Dug His Way to Top of Football World
It doesn’t come as a surprise to those who know Carl Banks that he was humbled to learn about his induction into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame.
“It’s flattering,” said Banks, who starred at Beecher High and Michigan State before embarking on a 12-year career in the National Football League. “It’s the ultimate honor, particularly when you consider all those great athletes who paved the way before me. It’s something I accept with a great deal of humility.”
Humility is the embodiment of Carl Banks. He prefers talking about those who have touched his life, rather than his accomplishments – such as being an integral part of two Super Bowl championships and operating a successful apparel business.
“I can’t just sit back and say I was able to do all these things by myself,” he said. “If I were to say that, it wouldn’t be the truth. I’m very fortunate because I’ve been blessed to have so many people support me.” Perhaps Banks, 40, is so grounded because he worked from the ground up. Actually, he worked his way from below the ground up. In the summers during high school and college, Banks worked for the late Peter Buterakos at Gracelawn Cemetery.
“I started with a lawnmower, a walking lawnmower, and a rake,” said Banks, a 1980 Beecher grad. “In between that I was digging graves. It was hard work and the pay wasn’t great. But that job meant a lot to me. I worked with ex-convicts and people who were down on their luck. They helped me appreciate what a hard day’s work is all about. Those guys were great in sharing their life experiences with me. That job helped me build a lot character.” Even after Banks reached star status at MSU All-Big Ten, All-American nothing changed when he returned to the cemetery.”The pay was still the same and I got no special privileges”, said Banks laughing. “I was just Carl.”
In his senior season at MSU, Banks won the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker. He would go on to become the third overall pick of the 1984 draft by the New York Giants. Banks took the same tried-and-true formula he learned at Gracelawn, and at Beecher from his coach and mentor, Mose Lacy, to the bright lights of the Big Apple.
“Coach Lacy gave me lessons that not only applied to sports, but to life,” Banks said. “He instilled in me the value of discipline and hard work. He helped me understand that anything worth having is worth working for. When I went to the Giants, I came in ready to do a day’s work. That’s something I have carried with me all my life. It’s my approach to everything I do in life”. In New York, Banks teamed with Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor to form one of the most formidable line backing trios in NFL history. All three would earn All Pro honors and were the heart of the Giants’ defense that paved the way for two Super Bowl titles (1986, 1990). In the 1986 Super Bowl thumping of Denver, Banks led the defense with 10 solo tackles.
Banks finished his career in 1995 with Cleveland, and then made a seamless transition to the business world. GIII/Carl Banks Designs supplies sports coats to the NFL and other major sports leagues.
“I began preparing for the end of my football career on the first day of my football career,” Banks said. “When I walked out of football, I walked into my business career. I always tried to think outside the box because sports can become a one-track mind set.” Banks said he is tremendously proud to be a part of the Flint area’s storied athletic legacy.
“Flint is a blue-collar town,” he said. “People understand the value and importance of putting in an honest day’s work. You look at the legacy of Flint, and the people and their families and their friends and that’s all they know putting in an honest day’s work.”
READ FULL BIO
