Robert Patrick “Rocky” Bleier won 4 Super Bowl rings. He was a star blocking back for Hall of Fame teammate Franco Harris, and also ran well enough himself to once exceed the magical 1000 yard seasonal rushing mark. He was a hard-nosed, dependable and inspirational player and an integral part of a true football dynasty. He was a man of greatness - and his greatness has little to do with football.
Bleier was a nondescript running back and punter at Notre Dame whose intangible qualities of leadership, intelligence and perseverance defined him much better than his infrequent rushes and receptions. Never a star but always a focal point due to his all-around abilities, Bleier was the undisputed emotional heart and soul of a national championship team and demonstrated his resolve when he played the best game of his career after suffering what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury his senior year. Bleier stayed in the game and played through the pain.
Most pro scouts considered him too slow, too small, and not talented enough to play at the next level. But Bleier had a life-long dream to play at the highest level of his beloved sport, and his pluck and gumption attracted notice. Two scouts from the then-abysmal Pittsburgh Steelers, one of whom was a Notre Dame alumnus, took a chance and selected Bleier in the next-to-last round of the draft. True to form, Bleier rehabilitated his knee and made it to training camp stronger and faster due to a rigorous weight-training and sprinting regimen. Due to his well-grounded fundamentals and his capacity to play on the punt and kickoff coverage units, Bleier shocked his detractors and made the team. The same day he was notified of his astounding accomplishment, he was also given notice by the federal government that he was slated to be drafted and inducted into the armed services. The Vietnam conflict was at its participatory height, and the nation needed soldiers.
Bleier played his rookie season in a haze of uncertainty, curious as to when and in what capacity he might be called to serve. A lesser man might have enrolled in the Army Reserves, as a way to bypass active duty. A more selfish man might have requested non-hazardous duty befitting his status as a pro athlete. A different type of conscientious man might have objected to military service and refused to take an oath to defend his country (the route Bleier’s younger brother eventually chose). 3 games prior to the end of the season, the Army inducted him into their service and Bleier left the team and joined his Army unit. Bleier volunteered for the infantry, a position that guaranteed him a ticket to war. At some level, Bleier believed he’d lived a blessed life and owed his country for his success. He sought adversity as a welcome contrast.
Within 6 months, Bleier was in the jungles of Vietnam, conducting patrols into enemy territory and engaging in combat.
Several months into his tour, Bleier was wounded in combat. His injuries were severe. He was shot in his left thigh, a searing wound that tore away muscle and flesh and left a permanent, gaping hole. During evacuation and still under a blistering attack by the enemy, his right foot was gashed in 3 places and nearly severed from a grenade blast. The grenade exploded inches from his feet and he incurred significant shrapnel and sulfur burn damage throughout his right calf, knee and thigh. But he survived, unlike many of his comrades.
His first day in a hospital, a doctor said to him, “Rocky, you won’t be able to play {football} again. It’s impossible.” The doctor, and so many others, underestimated Bleier. Many years and many operations later and after dedicating his life to rehabilitation, Bleier emerged faster, stronger and better as both a football player and a man. He was a rock exposed to the harshest grindstone of life. Instead of being ground down, he became a polished gem of example and a shining display of true grit. He will always be remembered.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
Bleier was a nondescript running back and punter at Notre Dame whose intangible qualities of leadership, intelligence and perseverance defined him much better than his infrequent rushes and receptions. Never a star but always a focal point due to his all-around abilities, Bleier was the undisputed emotional heart and soul of a national championship team and demonstrated his resolve when he played the best game of his career after suffering what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury his senior year. Bleier stayed in the game and played through the pain.
Most pro scouts considered him too slow, too small, and not talented enough to play at the next level. But Bleier had a life-long dream to play at the highest level of his beloved sport, and his pluck and gumption attracted notice. Two scouts from the then-abysmal Pittsburgh Steelers, one of whom was a Notre Dame alumnus, took a chance and selected Bleier in the next-to-last round of the draft. True to form, Bleier rehabilitated his knee and made it to training camp stronger and faster due to a rigorous weight-training and sprinting regimen. Due to his well-grounded fundamentals and his capacity to play on the punt and kickoff coverage units, Bleier shocked his detractors and made the team. The same day he was notified of his astounding accomplishment, he was also given notice by the federal government that he was slated to be drafted and inducted into the armed services. The Vietnam conflict was at its participatory height, and the nation needed soldiers.
Bleier played his rookie season in a haze of uncertainty, curious as to when and in what capacity he might be called to serve. A lesser man might have enrolled in the Army Reserves, as a way to bypass active duty. A more selfish man might have requested non-hazardous duty befitting his status as a pro athlete. A different type of conscientious man might have objected to military service and refused to take an oath to defend his country (the route Bleier’s younger brother eventually chose). 3 games prior to the end of the season, the Army inducted him into their service and Bleier left the team and joined his Army unit. Bleier volunteered for the infantry, a position that guaranteed him a ticket to war. At some level, Bleier believed he’d lived a blessed life and owed his country for his success. He sought adversity as a welcome contrast.
Within 6 months, Bleier was in the jungles of Vietnam, conducting patrols into enemy territory and engaging in combat.
Several months into his tour, Bleier was wounded in combat. His injuries were severe. He was shot in his left thigh, a searing wound that tore away muscle and flesh and left a permanent, gaping hole. During evacuation and still under a blistering attack by the enemy, his right foot was gashed in 3 places and nearly severed from a grenade blast. The grenade exploded inches from his feet and he incurred significant shrapnel and sulfur burn damage throughout his right calf, knee and thigh. But he survived, unlike many of his comrades.
His first day in a hospital, a doctor said to him, “Rocky, you won’t be able to play {football} again. It’s impossible.” The doctor, and so many others, underestimated Bleier. Many years and many operations later and after dedicating his life to rehabilitation, Bleier emerged faster, stronger and better as both a football player and a man. He was a rock exposed to the harshest grindstone of life. Instead of being ground down, he became a polished gem of example and a shining display of true grit. He will always be remembered.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
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