(Editor’s Note: Jim Yarbrough was a former college and professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the NFL for a decade during the 1960s and 1970s. He played his entire professional career for the Detroit Lions.)
By Jim Yarbrough
Here is a short story on the National Anthem from my NFL memory bank.
The leader of the Minnesota Vikings during the 70’s when I played was Coach Bud Grant. He is now 89 and in the NFL Hall of Fame.
My Lions played them twice a year and he was their coach when I got there and he was their coach when I left 10 years later. I had 5 head coaches during this same time period. The Vikings went to four Super Bowls in those 10 years and I went to none.
When the National Anthem was played he instructed his players to stand shoulder to shoulder in a straight line down the sideline. Each player stood tall and erect with their shiny Purple Helmet tucked under their left elbow and their face mask pointing forward. It was always an inspiring sight to me as the Anthem played and my heart beat like a drum. Many times it was freezing outside and their sweat would turn to clouds of vapor and steam would be flowing from each of those 40 player’s mouths and bodies. It just seemed so pure, so perfect.
I was always so thankful to be there, to sing our National Anthem and compete against such a great team. Their defense was called “THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATERS”. I “was the people” on the other side of the line of scrimmage. But you know what… The “Purple PEOPLE” were actually black and white.
