May 15

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the second historic day of Harvard versus McGill of 1874 as well as the birthdays of HOF's Rod Smith, Emmitt Smith and Ray Lewis and many more HOF Legendary stories.

May 15, 1874 - Harvard versus McGill game #2

The May 16, 1874 edition of the Boston Post had an excerpt that read "Foot-Ball." The last of the football games between Harvard and McGill University was played yesterday afternoon at Jarvis Field. As the first day's play had been according to Harvard rules, McGill's play was adopted yesterday. Three games of half an hour each were played, time being called at each expiration, without either club having been able to force the ball over the opposite goal. There was a large crowd and much enthusiasm.

Parke H. Davis, in his book from 1911 titled Foot Ball: The Intercollegiate Game, states that McGill University's captain in 1874 was a player by the name of David Rodger and that he sent the invitation for the game to Harvard. The first was suggested to be played during this May 1874 time period in Cambridge, Massachusetts, under the Rugby All-Canada code rules, and a second game was proposed to be played in Montreal that fell under the Harvard rules, thus introducing each school's style of play to the fans of the host school. These proposed plans, of course, morphed into something even better. There was a lot of enthusiasm on both sides, and Harvard accepted the challenge.  

The American Heritage website gives us more insight. They decided to play two games—one on May 14 under Harvard's rules and one on May 15 under McGill's. Harvard won the first game 3-0, while the second was a scoreless tie. After a return match in Montreal that October, Harvard adopted the McGill version for good.

In June 1875, Tufts defeated Harvard in the first football game between American teams. That fall, Harvard met Yale for the first time under "concessionary rules" that blended the two games but leaned toward Harvard's version. A year later, when Harvard, Rutgers, Princeton, Columbia, and Yale formulated the first standard set of college football rules, they abandoned soccer entirely in favor of the Harvard-McGill game. Thus, the ultra-American sport of football has been invented in Quebec, Canada.

May 15, 1917 - H. Goldsmith submitted his idea of Football Pants With Protectors for a US Patent 1225799.

Here are the bios on some birthday boys that are either in the College Football Hall of Fame or the Pro Football Hall of Fame that were born on this day. There is plenty more about them to read by either clicking their high-lighted name or at the top of this page clicking the "On This Day in Football History" and going to May 15 Football History.

May 15, 1921 - Delphos, Ohio - The University of Wyoming halfback from 1948 to 1950, Eddie Talboom arrived into life. Talboom was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.  

May 15, 1923 - San Diego, California - George Brown the US Naval Academy and San Diego State Guard that played from 1942 to 1943 and then again in 1947 was born. As you can tell the Great War interrupted George’s collegiate career. He served on the USS Indianapolis and on a couple of submarines during World War II. The NFF says Brown was named All-America by the Associated Press in 1943. George entered San Diego State after his duty and with one year of college eligibility remaining, he played guard and linebacker for the Aztecs in 1947. He was made honorary captain and was named Most Valuable Player by his teammates. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of George Brown into their legendary museum in 1985.     

May 15, 1958 - Perry, Georgia - Florida State’s 1977 to 1980 defensive tackle Ron Simmons claimed his date of birth. The Footballfoundation.org says Ron was one of Florida State's fiercest tacklers, Ron Simmons was twice named a consensus First Team All-America en route to leading the Seminoles to three bowl berths.  Simmons held school records for career tackles for loss with 44 as well as 17 forced fumbles. Ron still ranks second all-time in career tackles recording 483 and owns a spot in the top five of nearly every other FSU defensive category. Simmons also finished ninth in the 1979 Heisman Trophy voting. Ron Simmon’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2008. The D-lineman played two seasons in the USFL before becoming a star in the professional wrestling world for more than 20 years as part of the tag team duo called “Doom.”

May 15, 1969 - Pensacola, Florida - Emmitt Smith the legendary University of Florida running back of 1987 to 1989 was born. He played 15 seasons as a back in the National Football League and came out of it as the All-Time Rushing Champion with 18,355 yards with 11 straight 1000 yard seasons and 3 Super Bowl Titles. In 1993, Smith was names as the NFL’S MVP as well as the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXVIII.  Emmitt Smith was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Emmitt Smith into their legendary museum in 2006.

May 15, 1970 - Cleveland, Ohio - Desmond Howard the University of Michigan’s wide receiver and kick returner from 1989 to 1991 had his birth certificate filled out. He did so well that he won the Heisman Trophy, was named a consensus All-America, took home the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year all in 1991 during his prolific senior season.  Desmond Howard was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 after the National Football Foundation tabulated their votes. Howard claimed the Super Bowl XXXI Most Valuable Player when he led the Green Bay Packers over the New England Patriots after setting Super Bowl records for punt return yards (90) and total return yards (244) in a game. He also set the Super Bowl record for longest kick return of 99 yards.

May 15, 1970 - Texarkana, Arkansas - The 1988 and 1990 to 1994 wide receiver from Missouri Southern Rod Smith was born. The NFF says Rod Smith set six school records during his college career with the Lions. A two-time All-MIAA selection, Smith set five conference records by the conclusion of his collegiate career including most receiving yards in a game (254), receiving touchdowns in a game (4), average yards per catch (24.0), career receiving yards (3,122) and career touchdowns (35). Smith is also the only player in Missouri Southern State history to have his number retired. The National Football Foundation selected Rod Smith for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Rod enjoyed a nice pro career with the Denver Broncos..Smith set franchise records for career receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), touchdown receptions (68) and overall touchdowns (71). The Broncos won two Super Bowls during Smith's tenure with the club and he retired prior to the 2008 season.

May 15, 1975 - Ray Lewis the stand out linebacker out of the University of Miami Hurricanes program was born. He was selected in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Ravens as the 26th overall pick. Ray was a great performer for the Baltimore Ravens during his illustrious 17 year NFL career. He was picked by the BaltRay earned the Super Bowl XXXV MVP award as well as the Defensive Player of the Year award in both 2000 and 2003. Just the second player in history to earn both the Super Bowl MVP and the DPOY in the same season. Remarkable this special Raplayer led Baltimore in tackles in 14 different seasons as he became the first player in history to reach the marks of both 40 career sacks and at least 30 interceptions. Lewis played in 12 Pro Bowls and earned the status of NFL All-Pro eight different times. Ray Lewis in the year 2018 was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 

The picture in the banner above is from the book Football: The Intercollegiate Game by Parke H. Davis circa 1874 and is titled " Harvard versus McGill May 15, 1874 ."