By Darin On May 26, unforgettable sports history unfolds: from controversial boxing knockouts to indomitable football legends. Envision USC’s iconic football coach John McKay firing off a classic quip after Muhammad Ali’s lightning-fast first-round knockout of Sonny Liston in 1965. Yet May 26 offers more than boxing drama—it also marks the birthdays of College Football Hall of Famers like Ed Hart, famed for playing in a steel neck brace and heroic feats off the field, and Ira Rodgers, an early passing pioneer with 51-yard throws when footballs looked more like watermelons.
May 26 American Football History Timeline
Today’s highlight from the Newspapers.com Football History archive features a notable May 26 sports story from the Tennessean in Nashville, Tennessee.
Wide Fight Reaction
Of course, this was in reference to the big boxing title fight on
- May 26, 1965, between Cassius Clay, who would soon change his name to Muhammad Ali, and Sonny Liston. When asked about Ali’s first-round knockout the day before, USC head football coach John McKay said, “I thought it would never end.” The fight was controversial, as personalities from all walks of life, including the world of football, offered opinions. Many called it the end of boxing, but what they didn’t realize was that Ali was, in fact, a good fighter.
May 26 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these historic gridiron warriors! Here is the list for May 26, organized by their year of birth:
- Ed Hart [1887] A legendary Princeton tackle whose immense strength was lauded by Grantland Rice, Hart overcame a severe high school neck injury to play his early college years in a steel-and-leather brace before earning All-America honors in 1911. A 1954 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, his physical mythos included pinning a professional strongman and catching a friend jumping from a balcony, all before serving with distinction in both World Wars.
- Ira Rodgers [1895] A versatile backfield weapon for West Virginia, Rodgers led the nation in scoring in 1919 while showcasing rare speed and a pioneering passing ability that allowed him to hurl the era’s bulky football 51 yards downfield. His dual-threat excellence earned him an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957, and he later returned to his alma mater as head coach.
- Bernie Shively [1902] As a quick and powerful guard at Illinois, Shively was a primary force in the trenches, opening up lanes for the legendary Red Grange during the 1924 and 1925 seasons. He earned consensus All-America honors in 1926 for his own two-way dominance on the line, paving his way into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Conclusion
Whether looking back at the media frenzy of a historic boxing match through the lens of legendary football coaches or celebrating the jaw-dropping feats of early gridiron pioneers, May 26th proves that true athletic greatness is timeless. Men like Ed Hart, Ira Rodgers, and Red Grange’s elite blocker Bernie Shively laid the physical foundation for the sport we love today. Diving into these archives reminds us how rich sports history truly is—and thanks to platforms like Newspapers.com, these fascinating stories and incredible headlines are preserved for generations of fans to rediscover.