March 1

In this episode of the Football's History Headlines we discuss Pete Rozelle, Mike Rozier and others as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

In honor of the Rawlings Sporting Goods story we list the picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by artist Udo J. Keppler circa 1920 and is titled " Thanksgiving: A study in proportion."

March 1, 1893- Rawlings Brothers' store was destroyed by an accidental gunpowder explosion.  The store sold some sporting goods but mainly ammo and firearms. This made the Rawlings brothers to go from a brick and mortar store to a catalog company and propelled them into manufacturing sporting equipment including football safety equipment and footballs. 

March 1, 1883 - Muskegon, Michigan - The brilliant Yale end, Tom Shevlin arrived into this world. Click his name for more info!

March 1, 1884 - Vince Stevenson the University of Pennsylvania quarterback in the early 1900’s was born. We have more on this Hall of Famer by clicking his name.

March 1, 1926 - Pete Rozelle attended Compton Junior College and then served as a the University of San Francisco’s Sports Information Director. He later became the General Manager of the Los Angeles Rams. In 1960 after the sudden and unexpected death of NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, Rozelle became the surprise successor to lead the NFL. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Rozelle's accomplishments are legendary, and the NFL’s many challenges during his tenure are well documented. Pete guided the League through such items as blockbuster television contracts, the war with the competing American Football League and the resulting merger, the development of the Super Bowl into America’s premier sporting event and even difficult player issues including strikes and threatened strikes. The NFL became stronger and stronger during his tenure. The Pro Football Hall of Fame named Pete Rozelle as an enshrined contributor in 1985 after 30 seasons of service.

March 1, 1946 - Trenton, New Jersey - The feared defensive end of North Carolina A&T, Elvin Bethea arrived into this world. Bethea was the Houston Oiler third round pick in the 1968 Draft and played for 16 seasons in pro football.  Unofficially, because it was not a stat during his career, Elvin is the franchis’s career sack leader with 105 career QB takedowns behind the line of scrimmage. He was an All-Pro second team four times and played in 8 Pro Bowl games. At the 2003 Enshrinement ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, Elvin Bethea was named for entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

March 1, 2006 - Camden, New Jersey - The outstanding Nebraska halfback, Mike Rozier was born. The NFF states that Rozier rushed for 973 yards in 1981 as a sophomore and was not the feature back of the offense. The following year he became a consensus All-America as he ran for 1,689 yards, and 15 touchdowns. In 1983 his senior year, Rozier was part of a team that averaged over 50 points per game. Mike’s contributions included a nation leading 2,148 yards on the ground, as he was college football’s top dog with 2,486 all-purpose yards and a 7.8 yards per carry average. He also scored an eye popping 29 touchdowns with 11 games where he exceeded the 100-yard mark in rushing. Mike Rozier’s collegiate gridiron accomplishments are forever remembered as in 2006 they were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.