Leo Paquin
Encyclopedia
Leo Paquin was an American football player. He played end for Fordham University
as part of the 1936 line known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite
". After graduating from Fordham, he eschewed a professional football career in favor of a 40-year career as a high school football
coach and teacher.
, and he attended Fordham University where he played college football
as an end. While there, he roomed with another Fordham lineman, Vince Lombardi
. As a senior in 1936, Paquin played as the left end on the Fordham line known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite
". That line was actually the second one to bear that name. Fordham University publicist Tim Cohane had first applied the moniker to the Fordham line of the 1929 and 1930 seasons in an effort to garner the same level of recognition as Notre Dame
's famed Four Horsemen
. Incidentally, Jim Crowley
, who coached Paquin and the second Seven Blocks of Granite had been one of the Four Horsemen.
Fordham finished the 1936 season with a 5–1–2 record, but was more storied than its more successful counterparts from the subsequent year or the late 1920s. The final game was an upset at the hands of their cross-town rivals and heavy underdogs, NYU, which precluded a Rose Bowl invitation. Nevertheless, Crowley called that Fordham squad the "greatest defensive team I've ever seen", implying that it was superior to his own Notre Dame teams which included the Four Horsemen and their front line, the "Seven Mules". Paquin's graceful play earned him the nickname "Twinkletoes". While at Fordham, he made the dean's list
all four years.
The New York Giants
recruited Paquin to play professional football, but he turned down the offer. Instead, Paquin took a coaching position at Xavier High School
in Manhattan
, where he remained for the next four decades. Paquin worked at Xavier as a football coach, athletic director, and an English
and Latin teacher. Paquin served a stint in the U.S. Navy
during World War II
. He married Elsie Paquin, with whom he had a son, Leo, and two daughters, Noreen A. Then and Anne E. Kane. On December 2, 1993, he died in his sleep at his home in Rutherford, New Jersey
. Paquin was 83 years old.
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
as part of the 1936 line known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite
Seven Blocks of Granite
The Seven Blocks of Granite was a nickname given to the Fordham University football team's offensive line under head coach "Sleepy" Jim Crowley and line coach Frank Leahy. The most famous Seven Blocks of Granite were: Leo Paquin, Johnny Druze, Alex Wojciechowicz, Ed Franco, Al Babartsky, Natty...
". After graduating from Fordham, he eschewed a professional football career in favor of a 40-year career as a high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
coach and teacher.
Biography
Paquin grew up in Brockton, MassachusettsBrockton, Massachusetts
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 93,810 in the 2010 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County...
, and he attended Fordham University where he played 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...
as an end. While there, he roomed with another Fordham lineman, Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
. As a senior in 1936, Paquin played as the left end on the Fordham line known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite
Seven Blocks of Granite
The Seven Blocks of Granite was a nickname given to the Fordham University football team's offensive line under head coach "Sleepy" Jim Crowley and line coach Frank Leahy. The most famous Seven Blocks of Granite were: Leo Paquin, Johnny Druze, Alex Wojciechowicz, Ed Franco, Al Babartsky, Natty...
". That line was actually the second one to bear that name. Fordham University publicist Tim Cohane had first applied the moniker to the Fordham line of the 1929 and 1930 seasons in an effort to garner the same level of recognition as Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
's famed Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (football)
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame comprised a winning group of American football players at the University of Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne. They were the backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team...
. Incidentally, Jim Crowley
Jim Crowley
James Harold "Jim" Crowley was an American football player and coach. He gained fame as one-fourth of the University of Notre Dame's legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield where he played halfback from 1922 to 1924. After a brief career as a professional football player, Crowley turned to coaching...
, who coached Paquin and the second Seven Blocks of Granite had been one of the Four Horsemen.
Fordham finished the 1936 season with a 5–1–2 record, but was more storied than its more successful counterparts from the subsequent year or the late 1920s. The final game was an upset at the hands of their cross-town rivals and heavy underdogs, NYU, which precluded a Rose Bowl invitation. Nevertheless, Crowley called that Fordham squad the "greatest defensive team I've ever seen", implying that it was superior to his own Notre Dame teams which included the Four Horsemen and their front line, the "Seven Mules". Paquin's graceful play earned him the nickname "Twinkletoes". While at Fordham, he made the dean's list
Dean's List
A Dean's List is a category of students in a college or university who achieve high grades during their stay in an academic term or academic year. In secondary schools, or high schools, the term Consistent Honor List or Honor Roll is more common, but Dean's List and Consistent Honor List are...
all four years.
The New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
recruited Paquin to play professional football, but he turned down the offer. Instead, Paquin took a coaching position at Xavier High School
Xavier High School (New York City)
Xavier High School is a independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier by Father John Larkin, S.J...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, where he remained for the next four decades. Paquin worked at Xavier as a football coach, athletic director, and an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Latin teacher. Paquin served a stint in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He married Elsie Paquin, with whom he had a son, Leo, and two daughters, Noreen A. Then and Anne E. Kane. On December 2, 1993, he died in his sleep at his home in Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
. Paquin was 83 years old.