Updated 2025 – Originally published Sept, 5 2015
It’s good to get away for a while.
That goes for football teams as well as people.
Former Browns head coach Paul Brown, who was always way ahead of everybody else on the innovation curve, realized the value of getting out of Dodge, so to speak, and applied it to his teams.
So, for the last decade of his stay in Cleveland, 1953-62, Brown took his clubs to the West Coast to play the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco in preseason games on back-to-back weekends.
In between the contests, Brown would keep the Browns out there to conduct a portion of training camp, getting his players – and coaches, including himself – out of the everyday hum-drum of a routine, and away from the distractions of being in Northeast Ohio. He felt it enabled his players to focus and get better, and to bond as a team.
It was on this date 56 years ago, Sept. 5, 1959, that one of these games was held as the Browns edged the Rams 27-24 at the Coliseum. A week earlier, Cleveland had been edged 17-14 by the 49ers at Kezar Stadium.
The idea worked so well that even after Brown was unceremoniously fired by the Browns following the 1962 season, his successors, Blanton Collier and Bellaire, Ohio’s own Nick Skorich, continued the practice through 1972. After that, the Browns abandoned it.
Is it just a coincidence that in the ensuing seven-year period from 1973-79, the Browns never made the playoffs and had just three winning records? Who knows?
You’re probably never going to see a team go to the opposite coast again for 20 straight years and spend an entire week practicing during training camp. But some teams, including the Browns, are re-thinking the routine of holding training camp at their year-round training facilities. It’s too boring. It’s not challenging enough. That’s exactly why the Browns are headed to Columbus, perhaps as soon as next season, to conduct the majority of their training camp.
And when that happens, somewhere Paul Brown will be smiling.
He was right.
Again.
Steve King
Blanton Collier: The Gentle Giant Who Led the Browns to Glory
When you think of legendary NFL coaches, names like Vince Lombardi and Paul Brown often come to mind. But tucked just behind them, with a quieter style and a teacher’s heart, is Blanton Collier — the man who guided the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL Championship in 1964.
Collier’s story is one of patience, intellect, and leadership that left a lasting mark on football history.
Early Life and Teaching Roots
Born in Millersburg, Kentucky in 1906, Collier moved to Paris, Kentucky, at age six. After graduating from Georgetown College with a degree in English and history, he returned to Paris High School, where he spent 16 years as an algebra teacher and multi-sport coach.
That background as an educator earned him the nickname “The Old Professor” — a title that stuck with him for life.
From the Navy to the Browns
During World War II, Collier enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 37 and served as a survival swimming instructor. It was here that fate stepped in. At Great Lakes Naval Station, he met Paul Brown, who immediately recognized his football IQ.
When Brown formed the Cleveland Browns after the war, Collier joined him as an assistant coach.
College Coaching at Kentucky
In 1954, Collier succeeded Bear Bryant as head coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Over eight seasons, he compiled a 41–36–3 record and earned SEC Coach of the Year honors in 1954.
While his time at Kentucky was respectable, his true legacy would come back in Cleveland.
Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns
Collier took over the Browns in 1963, replacing Paul Brown himself. From there, he led one of the most consistent stretches in team history:
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1964 NFL Championship — the Browns’ last league title, with a 27–0 shutout of the Baltimore Colts.
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76–34–2 record (1963–1970) — never suffering a losing season.
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.686 winning percentage — one of the highest in NFL history for coaches with 100+ games.
Despite losing some hearing later in life, Collier relied on his intelligence, preparation, and trust in his players to get results.
Coaching Style: A Teacher at Heart
Unlike fiery, authoritarian coaches of his era, Collier was calm, analytical, and respectful. Players praised him for treating them as equals and preparing them mentally as well as physically. His film study habits and attention to detail set the tone for future generations of coaches.
Legacy and Honors
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The Blanton Collier Award, created in 2007 by the Kentucky NFLPA chapter, honors individuals for integrity, sportsmanship, and community service.
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Paris High School’s stadium and gym bear his name.
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He remains beloved in both Kentucky and Cleveland for his character and success.
Collier passed away in 1983, but his influence lives on every time the Browns’ 1964 title is remembered.
Final Thoughts
Blanton Collier may not have been the loudest or flashiest coach, but he was one of the most effective and respected leaders the NFL has ever seen. His gentle nature, combined with his championship success, make him a true legend of the game — and the last man to bring Cleveland pro football’s greatest prize.
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