By Darin December 3 stands as one of the most significant dates in football history, dominated by Heisman Trophy announcements and transformative NFL and CFL milestones. This single day saw five legendary running backs and quarterbacks crowned, including Barry Sanders‘ record-breaking win and the only Heisman winner coached by Bear Bryant (John Crow). Furthermore, it marked a solemn moment when Joe Lillard became the last African-American in the NFL for over a decade, and saw the Cleveland Browns make history by playing the final NFL game without a single pass. Dive into this remarkable chronology that spans early NFL mergers, Iron Bowl thrillers, and CFL championship dominance.
December 3: Football History Headlines
- December 3, 1921: The Toronto Argonauts claimed their second Championship title, defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 23-0 in the 9th Grey Cup at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.
- December 3, 1932: The Hamilton Tigers secured their fifth Championship, beating the Regina Roughriders 25-6 in the 20th Grey Cup at AAA Grounds in Hamilton.
- December 3, 1933: Joe “The Midnight Express” Lillard, halfback/quarterback for the Chicago Cardinals, played his last game, becoming the final African-American in the NFL until the 1946 season after recording 494 rushing yards and 372 passing yards in his two seasons.
- December 3, 1943: Notre Dame Quarterback Angelo Bertelli won the 9th Heisman Trophy Award, becoming the first player from the Fighting Irish to receive the honor.
- December 3, 1944: Due to sparse player inventory during World War II, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals temporarily merged their operations for the season, dissolving the agreement before the 1945 season began.
- December 3, 1946: Army halfback Glenn Davis won the 12th Heisman Trophy, recognizing his dominant senior campaign that included 13 touchdowns, over 700 rushing yards, and over 300 receiving yards.
- December 3, 1949: One win, Auburn edged out their highly-ranked rivals Alabama 14-13 in the 14th Iron Bowl after the Crimson Tide missed a game-tying extra point with less than two minutes remaining.
- December 3, 1950: The Cleveland Browns defeated the two-time champion Philadelphia Eagles 13-7 in what became the last NFL game in which a team did not throw a single pass.
- December 3, 1957: Texas A&M Halfback John Crow won the 23rd Heisman Trophy Award, becoming the only Heisman winner coached by the legendary Bear Bryant during his tenure with the Aggies.
- December 3, 1962: The Los Angeles Rams selected Terry Baker, the Heisman winner from Oregon State, with the first overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft.
- December 3, 1966: Alabama blanked rival Auburn 31-0 in the 31st Iron Bowl, played at Legion Field in Birmingham.
- December 3, 1972: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 13-10 in the Grey Cup at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.
- December 3, 1979: USC’s talented running back Charles White won the 45th Heisman Trophy Award.
- December 3, 1983: Mike Rozier, the powerful running back from Nebraska, earned the 49th Heisman Trophy Award.
- December 3, 1983: The Auburn Tigers secured a narrow 23-20 victory over Alabama in the 48th Iron Bowl at Legion Field.
- December 3, 1988: Oklahoma State Cowboys junior back Barry Sanders won the 54th Heisman Trophy Award by sweeping all six voting regions after recording a then-record 2,628 rushing yards and 39 total touchdowns.
- December 3, 1994: The #6 Florida Gators narrowly edged out the #3 Alabama Crimson Tide, 24-23, in the 3rd SEC Championship Game.
- December 3, 2005: The #22 Florida State Seminoles upset the #5 Virginia Tech Hokies 27-22 in the very first ACC Championship Game.
December 3 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- December 3, 1887: Bob Fisher, Harvard’s legendary guard and a Walter Camp All-America selection in 1910 and 1911, was born.
- December 3, 1894: Bert Baston, a terrific end from the University of Minnesota and future College Football Hall of Famer, was born.
- December 3, 1922: Tom Fears, a Pro Football Hall of Fame end for the Los Angeles Rams who led the NFL in receiving for three straight years (1948–1950), was born.
- December 3, 1957: Keith Dorney, the Penn State offensive tackle and unanimous All-America selection, was born before being selected tenth overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Conclusion
From the Heisman heroics of Barry Sanders to the early challenges faced by African-American players in the NFL, December 3 is a date rich with history and milestones. It chronicled the last NFL game without a single forward pass, celebrated championships in both the CFL and college football, and saw the birth of Hall of Fame talents like Tom Fears. This day underscores the dramatic evolution of football, bridging its earliest days with the records of the modern era.