ROOT FOR A FEW UNDERDOGS
ROOT FOR A FEW UNDERDOGS Written by Eric Plaut “An underdog is in a position to take a healthy bite” —Ted Seabrooke, Phillips Exeter Academy wrestling coach The late Ted Seabrooke seemed to have an answer for everything. As a former coach at this prestigious New Hampshire academy, his wrestlers tended to discuss everything under the sun with him. Whether good or bad, Ted would manage to say something positive to the boys including his above quote on underdogs. One of his protégés was John Irving, the future author of The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules . (Irving’s stepfather Colin taught history at Exeter. John writes about his two passions—wrestling and writing—in his autobiography The Imaginary Girlfriend ; Ted’s quote on underdogs is in this book.) An underdog tends to face difficulty at times. Only he or she knows they can see what they're capable of—win or lose. Though it’s not their intention to buck the system, o...