April 20

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss some pretty big rule changes occurred in the NFL on this day as well as NFL Drafts, and birthdays of some pretty interesting Hall of Fame Players.

1887 University of Michigan football team taken by unknown photographer, courtesy Wikimedia Commons

April 20, 1888 - The University of Notre Dame played it second official football game ever at South Bend, Indiana's Green Stocking Ball Park. The Wolverines triumphed 26-6. The two teams would meet again the following day.

1887 Notre Dame football team, University of Notre Dame archives via Wikimedia Commons, taken by unknown photographer

April 20, 1944 - NFL legalizes coaching from the bench. According to an article found in the Mason City, Iowa’s Globe-Gazette on that day by the United Press, NFL Commissioner Elmer Layden announced that the League would adopt a rule similar to professional ice hockey where players could enter the game freely without reporting to an official during periods when play was suspended. Also kick-offs that went out of bounds were determined as a foul and the offending team would receive a five yard penalty. The coaching rule allowed coaches to openly move around within ten yards of the center of the bench on either side as well as allowing players to come to the bench to talk to coach during timeouts for instruction.

April 20, 1945 - The Cleveland Browns organization was formed by Arthur "Mickey" McBride. Mickey acquired the franchise in the new All-America Football Conference that would begin play in the 1946 season according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McBride's first act after acquiring the team was to hire a coach and general manager and he did both with the selection of one man,  Paul Brown. Coach Brown had been a very successful high school, college and service coach and he was the right man for the job. The Browns dominated the AAFC winning all four of its championships and also won the NFL championship shortly after the leagues merged the Browns, Colts and 49ers into the NFL.

The Newspapers.com headline of the day: Johnson Has Jets Fans Flying High! Was the bold print for the April 21, 1996 edition of the Rockland Journal News in White Plains, New York.  
April 20, 1996 Indeed at the 1996 NFL Draft Keyshawn Johnson a wide receiver from USC was the first pick by New York Jets. Who can forget the fans in Jets gear cheering their famous J-E-T-S chant and “Keyshawn, Keyshawn, Keyshawn” after the pick in the theatre audience at the NYC venue. Players from this Draft class that have so far made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are the fourth selection of tackle Jonathan Ogden by the Ravens, Indy’s wide receiver Marvin Harrison pick at the 19th spot and Baltimore’s Ray Lewis choice at number 26. According to the Pro Football Reference website other HOF members include Brian Dawkins at 61 by Philly, Terrel Owens to the Niners with the 89th selection.
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April 20, 2002 NFL Draft of the year 2002 had Fresno State quarterback David Carr appearing as the first pick by Houston Texans. Julius Peppers was the second selection by the Carolina Panthers followed by Joey Harrington, Mike Williams and Quentin Jammer to round out the top five selections.

April 20, 1893 - Dunkirk, New York - Cornell’s top tier end from 1913 to 1915, Murray Shelton was born. The National Football Foundation selected Murray Shelton for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973. 

April 20, 1915 - Petersburg, Virginia - Duke University’s standout halfback of the 1936 to the 1938 seasons, Eric “The Red” Tipton arrived into the world. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Eric Tipton into their legendary museum in 1965. 

April 20, 1925 - Prinzing-By-Cham, Bavaria - The stout defensive tackle from Boston College, Ernie Stautner was born. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Ernie with the second overall selection in the 1950 NFL Draft per the Pro Football HOF website.  Stautner was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

April 20, 1926 - Amarillo, Texas - Hub Bechtol the end that played for both Texas Tech in 1943 and Texas in 1944 to 1946 was born. The reason for Hub's transfer was that he had enlisted in the Navy’s V-12 program and due to it being facilitated out of Texas he had to leave Tech. As far as playing football the Football Foundation states that Bechtol made the AP All-America team in 1944 and then in 1945 and 1946 was selected on six All- America squads, making him the first Southwest Conference player to become a three-time All- America. Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne was feeding him the passes and HOF Coach Dana Bible gave his assignments. His standout game of his career was on the big stage as Texas beat Missouri 40-27 in the Cotton Bowl, January 1, 1946, with Layne completing 11 passes with nine of them corralled by Bechtol. Hub Bechtol’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1991.

April 20, 1929 - Lynn, Massachusetts - Harry Agganis the Boston University quarterback of 1949 and 1951 to 1952, marked his date of birth. Harry was often referred to as the “Golden Greek” and his emergence as a player for the Terriers coincided with BU arising as a football team to be reckoned with. Against West Virginia, he threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in a 52-20 victory.  Harry piloted an offense that averaged almost 40 points per game per the NFF. The only thing that seemed to slow Agganis great play for BU down was in 1950 when he served with the US Marine Corp. But just less than two days after his discharge from the Corp, the Golden Greek was back on campus showing no signs of rust as he tossed two TD passes and ran in another. At the end of that season he became the first Terrier All-American selection ever. Harry held Boston University career records with 27 interceptions and a lofty punting average  of 39.5 yards per kick. Harry Agganis received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.  

April 20, 1935 - Los Angeles, California - The University of Southern California’s brilliant halfback from 1954 through 1956, “Jaguar” Jon Arnett arrived into this life. Arnett was not only an efficient runner but his punt return skills were off the charts too.  The NFF tells us that in 1954, the Jaguar led the Trojans in rushing with 601 yard), he scored 55 points, tacked up 129 punt returns  and intercepted 3 passes. He also completed 17 passes for 164 yards was there anything the man couldn’t do well that year? In 1955, he was again tops in most categories, leading USC in rushing, total yards and punt return yardage. As a senior Jon rushed for 625 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per rush while leading Troy in scoring with 43 points and he even threw a touchdown pass.  He was also an All-America in 1955 and took home the Voit Trophy as best player on the Pacific Coast in 1955-56. Jon Arnett was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.

April 20, 1945 - Miami Beach, Florida - The University of Florida’s fine quarterback Steve Spurrier was born. Steve was the 1966 Heisman Trophy winner as the quarterback at Florida. The National Football Foundation selected Steve Spurrier for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 as a player. But he is also in the same HOF as a coach. The footballfoundation.org states Spurrier began his 26-year head coaching career at Duke from 1987-89. The ACC Coach of the Year in both 1988 and 1989, his 1989 team won the university’s first ACC title since 1962 and made its first bowl appearance since 1960. Spurrier became the head coach at his alma mater, Florida, in 1990, compiling a 122-27-1 record over 12 seasons in “The Swamp.” His Gators appeared in back-to-back national championship games, winning the 1996 national title after defeating rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Coach also broke into the Pro ranks as the head coach with Washington and then returned to college to coach South Carolina. He had a 10-year playing career with the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.  

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by Theodor Horydczak circa 1950 and is titled "Charlotte Hall Military Academy. 2 Players & a Coach ."