August 4

In this edition, we discuss a couple more College All-Star game results, and the USFL ceases operations for a time anyway. Of course, we have a couple of Hall of Fame birthdays to remember the legends. 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 4, 1961 - At the 28th edition of the Chicago All Star game the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the college players 28-14 before 66,000 screaming fans at Soldier Field. The MVP award, always given to the college player team, happened to be Billy Kilmer UCLA's fine quarterback. In 1999 Kilmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. After college Kilmer had a productive 18 year career in the NFL at both halfback and quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins. Read more about Billy Kilmer on our September 5 post honoring him on his birthday.
• August 4, 1967 - At the 34th annual Chicago College All Star Game, the Green Bay Packers blanked the College All Stars 27-0 before 70,934 in attendance at Soldier Field. The MVP award, always given to the college player team, happened to be "Bubba" Smith the defensive end from Michigan State. The NFF website says that Smith was a two time All-American end that learned much of his craft from his father Willie Ray Smith who was a high school football coach back in Texas. Bubba Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. Smith was the Baltimore Colts first draft choice and made all-pro. Bubba also played for the Raiders and the Oilers organizations during his NFL tenure. Read more about Bubba Smith on his February 28 birthday post.
• August 4, 1986 - USFL owners suspend operations for the upcoming season after a court ruling awards them a very small amount of damages in their antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. Less than a week earlier, See our July 29 Football History Headlines, the United States Football League won their antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League after forty-two days in court. The Jury declared that the NFL was a “duly adjudicated illegal monopoly” however, it was a shallow victory as the USFL was awarded a settlement of $1. The USFL’s owners voted to suspend operations with the goal of returning in 1987 however, many of the League’s teams were in no shape financially to operate. The USFL appealed the decision but it was rejected by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That decision effectively shut the USFL down for good. The NFL also appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court but the verdict stood. The check received by the USFL in 1990 was in the amount of $3.76, triple the amount of the verdict with $0.76 interest.

• August 4, 1908 - Former Notre Dame quarterback, Frank Carideo was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. He was a two time All American selection for the Irish in 1929 & 1930 seasons where they went 19-0. Fighting Irish legendary head coach, Knute Rockne once exclaimed that Carideo was the best quarterback ever. Mr. Carideo became the head coach of the University of Missouri's football team in 1932 and served in that position until 1934. He then moved on to coach basketball at Mississippi State from 1935 until 1939.
• August 4, 1949 - John Riggins "Diesel" was a runningback that played in the NFL for the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins. "Riggo" was a standout at the University of Kansas prior to being drafted by the Jets in 1971. As a collegian he ended up breaking Gale Sayers rushing record at Kansas as he won the Big 8 Conference rushing title.. He was a Pro Bowl player as his raw power and tenacity made him hard to tackle and he was the type of back that got better the more he carried the ball in a game. After spending 5 seasons in New York he went to Washington and played another 9 seasons interrupted only when he voluntarily sat out the 1980 season. He came back strong as he helped the Redskins go to to consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1980's winning Super Bowl XVII and earning the game's MVP award. He is enshrined in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Check out our latest YouTube Video on this day in football history's events or read the content below the video. Check out our newest intro melody by Mike and Gene Monroe on the videos.