Foster Sanford (1913-23) coached his last game 92 years ago today. He put tiny Rutgers College on the map nationally. He was no players' coach. But he had the complete respect of all who ever played for him and a colorful flair about him including his final pre-game pep talk before Rutgers shut out Fordham 42-0 at Ashland Stadium in East Orange.
The November 7, 1936 Rutgers-Boston University program remembered, “Before the (November 24, 1923) Fordham game – his last as coach – Sandy called his team around him. He looked from face to face, smiled and drew from his pocket a sheet of paper. ‘Men,’ he began, but Sandy had to go no further. Out on the field no one would ever have guessed that this happy warrior read poetry to his players before each game. The title of the poem, as they all knew, was ‘Opportunity.’ His voice sounded huskily in the still room:
‘Master of human destinies am I!
Fame, love and fortune on my footsteps wait.
Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate
Deserts and seas remote, and passing by
Hovel and mart and palace – soon or late
I knock unbidden once at every gate!
If sleeping, wake – if feasting, rise, before
I turn away. It is the hour of fate
And they who follow me reach every state
Mortals desire and conquer every foe
Save death; but those who doubt or hesitate,
Condemed to failure, penury and woe.
Seek me in vain and uselessly implore;
I answer not and I return no more!’”
The November 7, 1936 Rutgers-Boston University program remembered, “Before the (November 24, 1923) Fordham game – his last as coach – Sandy called his team around him. He looked from face to face, smiled and drew from his pocket a sheet of paper. ‘Men,’ he began, but Sandy had to go no further. Out on the field no one would ever have guessed that this happy warrior read poetry to his players before each game. The title of the poem, as they all knew, was ‘Opportunity.’ His voice sounded huskily in the still room:
‘Master of human destinies am I!
Fame, love and fortune on my footsteps wait.
Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate
Deserts and seas remote, and passing by
Hovel and mart and palace – soon or late
I knock unbidden once at every gate!
If sleeping, wake – if feasting, rise, before
I turn away. It is the hour of fate
And they who follow me reach every state
Mortals desire and conquer every foe
Save death; but those who doubt or hesitate,
Condemed to failure, penury and woe.
Seek me in vain and uselessly implore;
I answer not and I return no more!’”
