▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁ ▁Early ▁years ▁Bla z ine ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 2 ▁at ▁C anton , ▁Illinois , ▁and ▁attended ▁high ▁school ▁in ▁Johnson ▁City , ▁Illinois . ▁ ▁Football ▁player ▁He ▁en rolled ▁at ▁Illinois ▁Wes ley an ▁University ▁where ▁he ▁played ▁college ▁football ▁at ▁the ▁tack le ▁position ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 3 4 . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 3 4 , ▁he ▁was ▁named ▁to ▁the ▁little ▁All - America ▁team , ▁a ▁team ▁of ▁top ▁players ▁selected ▁with ▁the ▁aid ▁of ▁the ▁Associ ated ▁Press ▁from ▁the ▁ro sters ▁of ▁small ▁college ▁football ▁teams . ▁ ▁Bla z ine ▁was ▁also ▁invited ▁to ▁play ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁Chicago ▁College ▁All - Star ▁Game ▁and ▁played ▁ 5 7 ▁minutes ▁in ▁the ▁game . ▁ ▁After ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁Illinois ▁Wes ley an , ▁Bla z ine ▁played ▁professional ▁football ▁in ▁the ▁National ▁Football ▁League . ▁ ▁He ▁spent ▁six ▁seasons ▁and ▁appeared ▁in ▁ 6 3 ▁games ▁at ▁the ▁tack le ▁position ▁for ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Card inals ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁selected ▁as ▁a ▁second - team ▁All - N FL ▁player ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁and ▁appeared ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁Pro ▁Bowl . ▁ ▁He ▁concluded ▁his ▁professional ▁football ▁career ▁appearing ▁in ▁ 1 0 ▁games ▁for ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Gi