April 1

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss a couple of April Fools Day Pranks and celebrate Doc Alexander, Carlos Alvarez and more as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by photographer L. M. Glackens circa 1912 and is titled " The Court Jester ."

As football fans we really appreciate having the broadcasts of our favorite games in color to enjoy the vivid colors and pageantry of the gridiron. With this being April Fool's Day and all I want to share with you a great prank completed back in 1962 from hoaxes.org, from Sweden's only television network Sweden's SVT (Sveriges Television) brought their technical expert, Kjell Stensson, on to the news to inform the public that, thanks to a new technology, viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception. At the time, there was only  TV channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white, so this was big news. Stensson explained that all viewers had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their tv screen, and the mesh would cause the light to bend in such a way that it would appear as if the image was in color. He proceeded to demonstrate the process. Thousands of people were taken in. Many Swedes today still report remembering their fathers rushing through the house trying to find stockings to place over the TV set. Regular color broadcasts only commenced in Sweden on April 1, 1970.

 The Undefeated Plainfield Teacher's College Football Team from the Bleacher Report:
In a prank pulled off fooling a nationally recognized newspaper, the New York Times captured the story of the undefeated football team from Plainfield Teacher's College. Sounds like a good story to tell. The only problem was that Plainfield Teacher's College didn't exist. The calculated ruse held up for six weeks as Morris Newburger, the author of the piece under the alias of Jerry Croyden, created a fictional legendary QB without any weaknesses and paid close attention to each meticulous detail about the team, including detailing the "W" formation that helped the team preserve a perfect record. The beauty to this prank was not only did it fool the New York Times, which published the stories every week, but it also fooled college football fans across the country as the prank went so far as to report that the Plainfield Comets would be challenging to compete in a bowl game as their winning streak continued.

April 1, 1889 - Plattsmouth, Nebraska - The great Naval Academy halfback from 1908 to 1911 John Dalton arrived into this life. 

April 1, 1897 - Silver Creek, New York - Joe "Doc" Alexander the Syracuse University guard from 1916 to the 1920 season was born.  The NFF's bio on Doc shares that Alexander was a three-time All-America selection, making it as a guard in 1918-19 and center in 1920. Doc in 1918 against Rutgers picked up a loose ball and ran 75 yards for a touchdown. He starred in a 1919 win over Pittsburgh handing the Panthers their first loss in four seasons! The Nationa Football Foundation voters sent the gridiron history of Doc Alexander into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Joe was in fact a medical doctor later earning his nickname of Doc as he specialized in lung diseases and helped found one of the first tuberculosis centers in New York. Joe made it into the pros and for seven seasons he played in the National Football League on weekends while practicing medicine. He was playing coach of the New York Giants in 1926 posting an 8-4-1 record.

April 1,1950 - Havana, Cuba - The outstanding University Florida wide receiver from 1969 to 1971, Carlos Alvarez was born per the NFF. Alvarez at the age of ten with his family fled Fidel Castro's communist regime in Cuba and settled in Miami. Carlos began his first varsity season for the Gators by showing his hall of fame potential. In his first collegiate catch against Houston went for a 70 yard touchdown. Florida beat the Cougars, 59-34 thanks to 182 receiving yards from Alvarez. In the regular season finale against the rival Miami Hurricanes Carlos helped the Gators taste victory in a 35-16 triumph by grabbing 15 receptions for 237 yards, a school record that still stands today. It was in his sophomore season that he displayed his best as he set single season records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,329), and touchdowns (12) en route to becoming the youngest player to ever make the AFCA All-America team. He also made more All-America teams as a sophomore than any player since Doak Walker in 1947. Although Alvarez was slowed by knee injuries later in his career, he still holds Florida's all-time mark with 2,563 receiving yards and places among the top ten with 19 touchdown catches. Alvarez also holds another Florida record with 25 consecutive contests with a reception. On top of that Alvarez was an outstanding student as Carlos was honored as both a first-team Academic All-America in 1969 and second-team Academic All-America from 1970 to 1971. The gifted wideout was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.