April 7

In this episode of the Football History Headlines,  we discuss the major NFL Rules revisions of 1943, remember legend Tony Dorsett's gridiron accomplishments 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 artist F. Earl Christy circa 1907 and is titled " University of Pennsylvania ."

April 7, 1943 - According to a post on NFL.com the League adopted several new rules and changes. Free substitution became permitted which meant that players could be substituted more than once during a game, helmets became mandatory and a 10-game schedule was adopted.
 

April 7, 1859 - New Britain, Connecticut - Walter Camp the great player and coach from Yale was born. 

April 7, 1899 - La Porte, Indiana - The stellar center from 1917 to 1920 at Washington and Jefferson and in 1921 through the 1924 season for the Army team, Edgar Garbisch arrived in life to claim his date of birth. Garbisch received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. 

April 7, 1954 - Rochester, Pennsylvania - The great University of Pittsburgh halfback from 1973 to 1976, Tony Dorsett was born. He spent 11 seasons in the NFL with Dallas and a final year as a member of the Denver Broncos. Tony Dorsett was one of the newly enshrined honorees at the 1994 Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies.

April 7, 1961 - Crystal City, Texas - Gabe Rivera the standout defensive tackle from Texas Tech celebrated his arrival into the world. His bio on the NFF’s website tells us that his nickname was "Señor Sack" as Rivera averaged 80 tackles per season from his defensive tackle spot. He compiled 62 solo tackles, 43 assists, 10 TFL, five sacks, 25 quarterback pressures and eight pass breakups during his All-America campaign in 1982 alone!  Gabe was also on the honorable mention All-America list in both 1980 and 1981.  The National Football Foundation selected Gabe Rivera for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Gabe was taken with the 21st overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rivera played six games for Pittsburgh but tragically had his career cut short when he was left a paraplegic by injuries suffered in a car accident midway through his rookie season.