Master Motivator Knox Serves as Role Model for Youngblood

Jack Youngblood says if he has one model for learning how to lead men, one man whose energy and vision he hopes to incorporate into his job as an executive for the Sacramento Surge in the World League of American Football, it is Chuck Knox.

Youngblood was a third-year backup defensive lineman when Knox first came to the Rams as head coach in 1973. One of Knox’s first moves was to make Youngblood a starter. The team went from 6-7-1 under Tommy Prothro in 1972 to 12-2 in 1973.

That kind of turnaround could happen again in Knox’s second stint with the Rams, Youngblood says.

“If you asked me if I had one mentor, Chuck would be my mentor,” Youngblood said. “In the beginning it was great, because Chuck brought in a different spirit, he was coming right behind Tommy Prothro, and the football team was sort of in the same situation as it was last year, kind of halfway here and there.

“Chuck came in with a new attitude, a very positive approach. (He was) very high on motivating his players to perform and get the job done and the work ethic and condition and discipline and all that stuff.

“And, at first, all the players said, ‘Yeah, yeah, this is the same old story, we’ve heard this before.’ Then, all of a sudden, it started clicking, it started working.

“I think there couldn’t have been a better choice for this football team. I see this football team as one searching for a type of identity and a direction and some discipline, and I think Chuck Knox brings all of that in his package.

“Chuck Knox’s football teams, they knew they were good. They wanted to be good, and they went onto the field come Sunday and they rolled it out and expected to win.

“Last year, I didn’t see it. If you went up to every one of those guys before the game and asked if they thought they were going to win last year, they’d say, ‘You bet.’ Maybe they weren’t so sure.

“It’s a real subtle, subconscious type of an attitude. But it affects you. You think about losing. Chuck Knox teams, believe me, do not think about losing.”