Author: Darin

1871 American Football Season

We told you in our 1870 post that the Rutgers-Princeton game in mid-November got so out of hand that no games were scheduled between…

History of the 14th Overall NFL Draft Picks

Football History of April 9

April 9th stands out in football history for its game-changing moments and memorable legends. From the birth of the “Lambeau Leap” namesake to the…

Jack Minds: The Swiss Army Knife and Place-Kicking Pioneer of Penn

How does one man revolutionize the scoreboard while playing five different positions? Long before specialized rosters, Jack Minds was the ultimate multi-tool for the…

Curly Lambeau: The Founding Father of the Green Bay Packers

What started with a $500 investment in jerseys became the most iconic franchise in professional football. Earl “Curly” Lambeau didn’t just coach the Green…

Tracy Rocker: The Auburn Powerhouse Who Swept the Trenches

How do you become the first player in SEC history to capture both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award in a single season?…

Paul Robeson: The Renaissance Man of the Rutgers Gridiron

How does one man become a two-time All-American, a world-renowned bass-baritone, and a leading voice for global civil rights? Long before he graced the…

The Greatest Center Play Ever? Celebrating Vince “Bananas” Banonis

April 9, 1921 – Detroit, Michigan – Vince “Bananas” Banonis, the University of Detroit’s great center from 1939 to 1941, set his birth date.…

1870 American Football Season

In 1870, the “gridiron” was still a chaotic experiment of bruised shins and disputed rules, far removed from the spectacle we recognize today. While…

1869 American Football Season

Pigskin Dispatch’s Part 4 in the Series on American Football History Having explored football’s Ancient European roots, let’s recap before moving forward. When we…