November 18

In this edition of the Football History Headlines, we discuss Joe Theismann's Career-Ending Injury, The Giant's 10-0 start in 1990, 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!

The First Shoulder Pads Patent

November 18, 1902 -Rawlings is credited with introducing the first football shoulder pads when they introduced Whitley's Armor Clothing. US Patent 714079 was filed for by William P Whitley, an executive at Rawlings, so then was later assigned to the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company. The product was made of felt and fiber, and though it offers poor protection compared to the pads of our era, it was a steep upgrade to what they had at the time. 

Iron Bowl Blowout

November 18, 1905 - Birmingham, Alabama- The 10th Iron Bowl is played and Alabama shuts out rival Auburn 30-0 in the contest in a game played a year prior to the forward pass becoming legal in college football.

Milestone for Notre Dame Football

November 18, 1967 - The Fighting Irish hit a milestone in the school’s legendary football history per the irishlegends.com website.  Notre Dame notches up victory number 500 for the program as the Irish run over Georgia Tech by the score of 36-3.  

Irish Gamble on Vegas

November 18, 1978 - Grant Field , Atlanta, Georgia - Running back Vegas Ferguson sets an Fighting Irish record as puts up 255 yards on the ground against Georgia Tech in a 38-21 victory for the Golden Domers. Ferguson, according to an archived story on nd.edu set the tone for the day as he took a handoff through the right side of the line on the game’s second play 68 yards to the Tech 6 yard line.    

Grey Cup #72

November 18, 1984 - Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton -  The 72nd playing of the Grey Cup took place. This championship game of the CFL was special as it was the first-ever Grey Cup game played in Edmonton, according to the bluebombers.com website. The game also marked the first time in nearly two decades that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had made it to the title game of the CFL. Their opponent was a very gritty Hamilton Tiger-Cats squad led by former Bomber quarterback Dieter Brock, who had just been traded to the Ticats a year earlier. The Cats struck first, with Brock sneaking the ball into the endzone for the early lead. At one point early in the second quarter, their lead had extended to 17-3, but that Hamilton momentum was short-lived. Winnipeg would pop off 27 points in the second quarter, setting a Grey Cup record, and rattle off the final 44 points of the game. What at first seemed to be all Hamilton quickly turned into a Bombers blowout, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 47-17. Quarterback Tom Clements, the very player Brock was traded for, was named the offensive MVP, running back Sean Kehoe was the top Canadian, while the top defender was Tyrone Jones, who set a Grey Cup record with four quarterback sacks.

Theismann's Injury

November 18, 1985 - Joe Theismann's NFL career ended with what may have been one of the most vivid injuries witnessed in a nationally televised game, as you could see the bone in his leg break during a sack by legendary NY Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor on November 18, 1985 

Giants Go 10-0

November 18, 1990 - The New York Giants run their record to 10-0 as the G-men drop the Detroit Lions in a shutout 20-0 per pro-football-reference.com. The next two weeks of the season would give the Giants back to back losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, having the team finish the season 13-3 with another late season loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Giants would get their revenge on the Bill though in Super Bowl XXV as after a Scott Norwood game ending field goal attempt sailed wide right the Giants would win the title game by the score of 20-19, with running back Otis Andeson winning the games MVP.  

Mansfield Ends Program

November 18, 2006 -  Mansfield University turned the lights out as it ended its football program more than 100 years after introducing the night time football game to the world. The Washington Post article from November 18, 2006 tells how the Division II team finished 0-10 in its final season and cut its football program, but it leaves a unique legacy. Mansfield hosted the first outdoor night football game on September 28, 1892. Then called Mansfield State Normal School, it played a scoreless tie against Wyoming Seminary in Mansfield, Pa. Happily  the college added  football once again in 2007 in the Collegiate Sprint Football League where players must weigh in at 178 pounds or less to compete.
 

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DT - Paul Wiggin

November 18, 1934 - Modesto, California - Stanford University product,defensive tackle Paul Wiggin in born. Wiggin was what we call today , “a stopper” as he punished any opponent that got in his way. The NFF tells us that Paul was a two time first team All-America selection, was invited to participate in the East-West Shrine Game in 1956 and the Hula Bowl in 1957. Paul Wiggin was nominated for entry into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.  Paul made it to the big League when he was done with school and he spent his entire 11-year playing career as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns until his retirement following the 1967 NFL season.

DB - Jack Tatum

November 18, 1948 - Cherryville, North Carolina - The great Ohio State DB, Jack Tatum was born into this world. He was often called the “Assassin” for his hard hitting style of play but he also could blanket a receiver in coverage too. The National Football Foundation writes that Jack was a unanimous First Team All-America selection in 1970 and consensus pick in 1969, Tatum earned First Team All-Conference honors three times and was named National Defensive Player of the Year in 1970. A three-year starter, Tatum led the Buckeyes to a 27-2 record, two National Championships and at least a share of three Big Ten Conference titles.  The College Football Hall of Fame placed a plaque in honor of Jack Tatum’s fine play in their gridiron greats museum in 2004. After he completed college,  Tatum was a first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 1971 NFL Draft. Tatum played in the NFL for 10 seasons, nine with Oakland and one with Houston, and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

22 Pro Seasons of QB Warren Moon

November 18, 1956 - Los Angeles, California - Warren Moon the outstanding long tenured quarterback was born. When you play quarterback at the professional level for 22 seasons you know you have to be something special. Warren Moon did it in multiple leagues! As the offensive leader of the University of Washington Huskies Moon was named Most Valuable Player in the 1978 Rose Bowl after his team recorded a victory over the Wolverines of Michigan 27-20. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bio, Warren Moon had NFL scouts confused when he came out of the University of Washington. NFL teams told Warren he would need to play a position other than quarterback to get drafted in the NFL. Having faith in his abilities as a signal caller, Warren made a bold choice and opted to play the position he loved in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. All he did was win 5 straight CFL Grey Cup Championships with the Eskimos franchise.  The CFLHOF.ca website states that ended his CFL career in 1983 as the league’s leading passer with 380 completions of 664 attempts for 5,648 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Canadian Football League placed Moon into their Hall of Fame in 2001.  Prior to the 1984 season, Moon took his north of the border experience and signed on with the Houston Oilers and in his first season in light blue he set a club record with 3338 yards passing. Moon helped the Oilers deploy the Run and Shoot offense that gave NFL defensive coordinators a lot of sleepless nights. Warren was a big hit as an NFL quarterback, just like he envisioned himself to do. In fact he stuck on with the League that once told him not to play QB for 17 seasons, tossing for just shy of 50,000 career yards playing not only for the Oilers but the KC Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks.  The  Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Warren Moon into their hallowed halls in 2006.  

Rocket Ismail

November 18, 1969 - Elizabeth, New Jersey  - The very shifty wide receiver/ kick returner of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, Raghib “The Rocket” Ismail was born.  Ismail graced the green grass of Notre Dame Stadium from 1988 through the 1990 seasons according to footballfoundation.org.  Rocket Ismail led the Irish to an undefeated national championship season in 1988 that was wrapped up in a victory over West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl.  The speedster was a two-time First Team All-American and earned consensus honors in 1989 as a kick returner. Rocket also earned unanimous All-American honors in 1990 at the positions of wide receiver and as a return man. The nationally acclaimed player was  1990 Walter Camp Player of the Year as well in concert with also being named The Sporting News’ College Player of the Year and finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.! No doubt that Raghib had to go shopping for a bigger trophy case! The National Football Foundation voted Raghib Ismail into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2019. After college Ismail was going to be selected as the first overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, but chose to play north of the border instead. The LA Raiders also put a pick in for him later to own his rights in case he changed his mind about the NFL The Rocket played  in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts for two seasons after college and was a member of the 1991 Grey Cup Championship team. In the Canadian League he accumulated 1951 receiving yards, 1925 KO return yards, 1216 punt return yards, while scoring 21 touchdowns. He did play in the NFL eventually with the Raiders and as a rookie Ismail recorded 353 receiving yards. The next year, he recorded 513 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In 1995, the Raiders first season back in Oakland, he recorded 491 yards receiving. He eventually was traded to the Carolina Panthers.