The Seven Blocks of Granite – The Legendary Line

The Seven Blocks of Granite: The First Six

In reference to a legendary offensive line of Columbia University's football team from the late 1930s, The Seven Blocks of Granite This 7-man line, made up of players who changed the game of football in America, became synonymous with brute force, talent and bonded endeavor. It is the name given to this seemingly impenetrable grouping of players who dominated games and helped form one of college football's best offensive lines ever - Seven Blocks of Granite. Columbia University and the history of American Football take pride in their contributions to the game and sport's evolution.

Who Were the Seven Blocks of Granite?

The Seven Blocks of Granite were all players from the Columbia Lions football team. These players were not only very physically strong, but also very well trained tactically. Columbia never was a powerhouse in the truest sense — Embrey's teams of the late 1920s were mediocre, at best, until his eventual decline around 1932 — but they did help place Columbia U on the football map.

The seven players were:

Alfred "Dutch" Koster

Joseph "Biff" Mader

Richard "Dick" Faber

Jesse "The Rock" Bivins

Bernie "The Bull" Held

Edgar "Eddie" McDevitt

Frank "Jumbo" Donnelly

Combined, this line of seven consisted of for all intents and purposes an impenetrable wall that gave Columbia’s offense a firm footing in which to operate with the timing of their running backs or reads from their quarterbacks.

Importance of the Seven Blocks of Granite

Well, the Seven Blocks of Granite made an impact as they helped lead Columbia to a historic season in 1934 where their play turned them into national heroes. Results that season were impressive, including victories over powerhouse squads Pennsylvania and Harvard — with this team gaining a reputation as one of the most powerful forces in college football.

Stacked up, their offensive line became known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite" for its toughness and durability. As a New York sports writer, so impressed with the formidable power and skill set of the group at that time, coined this term. They were like granite blocks, as solid, strong, and in unison on the field.

The way they worked in unison, especially when it came to blocking schemes and pass protection was revolutionary. They helped raise the bar on how an offensive line should perform in a way that emphasized coordination, intelligence, and athleticism.

Legacy and Influence

They never won national championships or professional trophies, but the Seven Blocks of Granite will always be remembered as one of the best-known and most-decorated units in college football. On the field they had a reputation as an offensive line that dominated everything in sight, and off it they made a greater cultural impact on the sport of football than one would assume.

As time has gone on, the "Seven Blocks of Granite" label has become more than a reference to mere physicality but represents the principles of football: teamwork, unity and discipline. But they had impact even before receiving enshrinement; Their success gave their position and its importance in football a much-needed face.

Columbia will always remember the Seven Blocks of Granite, and they are invoked amongst the greatest teams in college football history. So, they are frequently used as an example of how some things in football today depend on the strength of a team’s offensive line and their legacy is still being carried on by many future generations.