March 22

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss players like Jimbo Covert, Ross Browner and Russell Maryland as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by photographer Bain News Service circa 1910 and is titled " Yale-Princeton."

March 22, 1989 - Pete Rozelle announces his retirement as NFL commissioner after 29 years. Rozelle if you remember was a surprise choice to become NFL Commissioner to replace the legendary Bert Bell who had very suddenly and tragically passed away at a Steelers versus Eagles game. Ironically two teams that he had formerly owned. Pete at the time was in the front office of the Los Angeles Rams and had recently completed deals like the blockbuster one that brought running back Ollie Matson to the Rams from the Cardinals for 11 players. Rozelle of course was eventually replaced by Paul Tagliabue.

March 22, 1879 - Baltimore, Maryland - Art Poe the great end of Princeton University was born. He was the nephew of famous writer Edgar Allen Poe and had five brothers that played ball too. More on him on own page, found easily by clicking his name above. 

March 22, 1931 - Cleveland, Oklahoma - Billy Vessels the fine halfback from the Oklahoma Sooners celebrated the anniversary of his birth. Voters of the National Football Foundation inducted Billy Vessels into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.  More on this legend by clicking his name above.

March 22, 1954 - Warren, Ohio - The University of Notre Dame's Ross Browner claimed his date of birth. Browner is one of the top most decorated college players in NCAA history, as he played defensive end for the Irish in 1973 and then 1975 through 1977. Ross was the Outland Trophy winner in 1976 for being the top interior lineman in the country as well as claiming unanimous All-America honors in his final two collegiate seasons. As a senior Browner captured the coveted Lombardi Trophy as the nation's best lineman and the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player. The ballot came in from Football Foundation voters in 1999 sending Ross Browner into the College Football Hall of Fame. Ross registered a school record 340 tackles, ten deflected passes and two blocked kicks. Browner also put points on the board as he scored a touchdown and two safeties. The touchdown came when he blocked a Navy punt and recovered it in the end zone. His first safety was in the 1973 Northwestern game. Ross blocked a punt, and the ball rolled out of the end zone. The second safety was N against Miami of Florida during the 1975 season. Browner bet his blocker then tackled the Hurricane quarterback in the end zone. Browner went on to play nine years with the Cincinnati Bengals and one with the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League.

March 22, 1960 - Conway, Pennsylvania - The University of Pittsburgh's big offensive tackle, Jimbo Covert arrived into this life. His bio on the FootballFoundation site says that Covert joined the Pitt team wanting to be a defensive lineman. Jimbo was skilled at the position but the Panthers were loaded with talent in that area. An injury in his second year gave him some time to think and the results were that he asked his coaches if he could switch to play offensive line instead, in an attempt to get on the field more. What a great choice it was for all involved as Covert became a starter on the same line as Mark May and Bill Fralic. Pitt was on fire with offensive firepower. The Panthers posted two consecutive 11-1 seasons twice finishing as the nation's second-ranked team. In his three seasons at tackle he allowed only three sacks, none as a senior. His sacks allowed statistic is even more remarkable by the fact that Pitt averaged 34 passes a game. That year, he became a unanimous All-America after his first team All-America season in 1981.The National Football Foundation council approved the name of Jimbo Covert for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. THe Chicago Bears picked Jimbo sixth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft and in nine seasons, he twice made the Pro Bowl, was an All-Pro twice and led the Bears to a victory in Super Bowl XX. The Offensive Lineman of the Year went to Covert in 1986. Jimbo Covert was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

March 22, 1969 - Chicago, Illinois - The Miami Hurricanes stud defensive tackle, Russell Maryland was born. Maryland did not have a tremendous amount of college suitors as he was over 300 pounds and not the mobile player we came to know him as per the NFF article on him. The University of Miami though saw potential in the youngster and red shirted him, encouraging him to lose 50 pounds to have him at the ideal playing weight for a man his size. The transformation was remarkable as he had a big time  breakout game when he went against All-American John Vitale and Michigan in 1988. It gave Maryland confidence in his abilities and unlocked the athletic potential hiding within him. Russell went on to notch up 20-½ sacks, 279 tackles and 25 tackles for loss in his career. Maryland helped the Hurricanes to two national titles, four bowl wins, a perfect home record and a 44-4 overall record in his four seasons in Coral Gables. Russell Maryland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. After classes were over Maryland was the first pick in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Russel was a big part of  the Cowboys winning three Super Bowls. He also played in the 1993 Pro Bowl and started 140-of-154 games in his 10-year career. He posted 375 tackles, 24.5 sacks and forced nine fumbles as a pro.