16 Facts About Red Sanders

Henry Russell "Red" Sanders was an American college football player and coach.

Red Sanders was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1996.

Red Sanders is widely credited with coining the saying, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing".

Red Sanders attended Central High School in Nashville and graduated from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia.

Red Sanders was a four-year letterman both in football and baseball.

Red Sanders was captain of the baseball team in his senior year and a substitute quarterback on the football team.

Red Sanders got his first head coaching position at Riverside Military Academy, leading its 1936 team to an undefeated season.

Red Sanders then assisted the 1938 Florida Gators, again with Cody, and the 1939 LSU Tigers.

Red Sanders had two stints as head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, from 1940 to 1942, and then from 1946 to 1948.

Between 1942 and 1946, Red Sanders served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Red Sanders instituted the distinctive football uniforms worn by the Bruins when he replaced the navy blue jerseys with "powderkeg blue", added the shoulder stripe to give the impression of motion, and changed the number style from block to clarendon.

Red Sanders said these changes made it harder for opponents to scout his Bruins on the grainy black and white game films of the time.

Red Sanders appeared on The Jack Benny Program "New Years Day" 1956 episode on Sunday, January 1,1956, preceding the 1956 Rose Bowl to be played the next day.

Red Sanders had complained of the heat, and asked Grimes to fetch some soft drinks.

Red Sanders then began gasping for breath and clutching his chest.

Red Sanders was a Commander in the US Navy during his service in World War II.