Bill Parcells' Hall of Fame Induction Speech

Bill Parcells is a legendary football coach, known for his in-your-face style and temper. His reputation makes this heartfelt and insightful speech, given upon his enshrinement into the Hall of Fame all the more affecting. ( August 3, 2013)
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. unwavering
    marked by firm determination or resolution
    He was unwavering in his support to all three factions; and quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, without that support, I don't think I'd be here tonight.
  2. faction
    a dissenting clique
    He was unwavering in his support to all three factions; and quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, without that support, I don't think I'd be here tonight.
  3. confluence
    a place where things merge or flow together
    But coincidentally, there was kind of a confluence of circumstances that just occurred all at once, and the best way to put it is I had the exact right kind of players, understood my personality, bought into the program, at the absolute most critical time in my career.
  4. solicit
    request urgently or persistently
    Tom Landry, Chuck Knox, Chuck Noll, some of the great names in football history took the time when I solicited information from them.
  5. induction
    a formal entry into an organization or position or office
    He was killed on a plane crash in the mid '90s, and when the induction results were announced this year for this Hall of Fame class, Cortez called me and said, Coach, you know what, Robert would have been proud of us.
  6. scurry
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    Some group on your team didn't play the way you wanted them to, someone's hurt, someone can't practice, someone's out for the season; and you've got your pro department scurrying around and trying to find his replacement in 48 hours.
  7. impart
    bestow a quality on
    Had a lot of wisdom imparted to me.
  8. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    To look at the dismay and consternation and uncertainty on their faces was very painful to me.
  9. consternation
    sudden shock or dismay that causes confusion
    To look at the dismay and consternation and uncertainty on their faces was very painful to me.
  10. commend
    express a good opinion of
    So I commend her for a job well done, and I thank her very much for it.
  11. vital
    urgently needed; absolutely necessary
    And I want to tell you something, he taught me one vital, vital piece of information that I took with me and preached to every organization, to every university, to my coaching staff, to my individual coaches, and I remind myself every day.
  12. remiss
    failing in what duty requires
    One other guy I would be remiss if I didn't mention, I know he's down in Mississippi tonight.
  13. prerequisite
    something that is needed or obligatory in advance
    Now, talent aside, we know it's the football business, but the only prerequisite for acceptance into that locker room is you've got to be willing to contribute to the greater good, and if you are willing to do that, you are readily accepted.
  14. incite
    provoke or stir up
    Now, there are a lot of exit doors in pro football, and by exit doors, I mean vehicles that organizations or players or coaches could use to incite to the public that it wasn't their fault that the team performed poorly.
  15. appellate
    relating to challenges to a legal decision
    Their decisions are final, because we don't have any appellate courts in there.
  16. hilarity
    great merriment
    We've got happiness, we've got humor, practical jokes, hilarity, success, achievement.
  17. hoist
    raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
    Then we've got that momentary time of exhilaration where you hoist that championship trophy over your head, and I don't know what happens, but some mystical blood kinship is formed, and although it's a fleeting moment, that kinship lasts for the rest of your life.
  18. kinship
    a close connection marked by common interests or character
    Then we've got that momentary time of exhilaration where you hoist that championship trophy over your head, and I don't know what happens, but some mystical blood kinship is formed, and although it's a fleeting moment, that kinship lasts for the rest of your life.
  19. despondency
    feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless
    There's despondency. There's pain.
  20. patriarch
    the male head of family or tribe
    In closing, about ten minutes after I was named head coach of the Giants and my first press conference was over, the patriarch owner of the New York Giants, the late Wellington Mara was at my office door, and he said, Bill, let's take a walk.
Created on Sat Aug 03 22:46:01 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Aug 04 17:41:55 EDT 2014)

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