March 28

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the passing of Jim Thorpe, the Colts left Baltimore for Indy, the New York AFL team changed its name and some pro days for current NFL stars.

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by Harris and Ewing circa 1915 and is titled " Football Player, Jim Thorpe ."

March 28, 1953 - The Sports world loses one of history’s greatest athletes as Jim Thorpe passes away at the age of 65 years old in Lomita, California. Thorpe most famously won Gold in the 1912 Olympic games only to be stripped of them due to playing a bit of minor league baseball in 1910 (See our January 26 post) They posthumously returned the Medals to Thorpe’s credit in 1983. (See our January 18 post) But his football prowess is what we most remember this legend for. (Visit our May 28 blog article on the subject)  The Native American played famously for Pop Warner at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and then when the early NFL formed Thorpe became the American Professional Football Association’s first president and as we know the APFA later changed its name to the NFL. As a pro football player Jim played for the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents and the New York Giants.

March 28, 1963 – Sonny Werblin leads group that purchases the AFL’s New York Titans from original owner Harry Wismer.  According to the Jets Insider web story Werblin and company promptly changed the team name to the New York Jets on April 15.  

March 28, 1984 - The Colts relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. Reports say that franchise owner, Bob Irsay moved the Colts in the middle of the night after renovations were not made to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore as he thought they should be. A Baltimore Sun article by Jon Morgan in 1997 says that Mr. Irsay became a nemesis of then City mayor, William Donald Schaefer and when he later became Maryland’s governor, converted the outrage into the political will to build Camden Yards.  Irsay had acquired the club in 1972, a year after they won Super Bowl V when he traded his rights to the LA Rams to former Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. The Colts had a new stadium in place in the RCA Dome  which was originally called the Hoosier Dome, which is where they called home for 24 seasons in Indianapolis before Lucas Oil Stadium was built. Since in Indy the Colts have made 2 Super Bowl appearances and even won Super Bowl XLI with Tony Dungy as coach and Peyton Manning under center.

March 28, 2012 - Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Defensive End Melvin Ingram & Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery participated at South Carolina's Pro Day in 2012. Gilmore was really impressive in the drills for the DB position and went tenth overall to Buffalo. Ingram left the green room as the 18th pick of the first round by San Diego. Allshon Jeffery's 40-yard dash in the high 4.4 range helped dispel some myths of a receiver of his size struggling with speed and he was taken in the second round by the Bears per NFL.com. The trio of former Gamecocks have made the Pro Bowl for a collective 8 times.  

March 28, 2017 -  According to NFL.com a representative of each of the NFL’s 32 teams attended the 2017 Florida State pro Day. One of the main reasons was to evaluate the talented Runningback Dalvin Cook who per the report had an "exceptional workout" per NFL Network analyst Gil Brandt. Brandt said, "In my mind, he's the No. 2 RB prospect in the draft behind Leonard Fournette… he's explosive & catches the ball well."  Cook was selected 41st overall (2nd Round) in 2017 NFL Draft and in just his rookie season he recorded 88.5 rush yards per gameg in 4 games .