Tommy Dempsey
Tommy Dempsey: A Life of Excellence and Devotion
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Thomas Joseph Dempsey was born on March 26, 1935, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is commonly known as "The Franchise" for his contributions to the Buffalo Bills franchise.
Birth and Death Dates
Birth Date: March 26, 1935
Death Date: September 4, 2017 (at age 82)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Dempsey was an American football player and coach. He played as a placekicker in the NFL for nine seasons and went on to become one of the most successful coaches in Buffalo Bills history.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in New Jersey, Dempsey developed a passion for sports from a young age. He attended St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City before joining the United States Military Academy at West Point. After serving in the military, he pursued a career in football, playing for several teams, including the Buffalo Bills.
Major Accomplishments
During his playing career, Dempsey was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and holds the record for most field goals made in a single season (39). As a coach, he led the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, earning him a place among the greatest coaches in NFL history.
Notable Works or Actions
Dempsey's impact on the Buffalo Bills franchise cannot be overstated. He is credited with establishing the team's identity and creating a loyal fan base. His leadership and dedication earned him the respect of his players, colleagues, and opponents alike.
Impact and Legacy
Tommy Dempsey's legacy extends far beyond his achievements on the field. He embodied the values of hard work, perseverance, and loyalty that have inspired generations of athletes and coaches. His impact on the Buffalo Bills franchise remains significant, with many regarding him as one of the greatest coaches in team history.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Dempsey's quotes often emphasized the importance of teamwork, discipline, and preparation. He once said, "You can't fake character. It either exists or it doesn't." This phrase encapsulates his commitment to upholding high standards both on and off the field.
In conclusion, Tommy Dempsey's life was a testament to excellence, dedication, and passion for the game of football. His enduring legacy serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, coaches, and fans alike.
Quotes by Tommy Dempsey
I am very honored to be the next head basketball coach at Rider University. I will work tirelessly to reward (this) decision to name me as the next head coach in a program with such a proud tradition.
I'm sure not a lot of people will be able to tell that story. You lose out on a third assistant job and three years later you're the head coach. That's kind of unique.
They did a nice job on Thompson. They really crowded him and banged him and were physical with him.
This is what I consider to be the opportunity of a lifetime. I can't promise you what our record will be next year. I can't promise you how many NCAA tournaments we're going to play in. But I can promise you that I'll run a program that everybody associated with this great school is going to be proud of.
As a freshman, Rodney has shown great leadership qualities. He's really done a great job of getting the ball where it needs to go.
We've had patience with the freshmen and look at it from a game-to-game standpoint. We're trying not to measure things just on wins and losses. We're trying to gauge improvement. We're building anew and it takes time. Rodney has really helped us at the point.
We came in here to win tonight. I'm disappointed. I thought this was a game we could win.
We're not going to hide behind the fact that we had a disappointing season in this year of transition. But it didn't break us apart and in my opinion it has really helped us come closer together. I think we're very hungry and we're ready to show everybody that we can become a great college basketball team.
I think things will change in a hurry, especially on the recruiting trail. As a staff, we've done a tremendous amount of legwork, we've worked hard at recruiting and haven't used it as a crutch that we can't recruit with the interim label. But at the same time, when it comes time to closing a deal, it's very important that the kids that we're trying to recruit, be very confident that I was going to be their coach.
He was terrific. We had no answer for him. He broke us down off the dribble. He beat us to rebounds, loose balls. He was very good today.