March 15

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the story of The Dutchman, Norm Van Brocklin as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

March 15, 1898 - Wakefield, Nebraska - Clarence Swanson the fantastic end from the The University of Nebraska arrived into the world. Read more about this superstar end by clicking his name above.

March 15, 1926 - Parade, South Dakota - The legendary Oregon Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin also known as “the Dutchman” was born. We have so much more on this legend, you know how to get there, click his name above.

March 15, 1937 - Osage, Iowa - The Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Randy Duncan was born.  College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. The National Football Foundation has a great biography on Duncan where they say that after sitting behind starter Kenny Ploen in 1956 who led the Hawkeyes to the Big 10 Championship and a Rose Bowl victory, Duncan was Iowa's starting quarterback in 1957 and 1958. The team had a record of 15-2-2 and in 1958 won the Big Ten championship and beat California 38-12 in the Rose Bowl. Duncan piled up these honors in 1958: Helms Foundation Player of the Year, Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year, first in the nation in passing yardage, first in the nation in percentage of passes completed, co-leader in the nation in touchdown passes, and unanimous All-America. He was also runner-up to Pete Dawkins of Army in the Heisman Trophy voting. The voting members of the National Football Foundation selected Randy Duncan for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

In tribute to Norm Van Brocklin's roots at the University of Oregon the picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by photographer Carol M. Highsmith circa 2018 and is titled " Autzen Stadium, north of the University of Oregon campus ."