John U. Bacon on Bob Chappuis

Thanks for posting, this was an interesting ready.  I'm sure Chappuis appreciated the part of LOTR where Sam and Frodo watching the orcs march by at the stairs of Cirith Ungol.

That is an awesome quote from Chappius. Wish I knew more about the guy before he passed away.

That was a great read. Thanks for sharing.

I liked what seems to be Chappuis' very grounded perspective on things, as you get the sense that this seemed to permeate his character. I really enjoyed his other quote regarding being shot down:

"Everybody says we're heroes. But what kind of idiot wouldn't jump from a burning plane?"

It seems like it was that level head that kept him through WWII and brought him back to Michigan. I honestly wish I had known more than the just the name before his passing as well.

Never bring a knife to a gun fight.

Priceless quote...got emotional when I read that piece. It should be an MGoShirt. Very fitting article leading into Independence Day celebrations.

Thanks for posting. 

I wonder if, post-liberation, he was ever able to get the Italian resistance to dig up that ring??

Also: wow, the Michigan-Ohio hatefest was that strong even back then.  Thank God Chappuis he had a good father who raised him to believe the right things.

This sort of passed uncommented, but he was quick enough to play tailback on offense but in the article Chappuis noted that he couldn't play on defense because of his lack of speed or quickness. It seems that Crisler wanted a really fast swarming defense and was willing to put his fastest players on that side of the ball.

I went to an evening program at my father-in-law's senior community this spring, and saw Bob Chappuis there, although I didn't know it at the time.  (Apparently he was a resident there too)  I wish I had known who he was, as I would have loved to have met him.  His war story rivals that of Tom Harmon's.  We certainly lost a great Michigan Man this year. 

Michigan Radio:

http://www.michiganradio.org/post/remembering-bob-chappuis-wwii-hero-and-mad-magician

It was always hard for me to get a handle on Chappuis' specific greatness as a football player.  He was a "Halfback" in Crisler's Mad Magician offense.  He was seen as one of the game's great passers, from the halfback position.  Yet he lost a close Heisman trophy contest to Notre Dame Quarterback Johnny Lujack, who had similar numbers for running and passing numbers.  Backfield positions were a lot more fluid then, and there's never been another offense quite like Crisler's. 

http://espn.go.com/colleges/michigan/football/story/_/id/8057164/former-michigan-wolverines-football-star-bob-chappuis-dies-89 

Chappuis' Time magazine cover, as referenced by John:

 FoWWhilW