more modern game.

The "nutcracker" drill is a throwback to the Lombardi era - as is the discipline and military style command of a team. Singletary has brought a motivational approach that is different, but as effective as both Walsh and Lombardi. He has taken command and moved much of the meddling ownership issues out of the picture much as the two greats had also done. Finally, he has focussed on being tougher, more prepared, and in better shape - hitting the other opponent first, and winning each little small battle - again as Walsh and Lombardi both did. He is also as cut-throat as Lombardi was - no one will forget when he sent Vernon Davis to the locker room, or dropped his pants to make a point in a half time speach.

The formula that Singletary is using has brought wins before - and that formula is worth comparing to the Lombardi era and the Lombardi team. That is where I think readers will find value in this book. Lombardi - and Walsh for that matter, were both real visionaries. Lombardi's foreward thinking is displayed throughout this book. One day, perhaps Singletary will be known as a visionary too. In the mean time, it is very interesting to see the formula he is following compared with how the Packer's built a dynasty in the Lombardi era, and whether or not it can be adapated to have success in today's NFL. If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so by clicking on the link below. (Commissions earned from sales through this link will go to improving 49ers Paradise)