August 21

Here is what happened in Football History on August 21:

• The Chicago Cardinals were the first team to have training camp out of state.
• The Rock is the highest-paid actor in the two years running.
• The birthdays of Archie Griffin and Jim McMahon, among others, are celebrated.

 We will provide you with a little bit of football nostalgia. This daily football history segment features the significant events, franchise formation anniversaries, and birthdays of notable Hall of Fame players, coaches, or anyone else in our great game, as well as many more legendary stories of the Gridiron.

• August 21, 1929 - The Chicago Cardinals become the very first professional American Football team to train outside the confines of their hometown. The team decided to have camp in Waterworks Park in Coldwater, Michigan. FOr the details we will summon the words of our great SHN historian Joe Ziemba from his book, When Football was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL. Joe tells us that after a debacle of a season in 1928 where the team had only a 1-5 League record,former owner Chris O'Brien sold the franchise to Chicago physician, Dr, David Jones in July 1929. Jones had some grand ideas on how to make the club better, profitbale even so he signed some of the now dormant Duluth Eskimos including owner Ole Hausgrud, Coach Dewey Scanlon and star player and attraction Ernie Nevers on to the Cardinals payrole. These changes also centered on an a promotion of "the Fighting Cards from Back of the Yards" campaign and sent the team out of state to Coldwater for an instense training camp. To learn more of the Chicago Cardinals football team listen to Joe Ziemba on his When Football Was Football Podcast on the Sports History Network.
• August 21, 2019 - Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson for the 2nd consecutive year is the world's highest paid actor as his earnings reached $89.4 million. Johnson was a former University of Miami Hurricane that played on the 1991 National Championship team as a defensive tackle.

• August 21, 1928 - Rankin, Texas - Bud McFadin was an offensive lineman from the University of Texas who entered into the College Football Hall of Fame in the induction class of 1983. According to the National Football Foundation as a freshman this talented youngster almost left school to return home because he missed his horse. The attachment to the animal was so great that Texas officials saved the day by having the equine shipped to a nearby farm close to the University to keep the bond healthy between their player and his ride. It turned out to be a great move too because a happy Bud McFadin played both offense and defense and was the Texas boxing and wrestling champion. In 1949, the 6-3, 225-pound lineman won All-America honors from the International News Service for his defensive skills. In 1950, the All-America Board, the Associated Press, United Press, INS and Look named him first team All-America, with emphasis on his offensive skillset. In the Chicago Tribune All-Star game, Bud was voted Most Valuable Player of the game for the All-Stars. 
• August 21, 1945 - Clover, Virginia - Willie Lanier the a linebacker from Morgan State University from 1963 to 1966 was born. After college "Honey Bear" played pro ball for the Kansas City Chiefs where he was a five-time all-pro middle linebacker. Years later, in 1986, Willie Lanier was elected into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. 
• August 21, 1954 - Archie Griffin was the two time Heisman Trophy Winner from Ohio State University. He is forever enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame since 2000.
• August 21, 1959 - Jim McMahon the former BYU quarterback was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. McMahon was a two time All-American QB for the Cougars. In the NFL he famously guided the 1985 Chicago Bears to  victory in Super Bowl XX. Later he played for San Diego, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Arizona, Cleveland and Green Bay. SOme of his most interesting plays were off the field as he squabbled with the NFL Commisioner over branding on apparel worn in games. This culminated humorously when he wore a sweatband on his forehead with the name of the Commish inked on it. For more on Jim McMahon please check out this podcast from our friend Arnie Chapman, the Football History Dude, Jim McMahon Interview Podcast.

The picture in the banner above was taken at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio of a ball of the era of Red Grange. The Pro Football Hall of Fame needs to be a bucket list place to visit so that you can enjoy seeing football history in person.