Lisle Blackbourn
Encyclopedia
Lisle "Liz" Blackbourn (June 3, 1899 – June 15, 1983) was an American football
coach who was the third head coach of the Green Bay Packers
. He coached the Packers from 1954 to 1957.
Blackbourn began his career playing football for the Lawrence University
Vikings, under head coach Mark Catlin, Sr. He earned "all-state" honors three times for the Vikings. He also was head coach at Marquette University
, was on the football staff at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and coached Washington High School in Milwaukee
for 22 years, compiling a 141–30–6 record.
Blackbourn was also the 21st head college football
coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers
located in Waukesha, Wisconsin
and he held that position for the 1958 season. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 6 wins, 2 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him 16th at Carroll College in total wins and second at Carroll College in winning percentage.
As head coach for the Green Bay Packers, Blackbourn managed only a 17–31 record from 1954 to 1957 with no playoff appearances. He resigned at the end of the 1957 season after a disappointing 3–9 campaign. Blackbourn stayed with the Packers as a scout. He drafted future big names such as Bart Starr
, Paul Hornung
and Ray Nitschke
.
He was the 16th head coach for the Marquette University Golden Eagles
located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and he held that position for six seasons, from 1950 to 1953 and from 1959 to 1960. His coaching record at Marquette was 24 wins, 30 losses, and 4 ties. Since Marquette has discontinued its football program, this ranks him third at Marquette in total wins and 12th at Marquette in winning percentage (.448).
Blackbourn returned to Marquette after his days in Green Bay and coached the last two football seasons at the school. Blackbourn was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. He died in 1983 in his hometown of Lancaster, Wisconsin
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach who was the third head coach of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He coached the Packers from 1954 to 1957.
Blackbourn began his career playing football for the Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
Vikings, under head coach Mark Catlin, Sr. He earned "all-state" honors three times for the Vikings. He also was head coach at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, was on the football staff at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and coached Washington High School in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
for 22 years, compiling a 141–30–6 record.
Blackbourn was also the 21st head college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers
Carroll College (Wisconsin)
Carroll University is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian church located in Waukesha in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Carroll opened in 1846, two years before Wisconsin became a state...
located in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
and he held that position for the 1958 season. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 6 wins, 2 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him 16th at Carroll College in total wins and second at Carroll College in winning percentage.
As head coach for the Green Bay Packers, Blackbourn managed only a 17–31 record from 1954 to 1957 with no playoff appearances. He resigned at the end of the 1957 season after a disappointing 3–9 campaign. Blackbourn stayed with the Packers as a scout. He drafted future big names such as Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
, Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
and Ray Nitschke
Ray Nitschke
Raymond Ernest "Ray" Nitschke was a professional football player who played his entire career as a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Wearing #66, he played fifteen seasons, from 1958-72....
.
He was the 16th head coach for the Marquette University Golden Eagles
Marquette Golden Eagles
The Marquette Golden Eagles are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Marquette University....
located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and he held that position for six seasons, from 1950 to 1953 and from 1959 to 1960. His coaching record at Marquette was 24 wins, 30 losses, and 4 ties. Since Marquette has discontinued its football program, this ranks him third at Marquette in total wins and 12th at Marquette in winning percentage (.448).
Blackbourn returned to Marquette after his days in Green Bay and coached the last two football seasons at the school. Blackbourn was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. He died in 1983 in his hometown of Lancaster, Wisconsin
Lancaster, Wisconsin
Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 4,070.-History:...
.
NFL
| Team | |Regular Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Finish | Result | ||
| GB Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
1954 1954 NFL season The 1954 NFL season was the 35th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Cleveland Browns defeated the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game.-Major rule changes:... |
4 | 8 | 0 | 5th in NFL Western Conference | – |
| GB | 1955 1955 NFL season The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game... |
6 | 6 | 0 | 3nd in NFL Western Conference | – |
| GB | 1956 1956 NFL season The 1956 NFL season was the 37th regular season of the National Football League. CBS became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation... |
4 | 8 | 0 | 6th in NFL Western Conference | – |
| GB | 1957 1957 NFL season The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:... |
3 | 9 | 0 | 6th in NFL Western Conference | – |
| Total | 17 | 30 | 0 | – | ||