Hidden Hall of Fame Histories: The Unseen Husky

We're going to be talking about a legend tonight in our segment of the History's Hidden hall of Famers.

It's coming up with this great individual.

Let's see if you can guess who it is by the tell of this tale.

It's all coming up in just a moment.

This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of American football events throughout history on a day to day basis.

Your host, Darrin Hayes is podcasting from America's North Shore to bring you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.

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This podcast is part of the Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport.

You can learn more@sportshistorynetwork.com hello my football friends.

This is Darren Hayes of pigskindispatch.com welcome once again to the Pig Pen, your portal deposit of football history.

And welcome to to the Hidden hall of Fame Histories, a podcast segment that digs beneath the surface of familiar stories to uncover surprising twists and turns that shaped our favorite games players.

Today we're diving into the life of a player whose journey to football stardom was anything but ordinary.

And it's going to reveal one of the great legends of the game.

Our story starts out with a 12 year old boy watching football with his father.

It's not just any football team.

It is his father's favorite team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

And as they sit there and watch and enjoy the game, enjoy each other's company, tragedy happens later that day.

The boy's father dies, passes away, and he loses his father on that very day.

That has a memory to him.

And a promise is made for that very moment, for about that 12 year old, that a dream is born of playing for the Fighting Irish.

Six years later, that dream is within reach.

There's scholarships offered from South Bend.

But life as it does throws a curveball.

His stepfather, a shrewd businessman, makes a compelling case to stay local.

Why move across the country and go to Indiana?

He says.

Think of the connections in your future if you stay at home and go to school here at a major university we have in this town.

Our young athlete, a star in his own right at a Seattle high school, finds himself standing on a campus he barely knows.

A single phone call, a quick tour, and suddenly the path changes.

A dream of playing for his team his father loved fades away, replaced by a new opportunity, a new challenge.

And he chooses to stay in the great Northwestern corner of the United States.

Now, what made this player so special?

It wasn't just his talent, though that was undeniable.

It was his versatility.

He was a master of the trenches, a devastating blocker and a force to be reckoned with.

He wasn't just a brute.

He possessed a rare combination of agility and intelligence, allowing him to roam the field as a linebacker, disrupting plays and making game changing tackles.

And if that wasn't enough, he also took on the responsibility of punting, becoming a triple threat in this era of two way players.

And how a three way player for this young he ended up becoming the cornerstone of his college team.

A symbol of dedication and hard work.

He embodied the spirit of his new home.

Passion, grit and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

His play resonated with the fans and his leadership inspired his teammates.

So who was this enigmatic player, this versatile force who chose a different path, who became a legend in a tremendous Northwestern corner of the US who was this man that made the people of the state of Washington so happy that he chose to stay home?

Who was this player who decided on the Washington Huskies over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?

Another under head coach Jim Owens, who ironically, Owens celebrated his birthday yesterday, March 6th.

After his football career, Redmond settled in Seattle and joined the Sellen Construction Company, his stepfather's company, the man that talked him into going to wazoo.

Now, over his 34 year tenure at that company, he rose to the president, CEO and chairman of the board, contributing significantly to Sellin's growth and reputation.

Now he did many notable projects around the state of Washington, including the Museum of History and Industry, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation campus, many buildings on the campus of his alma material, Washington University and numerous office buildings for Amazon and Microsoft.

Now from a childhood dream to a local legend, Rick Redmond's story is a testament to the power of choice, the importance and adaptability in the enduring legacy of a true Husky.

Now join us next time as we get into the hidden hall of Fame histories for another untold history from the world of American football.

Three time first team all PCC 62, 63 and 64 and he played 100 games in the NFL, had a nine interceptions, recovered five fumbles and a brilliant career.

Of Rick Redmond, a College Football hall of Fame inductee and All Star in pro football March 7th.

Also has some other great Football hall of Fame birthdays.

And how about the pride of Fort Dix, New Jersey?

Also had had that great career at Penn State and with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lynn Swann, another famous 70s Steeler, was born in Alcoa, Tennessee.

Tommy Kramer, Rice University stellar quarterback who really made his hay in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, was a cons and a College Football hall of Famer and a brilliant player in the pros as well.

So there you have it.

There's your March 7th birthdays and we're so glad to tell you the story of our history.

Hidden history of hall of Famers and we'll try to do that more often.

And just another way to preserve that football history and tell a story of some of these players that maybe a side you didn't know about them and hope you enjoyed this.

So tune in every day for some great football history.

Pixicandispatch.com has a story coming out every day.

Brown and we have our infographic Wednesdays and some great stats and facts that maybe you didn't know.

Just bring them in a different light.

And some exciting things like our hidden hall of Fame histories coming at you.

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Check out our website pigskindispatch.com home store and you can check out our books that we have, including our latest that came out.

We have a football history word search a little bit of history involved with doing that famous game that you love in your spare time.

So check that out@pigskindispatch.com till next time, everybody have a great gridiron day.

Peeking up at the clock, the time's running down.

We're going to go into victory formation.

Take a knee and let this baby run out.

Thanks for joining us.

We'll see you back tomorrow.

For the next podcast.

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This podcast is part of Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport.

You can learn more@sportshistorynetwork.com.