July 3

In this episode we discuss a development in the Nation's Capitol over a possible name change, and the Hall of Fame celebration of a couple of powerful D-linemen and a crafty running back on their birthday!   We will provide you with a little bit of football nostalgia. This daily football history segment features the Great events, Franchise formation anniversaries as well as the birthdays of notable Hall of Fame players, coaches or anyone else in our great game and many more  Legendary stories of the Gridiron.

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by photographer Marion S. Trikosko circa September 22, 1974 and is titled "Redskins-Cardinals Football game."

Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day came from the July 3, 2020 Messenger-Inquirer of Owensboro, Kentucky when they had this headline:

Redskins to Have 'Thurough Review' of Name

The NFL and the Washington franchise announced that the team ownership and management were “undergoing a thorough review of the team name.”  Critics claimed that the nickname of the club was a "dictionary defined racial-slur" and had suggested owner Daniel Snyder change the offensive name so something else. The group had the attention of Roger Godell and multiple NFL sponsors this time, and the Washington brass were listening. The group finally in August announced that the franchise would be called the Washington Football Team for at least the remainder of the 2020 season.

• July 3, 1943 - Norfolk, Virginia - The University of Tennessee’s middle guard from 1962 to 1964, Steve DeLong was born. Steve’s bio on the NFF’s website says he played middle guard on defense for Tennessee 1962-1964. He made the Associated Press all-sophomore team in 1962, was voted defensive lineman of the year in the Southeastern Conference three times 1962-1964, and was All-America twice 1963-1964. Tennessee's record in those days was 4-6, 5-5, 4-5-1. In 1964 DeLong, 6-3 and 243- pounds, won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman, was picked Lineman of the Year by the Columbus Touchdown Club and Birmingham Touchdown Club, and was voted Most Valuable Player in the Senior Bowl. In 1990, in a fans' vote, he was named to Tennessee's all-time team, covering 100 years of football 1890-1989. Steve's son, Keith, was linebacker at Tennessee and was captain and All- America in 1988. Keith was also selected to the "100 years of Volunteers" team in 1990. Steve's brother, Ken, played at Tennessee 1967-1969. After college The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor ofSteve DeLong into their legendary museum in 1993. DeLong played defensive end for San Diego and Chicago in the National Football League from 1965-1972.  
• July 3, 1959 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Nevada-Reno’s brilliant halfback from 1977 to the 1980 season, Frank Hawkins was welcomed into the world. The FootballFoundation.org says Frank earned 5,333 yard rushing in his collegiate career. This guy was money with the ball under his arms. He was named a Division All-America three times and led Division I-AA in rushing in 1979 and 1980. His best rushing game was 293 yards against San Francisco State in 1978. He rushed for 265 yards against Idaho in 1980, 217 against Idaho in 1979, 202 against Montana in 1980, and 201 against Weber State in 1979. He finished with 21 consecutive 100-yard games. He scored 39 touchdowns in four years. For his final game, Nov. 22, 1980, against Idaho, his school created "Day of the Hawk" and gave commemorative pins to spectators. Hawkins' jersey, No. 27 was retired. Frank Hawkins received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Frank entered into the NFL after college playing for the Oakland Raiders for seven seasons.
• July 3, 1976 - Joplin, Missouri - Grant Wistrom who was the University of Nebraska’s defensive end from 1994 to 1997 was born.  The National Football Foundation says the Cornhuskers put up a 49-2 win/loss record enroute to winning three National Championships behind the dominant play of the two-time unanimous All-American selection during his time at the school. The word dominant is an appropriate word to describe this player. As a freshman on the 1994 National Championship team, Wistrom notched 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks as he eventually became the Big Eight Newcomer of the Year. During his sophomore season, he knocked out 44 tackles, including a team leading 15 tackles for loss while being named First Team All-Big Eight as the Huskers won their second straight national title. In 1996, Wistrom helped the Husker defensive unit to the Top 10 in the nation in all four major defensive categories. As a senior, Wistrom won the Lombardi Award and earned a finalist spot for the Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Award. Grant Wistrom’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2009. Grant was picked in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams and he had an immediate impact. Wistrom took home the Ram's Defensive Rookie of the Year honors for his efforts. Later Wistrom played in three Super Bowls during his six-season career, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams. He retired as a Seattle Seahawk just after the 2006 season ended.  

We will provide you with a little bit of football nostalgia. This daily football history segment features the Great events, Franchise formation anniversaries as well as the birthdays of notable players, coaches or anyone else in our great game.

The Costs in American Football History...

1878- According to football historian Parke H. Davis, the public was up in arms when it was learned that the Princeton-Yale game that took place that year had to pay what was considered a ridiculous sum of $300 to rent the field. In today's college games some pay more than that for just one admission ticket to a single game!

Other Notable July 3 Football Birthdays:

• July 3, 1945 - Paul Naumoff was a Linebacker out of the University of Tennessee that played 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions. Mr Naumoff was selected to the Pro Bowl during the 1970 campaign for the Lions.
• July 3, 1966 - Morristown, New Jersey - Neil O'Donnell , NFL quarterback that played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets, born. O'Donnell was the Steelers starting quarterback in Super Bowl XXX as they lost 27-17 to the Dallas Cowboys.
• July 3, 1977- David Bowens was a Defensive End that played 12 seasons in the NFL. He wore the uniform of the Broncos, Packers, Dolphins, Jets and Browns and even played a little bit of inside linebacker later in his career.

For more stats on football people born on July 3rd check out Pro Football Reference.

See something that happened on this date that we missed? Please let us know via email at PigskinDispatch@gmail.com.