November 11

In this episode of the Football's History Headlines, we discuss Jim Thorpe's coming out party against Harvard, Lamar Jackson's record setting performance as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.

Football history enthusiasts, delve into the gridiron's past! On this very date, history unfolded on the field in several ways. We might be celebrating a record-breaking performance by a legendary player, a trade that sent shockwaves through the league, or even the birth of a new franchise that would leave its mark on the game. Let's lace up our cleats and travel back in time to see what iconic moments transpired on this date in American football history!

On this November 11, 2020 as Americans we take a day out of the year to remember the sacrafices that our Military veterans have made so that we can enjoy the freedom and security we have as Americans. We may not all agree on things political or even on sports teams but one thing I think that we can be in perfect harmony on is saluting our Vets and the great sacrafices and contributions they have done and currently do for our society. These men and women of current times and of the past give us the legitimacy to have the freedom to live in a country where we can have differing opinions, and enjoy the leisure of sitting back and enjoying things like talking about football. I would personally like to thank my father, Gary Hayes who served in the Air Force. Also my friends who help make Pigskin Dispatch what it is like Bill Noble another Air Force Vet who handles all things IT releated for Pigskin Dispatch, and Mike Monroe and Gene Monroe who provide some of the awesome music for our podcasts and videos, Mike is an Army veteran and Gene is a Veteran of 26 years with the US Navy. Make sure you thank, respect and honor our Veterans not only just on this National Holiday remembering them but each and every day, because thats when they are serving us, 24/7/365. Thank you!! 

Thorpe Aids in Upset

November 11, 1911 - Cambridge, Massachusetts  -  A true legend of the game added started writing his football story. As reported by a story on NCAA.com, the Carlisle Indian School of Carlisle, Pa., led by Jim Thorpe, upset the nationally ranked Harvard University football squad by the score of 18-15 as 25,000 in attendance looked on. Thorpe scored every single point for Carlisle in that game, as he punched in a touchdown, kicked an extra point and four field goals. The Indians were coached by Pop Warner in his 10th year as head coach. Carlisle on the season compiled a record of 11–1 , outscored opponents 298 to 49. Walter Camp easily selected Jim Thorpe as a first-team All-American.

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons' collection,  photos show some 1919 Canton Bulldogs players Pete Calac, Jim Thorpe  & Joe Guyon

A Really Record Setting Game, 13 of them to be exact!

November 11, 1939 - Shreveport, Louisiana - A great story on commdiginews.com tells us of  a contest between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Centenary College Centenary Gentlemen. This college football game set more NCAA records than any game in NCAA history: 13.  Texas Tech and Centenary played to a 0-0 tie in a torrential downpour. According to the Weather Underground’s historical archives, there was 2.23 inches of rain that fell  in Shreveport, Louisiana on game day. Players were getting hurt left and right and the oversized ball used at the time when wet was hard to hang onto. It sounds really odd but according to the article weather was dictating strategy, traditional offenses were ineffective at best, not to mention dangerous so both teams decided that punting the ball away was the best play. Centenary took the opening kick-off and ran it back to the 13. Without hesitation, the Gentlemen punted on their first play from scrimmage. After running just two plays, the Red Raiders followed suit and punted on third down. There were an NCAA-record 77 punts in the game because of this, 39 by Tech and 38 by Centenary. The most amazing fact though was that 67 of 77 occurred on first down! Talk about a record that will never be broken!  

Jackets Play it Cold

November 11, 1978  - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Fromtherumbleseat.com tells the tale of the game quite well, that after a lousy previous season and their former coach Ben Martin announcing his retirement, Air Force hired a guy by the name of Bill Parcells to coach the team. You would think that the Falcons would be ready for a big win as was a frigid Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colorado containing temperatures as low as 21°F. Tech was thought to be at a severe disadvantage coming to such chilly conditions from hot Georgia. No one told the Yellow Jackets rushing offense that though as Runningback Eddie Lee Ivery rushes for 356 yards to lead Georgia Tech to a 42-21 victory over Air Force.

By George I thinks he's got it!

November 11, 1995 - OSU’s Eddie George rushed for a school-record 314 yards on 36 carries and scored three touchdowns to boot as Ohio State routed the University of Illinois 41-3. The website elevenwarriors.com summed up the story nicely. Running against the Illini was supposed to be a difficult task. Coming into the 10th game of the season, Illinois was ranked 10th in the nation in run defense, giving up barely more than 100 yards per game. Linebackers Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy were All-American caliber and were stout against the run.  That is all well and good, but those facts seemed to motivate Eddie G and his blockers up front. George had over 100 yards in the 1st quarter alone, and over 180 at halftime. Eddie kept up the yardage after the half too as on the first play of the 2nd half, George took a handoff from Hoying and burst through a hole on the left side, then sped down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown.
Holy War 12

November 11, 2000 - South Bend, Indiana - According to onthisday.com the 12th College Football Holy War was played as Notre Dame knocked off Boston College 28-16.

Alexander the Great

November 11, 2001 - Husky Stadium, Seattle , Washington - Seahawks young running back Shaun Alexander in just his sixth start ran the rock for 266 yards on 35 carries and scored an 88-yard touchdown run as Seattle upset the favored Oakland Raiders 34-27.

The Vets still perform at a high level

November 11, 2002 - With some record setting performances, the Oakland Raiders, scooted past the Denver Broncos by the score of 34-10. ESPN.com tells the story of how the 36 year old veteran Quarterback Rich Gannon completed 21 straight passes and a 40 year old GOAT Wide Receiver named Jerry Rice became the first player to score 200 career touchdowns.

Favre joins the club

November 11, 2007 - Green Bay , Wisconsin - CN-reuter.com has the headline story that tells how Brett Favre joined Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to throw for 60,000 yards in a career. Favre accomplished the feat during the second quarter of Green Bay’s 34-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The old number 4 passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns in the Green Bay victory. 

Where is the Defense?

November 11, 2011 - Montgomery, Alabama - A piece on AL.com tells us that Faulkner University defeated Union University of Kentucky by the amazing score of 95-89 in triple overtime to set an NAIA football record. The 184 combined points, smashes the previous mark of 141 set in 1994 when Southwestern University defeated Sterling University in a State of Kansas shootout to the tune of a 79-62 final score. The 184 total points in our 2011 game though was the second-highest scoring game in college football history, surpassed only by Georgia Tech's 222-0 blasting of Cumberland in 1916.

4 TD's for Louisville's Action Jackson

November 11, 2017 - Louisville, Kentucky - The University of Louisville’s Lamar Jackson accounted for four touchdowns and 342 yards as the Cardinal dropped Virginia 38-21.  The dailypress.com story fills us in on the action. Lamar Jackson passed for 195 yards, rushed for 147 in the game against the Cavaliers. Lamar established an NCAA milestone in the victory as well.  Jackson, the Heisman Trophy winner, became the first player in NCAA history to post two seasons with 1,000 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing.
 

Bobby Dodd

November 11, 1908 - Galax, Virginia - The quarterback from the University of Tennessee Bobby Dodd was born. Dodd played with the Volunteers from 1928 through the 1930 season. The National Football Foundation website does a nice job on the bio of Bobby Dodd. They tell of how he was successful at almost any endeavor he put his mind to. Besides football where the Vols were 27-1-2 in his three seasons but he also won tournaments in tennis and bridge! His talent at football was showcased in his running passing and kicking abilities. The article goes on to say that famous football journalist Grantland Rice named him to 1930 All-America. Team whileEdwin Camp,  of the Atlanta Journal, called Dodd "the greatest football player ever developed in the South." Bobby Dodd was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.

John Orsi

November 11, 1908 - Newark, New Jersey - John Orsi the end from Colgate arrived into the world.  The footballfoundation.org website described Orsi offensively as a swift, nimble, high leaping pass- catcher who was a main contributor to the scoring machine of Colgate. On defense he was a play-disrupting, jolting tackler all in all a two way playmaker in today’s terms. During Orsi’s career at Colgate that lasted from 1929 through 1931 the Raiders had a 25-3 record and had 19 shutouts of opponents. After the 1931 season John earned All-America honors. The National Football Foundation selected John Orsi to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Ed Dyas 

November 11, 1939 - Mobile, Alabama -  Auburn’s great fullback, Ed Dyas was born.  Dyas was a great two way player for the Tigers but on offense he led the team in rushing and scores in fact the NFF’s website biography on Ed says that he was named as an All-American at Fullback, was the SEC's Most Outstanding Back and First-Team All- Conference in 1960. In his four years at Auburn he handled all of the kicking besides playing linebacker and fullback. Heck one has to wonder if he ever left the field? Oh and did I mention that Dyas set an NCAA record for field goals in a season with 13. Ed Dyas was also selected as an NFF National Scholar-Athlete and received the Bill Streit Award for highest senior GPA and won the Cliff Hare Award, the highest honor an Auburn athlete can receive for academic, athletic and leadership achievement. In 2009 the powers that be in the NFF voted Ed Dyas to join the exclusive club of  the College Football Hall of Fame.

Ricky Hunley

November 11, 1961 - Petersburg, Virginia - Marked the day of birth for Ricky Hunley the linebacker from the University of Arizona. Hunley was a four year letter winner at Arizona as according to the NFF he turned down a lucrative minor league baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to attend school and play football. Ricky Hunley made a wise choice as he became a consensus All-American linebacker in 1982 and unanimous All-American in 1983. The College Football Hall of Fame  found a place for Ricky Hunley in 1997. After school Hunley played in the NFL League 7 seasons with the Denver Broncos, Phoenix Cardinals and the Los Angeles Raiders. He also served as executive vice-president of the NFL Players Association and coached some in the college ranks.
 

The pictures above are from the Wikimedia Commons' collection,  photos show some 1919 Canton Bulldogs players teams taken by unknown photographers.