By Darin The 1934 American football season was a landmark year that witnessed a legendary comeback in the professional ranks and a powerhouse era of dominance in college football. It was a season where strategy, equipment choices, and sheer star power reshaped the sport.
1934 College Football: Golden Gophers and Crimson Tide
The 1934 college football season was defined by two undefeated juggernauts in an era before the official Associated Press (AP) poll existed.
- Minnesota’s First National Title: Under head coach Bernie Bierman, the Minnesota Golden Gophers went 8–0, outscoring opponents 270–38. Led by consensus All-American halfback Francis “Pug” Lund, they claimed the national championship via the prominent Dickinson System.
- Alabama’s Rose Bowl Dominance: The Alabama Crimson Tide (10–0) also claimed a share of the national title. Coached by Frank Thomas and featuring legendary end Don Hutson, Alabama capped their perfect season with a 29–13 blowout victory over Stanford in the 1935 Rose Bowl.
- The Debut of New Bowls: The landscape of postseason college football expanded dramatically with the inauguration of both the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1935.
1934 Professional Football: “The Sneakers Game”
The 1934 NFL season culminated in one of the most famous and strategically bizarre championship games in football history.
- The Unstoppable Bears: The defending champion Chicago Bears, featuring powerhouse fullback Bronko Nagurski and legendary halfback Red Grange playing his final season, tore through the regular season with a perfect 13–0 record.
- The 1934 NFL Championship Game: On December 9, the Bears met the 8–5 New York Giants on a completely frozen field at the Polo Grounds.
- The Great Footwear Upset: Trailing 13–3 at halftime and unable to find footing on the ice, the Giants famously switched from traditional cleats to basketball sneakers obtained from Manhattan College. The improvised traction worked perfectly; the Giants exploded for 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to shock the undefeated Bears 30–13.
Key Trends & Eras End
- Red Grange Retires: The 1934 season marked the final competitive games for Harold “Red” Grange, the “Galloping Ghost,” who officially retired from professional football afterward, closing the chapter on one of the sport’s first true cultural icons.
- Statistical Explosions: The passing game continued to open up, highlighted by Alabama’s aerial attack, setting the stage for the modern, high-flying offenses of the decades to follow.
A Deep Dive into 1934 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 1934 – The Columbia Lions defeated the Stanford Indians 7-0 in the 20th Rose Bowl.
- October 6, 1934 – The historic college football clash between the Texas Longhorns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ended in a monumental upset. Played in South Bend and marking the start of Notre Dame’s season under new coach Elmer Layden, the game saw Texas snatch a narrow 7-6 victory.
- October 28, 1934 – Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York – One of 4 games with no penalty in NFL history. Brooklyn Dodgers 21, Pittsburgh Pirates 3. Perhaps the wintry-like conditions played a role in why referee Tom Thorp or any other official ever dropped a flag.
- November 4, 1934 –The Detroit Lions finally surrendered points at University of Detroit Stadium after opening the season with seven consecutive shutouts. According to onthisday.com, an opponent finally broke through the Lions’ legendary defense, ending one of the most dominant scoring droughts in NFL history. The Lions rushed for an NFL single-game record of 426 yards as they defeated Pittsburgh by the score of 40-7.
- November 6, 1934 – The NFL approved the sale of the Cincinnati Reds franchise to a St. Louis group for approximately $25,000.
- November 24, 1934 – Toronto’s Varsity Stadium – The 22nd CFL Grey Cup was played as the Sarnia Imperials faced the Regina Roughriders. Regina had played in 7 Grey Cup finals over the past 12 seasons, according to cfl.ca. The Imperials went on to win their first Championship with a 20-12 win over the Regina Roughriders, completing an undefeated season.
- November 29, 1934 – In what was a game of firsts, the Bears traveled to the Motor City for this memorable contest. According to the worthpoint.com story, it was the first time that an NFL game was played in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, as well as the First National Broadcast of an NFL game, as NBC Radio put it in every living room in the country.
- December 9, 1934 – The 1934 NFL Championship Game had the Chicago Bears meet the 8–5 New York Giants on a completely frozen field at the Polo Grounds. A footwear change by the G-men gave them a footing advantage as they beat the Bears 30-13 in a game now called “The Sneakers Game.”