November 12

In this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the first professional American football game as well as many more Football Hall of Fame Legendary stories.

As we flip the calendar page, we delve into another chapter of pigskin history. From legendary comebacks that defied the odds to record-breaking performances that left fans speechless, remarkable moments unfolded on this very date. So, buckle up and get ready to relive iconic plays, celebrate trailblazing athletes, and revisit the captivating stories that continue to shape the ever-evolving narrative of professional football. Let's lace up our cleats and journey back in time to witness the incredible feats that transpired on this historic day in the NFL!

Cornell plays by the rules

November 12, 1887 - Cornell University revises its stance on the rules that colleges like Yale and Pronceton were playing, and they then play the first intercollegiate game under modern rules against Union College. Cornell's website tells us that Union defeated Cornell in the game by the score of 24-10.

First Pro Player

November 12, 1892 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- The very first professional football game took place. As former Yale star,  Pudge Heffelfinger receives $500 to become first paid football player by the Allegheny Athletic Association.  The AAA team in fact wins the game 4-0 over the Pittsburgh Athletic Club with great assistance by Heffelfinger.

Pudge Heffelfinger, circa 1890 in his Yale sweater, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Iron Bowl 9 

November 12, 1904 - Birmingham, Alabama - The 9th edition of the Iron Bowl was played. The rivalry was heated back then too. According to sports-refence.com this game though Auburn got the better of Alabama 29-5.

The Alabama Polytechnic Institute Varsity (Auburn University) Football Team 1904 , Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

1st NFL game in Pittsburgh

November 12, 1933 - Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The 1st home NFL game for the Pittsburgh franchise. Remember just a few days earlier as discussed in our November 7 Football History Headlines, the voters in the Commonwealth of PA decided to let it be legal to play ball games on Sundays. It was the whole reason the NFL granted franchises in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the 1933 season. November 12, 1933 was indeed a Sunday and it was a big day in Pittsburgh history. Unfortunately for the fans it was not a big day on the scoreboard for their team though as the Pittsburgh Football Pirates were blanked by the Brooklyn Dodgers Football team 32-0!

218 yards for Roberts

November 12, 1950 - Polo Grounds, New York City -Giants running back Gene Roberts went off against the Chicago Cardinals defense as he ran for 218 yards setting a New York Football Giants rushing record according to the Pro Football Reference website.

Blackouts Legal

November 12, 1953 - Philadelphia , Pennsylvania - From the NHregister.com website comes the story of the NFL Blackouts of television broadcasts in cities for home games. In 1951 NFL Commissioner Bert Bell decided to black out all home games within a 75-mile radius of NFL markets.  Bell was quoted as stating, "As long as I have anything to do with this league, home games won't be televised, period." The Justice Department sued the NFL, alleging restraint of trade. The NFL Blackout of home games rule stood up in court as US District Judge Paul Grim, ruled in favor of the NFL’s practice of not televising home games in the cities they are in.

Record Kick

November 12, 1979 - Texas Stadium, Dallas, Texas - The New York Times has a story where Kicker Tony Franklin of the Philadelphia Eagles kicks 59-yard field goal as his team holds off a late Cowboys charge to upset Dallas 31 to 21.

A strong defense stops a good offense

November 12, 1988 - Houston, Texas - The University of Wyoming was riding high in the season of 1988, ranked tenth in the nation and sporting the top offense in the country when they arrived in Texas to play the University of Houston. According to an article on the NFF’s website Houston defensive tackle Glen Montgomery recorded six of his team’s 16 sacks and made 14 tackles to lead the Cougars in knocking undefeated Wyoming out of the top 10. Cowboy quarterback Randy Welniak was dropped behind the line nine times in the first half alone as the high powered offense of  Wyoming, finished with -37 yards rushing. The Cougars attained a 28-3 lead behind College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Andre Ware’s touchdown passes to Patrick Cooper and Brian Williams. Houston upset No. 10 Wyoming, 34-10.  

Buddy Ryan -Body Bag Game

November 12, 1990 - "The Body Bag Game" - Coach Buddy Ryan had an innovative style of motivation for his players. The Eagles coach threatened that his squad would be beating Redskins so badly "they'll have to be carted off in body bags" in a talk leading up to the game. The Eagles defense promptly responded as they scored 3 touchdowns winning 28–14, knocking 8 Redskins out of the game.

Marino surpasses Fran

November 12, 1995 - Miami, Florida - Miami Dolphins, star Quarterback Dan Marino broke Fran Tarkenton's NFL all-time passing yardage mark of 47,003 in a game against New England Patriots. The bleacherreport.com reports that New England held on and won the game despite the record though 34-17.
 

Claude Reeds

November 12, 1890 - Norman, Oklahoma - Claude Reeds a fullback from the University of Oklahoma came into this life. Reeds was the very first Sooner of 167 total thus far to ever be selected as an All-American as he accomplished this feat in 1913 per soonersports.com.  The NFF’s website bio adds that Claude holds the Oklahoma distance punting record of 102 yards, set against Texas in 1911, when the field was 110 yards long.The NFF voted to have Claude Reeds into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1961.

Bill Fincher

November 12, 1896 - Spring Place, Georgia - The great tackle from Georgia Tech, Bill Fincher was born. Bill spent time playing for the Ramblin Wreck from 1916 through the 1920 seasons, the school did not count the abbreviated 1918 schedule a full season. Fincher  played well even with only one eye! The National Football Foundation shares a great story that may or may not be true but a Davidson player who, after hitting Georgia Tech's Bill Fincher, raced off the field to tell his coach, "I've done something awful, I've knocked out a man's eye." Besides playing tackle for the jackets Bill also was a defensive End and a place kicker and excelled at all three of the positions! During his first season of 1916, Fincher participated in the infamous 222-0 GT victory over Cumberland College that he have mentioned many times in the Football History Headlines! The NFF selected Bill Fincher to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Tuffy Leemans

November 12, 1912 - Superior, Wisconsin -  Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans the tough running back from George Washington University. Tuffy was a second round pick in the very first NFL Draft in 1936 thanks to a tip from Tim Marra’s son Wellington who while vacationing as a high schooler saw Tuffy play at GW per the profootballhof.com bio on him.  Leemans was the 1936 College All-Star MVP.  In Leeman’s rookie season he led all NFL rushers with a total of 830 yards on the ground. As a Giant in his eight-year career, he was named first- or second team all-league every year from 1936 through 1942, by either or both a major wire service and the NFL. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Tuffy Leemans in 1978.  

Jack Butler

November 12, 1927 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Jack Butler, the ballhawking cornerback from St. Bonaventure was born.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame provides a great career biography sketch on Jack. It tells us that he was a free agent signing of his hometown NFL team the Pittsburgh Stelers in 1951. All he did as a non-drafted player was to play for nine seasons and step away from the game as the player with the second most career interceptions in League history. Think about that for a second! The second most interceptions in NFL record books as an undrafted player, truly amazing. Jack played a total of 103 games, and picked off 52 passes for 827 return yards, four of those were pick-sixes. Butler was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1950s. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Jack Butler in 2012

Ken Houston

November 12, 1944 - Ken Houston the strong safety out of Prairie View A&M celebrated his birth. Out of college Ken Houston was a 9th round, very befitting namesake, pick of the Houston Oilers in the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft. He was a starter by the third game of the season and a few weeks later against the Jets he was a dominant performer, according to profootballhof.com. Against New York, he scored two touchdowns, one on a 71-yard blocked field goal attempt, and the other on a 43-yard interception return. After five seasons the Oilers traded the veteran playmaker to the Redskins for 5 players. That certainly showed the value of Ken Houston. Ken received all-league acclaim with the Oilers in 1969 and 1971, and then was either an All-Pro or an All-NFC award winner with the Redskins every year from 1973 to 1979. In 1986 the Selection Committee chose Ken Houston to have the honor of entering into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cliff Harris

November 12, 1948 - The legendary Dallas Cowboys Safety Cliff Harris was born. The Pro Football Hall of Fame tells the tale of how Cliff Harris was undrafted after 17 rounds of picks in the 1970 NFL Draft. This had to be some great motivation for him as he signed as a free agent with the Cowboys that year and never looked back. Pro Football Hall of Fame selected Cliff Harris to join their ranks of the folks with Gold jackets in 2020.

Steve Bartkowski

November 12, 1952 - University of California Quarterback, Steve Bartkowski was born. The calbears.com web page bio on Bartkowski tells us that he was an All-American QB in 1974 due in part to leading the nation in passing 2580 yards through the air. During his time at Cal he had four  games where he tossed for over 300 yards, and in his senior season  he accumulated 2,387 yards of total offense.  Steve became the number one pick in the 1975 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Steve Bartkowski was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

Rob Lytle

November 12, 1954 - Rob Lytle a fantastic running back from the University of Michigan.  Rob was in the Wolverines back field from the 1974 season through the 1976 campaign.  According to mgoblue.com, Jim Harbaugh was a ball boy for Michigan when Lytle played and the young Harbaugh somewhat idolized Lytle because of his blocking ability and the way he would run with his pad lowered. Harboaugh also mentions in the interview that the football clips of Dennis Quaid’s character in the film  “Everybody’s All-American” were actually footage of Rob Lytle during games. When Lytle was done at Michigan he held the Wolverine career rushing record of 3,317 yards and his single-season mark of 1,469 yards stood for 21 years as a team high. Rob Lytle was inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.