March 31

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss Hall of Fame birthday celebrators Ed Marinaro, Bob Anderson and Jimmy Johnson the Defensive back! 

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and was contributed by Cleveland's Miller Studio circa 1914 and is titled " Case versus Mout Union Game ."

March 31, 1906 -  The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) is formally established.  In 1910 the IAAUS was renamed  the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA according to the Library of Congress. Early football games often resulted in injury and even death, prompting some colleges and universities to close their football programs. The reforms were encouraged by President Roosevelt in 1905. Some of the revisions to the rules from the IAAUS were the institution of the legal forward pass as well as some rules making certain formations illegal.

March 31, 1938 - Elizabeth, New Jersey - The great Army halfback of 1957 to 1959, Bob Anderson was born. 

There are two Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined men named Jimmy Johnson with connections to Dallas. Head Coach Jimmy Johnson was just recently placed in the Hall as a contributor but his date of birth is July 16. Today we celebrate the great player James Johnson.  

March 31, 1938 - Dallas, Texas - Jimmy Johnson the great two way player as a halfback and defensive back of the San Francisco 49ers was born. As a matter of fact according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame he was the top pick of the Niners in the 1961 NFL Draft. 

March 31, 1950 - New York City, New York - The top Cornell running back from 1969 to 1971,  Ed Marinaro celebrated his date of birth. Marinaro according to his bio on the FootballFoundation.org had a higher rushing yards per game than collegiate greats and Tony Dorsett, O.J. Simpson and even Hershel Walker! Ed's 174.6 yards per game on the ground in 27 games is truly a remarkable feat! Marinaro had 10 games in which he exceeded 200 yards; this includes, in 1969, 245 against Rutgers, 281 against Harvard; in 1970, 260 against Lehigh; in 1971, 272 against Columbia, 260 against Colgate. Ed's average yards on the ground in 1971 was an astounding 209 yards per game, an NCAA record that lasted 10 years until broken. Marinaro was an All- America selection twice and in 1971 won the Maxwell Trophy and was named Player of the Year by Columbus, Cleveland and Washington Touchdown Clubs. He was named to the Ivy League Silver Anniversary Team.. The College Football Hall of Fame celebrated the arrival of Ed Marinaro's collegiate gridiron accomplishments into their hall of legends in 1991. After college he enjoyed a six year pro career with the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets. He then budded into a television acting star having been on hit shows Laverne and Shirley and Hill Street Blues.