November 2

This edition of the Football's History Headlines has us reflect on multiple "firsts" in the game of football as well as many more Football Hall of Fame legendary stories.

Football fans, delve into the past! Today's date is etched in NFL history. From legendary trades that shook the league to record-breaking performances on the gridiron, exciting moments unfolded on this very day. We'll explore game-changing events, iconic players who dominated the field, and pivotal decisions that altered the course of franchises. So, buckle up and get ready to revisit the fascinating stories that make NFL history so captivating!

First scoreless tie

November 2, 1872 -American football had not had a game played in over a year, and only four games had been played since the initial 1869 game, dubbed the first-ever American football game. But in 1872, Princeton Rutgers was joined by Columbia University in participating in the new game. Rutgers traveled to New York City to challenge Columbia on this November 2, 1872, autumn day to play what would be the very first American football game played outside of the state of New Jersey. The game would have another first, too, as the Rutgers vs. Columbia contest would be the first scoreless tie in the history of American football. Saturdayblitz.com has a full story on the topic that I highly recommend you read at this link: Saturday Blitz Story.

South Carolina's First Victory

November 2, 1885 - University of South Carolina has its first-ever Win in their game versus Columbia AA (20-0) in Columbia, SC. The very first game for the University of South Carolina football program occurred on December 24, 1892, in a contest against Furman College in Charleston, S.C., where the early Gamecocks were blanked 44-0 by the Paladins. Special thanks to the University of South Carolina’s Athletic Department for furnishing this information to us!

First football endorsement

November 2, 1925 - A.G. Spalding Brothers company sends a letter to Coach Knute Rockne to propose an endorsement of Spalding's Double-lined football. This made Rockne one of the first people in football to get a lucrative endorsement contract. For more on this story, here is a link. We also covered this in an earlier Fun Football Facts.  

Leon, the Detroit Lion, Hart

November 2, 1928 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Marked the birth of Leon Hart, who later played end for the University of Notre Dame. While Hart was a member of the Irish squad, the team went an astounding 36-0-2 and won three national Championships from 1946 to 1949, according to the NFF’s website. Leon Hart may be best remembered in college for his heroics in 1948 against USC. Hart took a 25-yard pass from Frank Tripucka and escaped eight would-be Southern Cal tacklers on his way to a score that helped the Irish stay unbeaten in 22 straight games as they tied the Trojans at 14 points a piece. As a member of the Fighting Irish football program, Hart won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award in 1949 as a reward for his outstanding play. The College Football Hall of Fame in 1973. Leon, after school, played in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1950s with the Detroit Lions, where he was the franchise’s number-one pick in the 1950 NFL Draft.

Larry Little, a Big time player

November 2, 1945 - Groveland, Georgia - Larry Little the great NFL offensive tackle was born. Larry played football for Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida where he was an All-Conference player. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website bio  reports that Little was an unheralded undrafted free against pick up by the San Diego Chargers in 1967. After a couple seasons with the Chargers, they traded his rights to the Miami Dolphins and that is when Larry’s career really turned to the positive. With Miami he became a dominant blocker for the powerful Dolphin teams of the early 1970’s including the undefeated Super Bowl Champion team of 1972 where the Phins rushed for 2960 yards! Larry Little earned the award of being the NFL Player’s Association’s AFC Lineman of the Year in 3 consecutive seasons of 1970, 1971 & 1972. The great blocker played a total of 14 NFL seasons and made the Pro Bowl 6 times and was an NFL All-Pro 6 times too. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Larry Little in 1993.

Mark May

November 2, 1959 -Oneonta, New York  - Mark May the guard from the University of Pittsburgh was born.  Per the NFF website, Mark May was  A unanimous All-America selection and Outland Trophy recipient in 1980, May captained a team that went 11-1 and finished second in the final AP rankings. The 1980 squad featured College Football Hall of Fame teammates Dan Marino, Jimbo Covert and Hugh Green. The National Football Foundation voters selected Mark May to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. After college, May was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft. Mark was a member of the great Washington offensive line groups nicknamed the “Hogs.” May played 12 years in the NFL and started in three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XVII and XXII.