November 3

In this edition of the Football's History Headlines we discuss the first protective pads, record setting events as well as many more Football Hall of Fame Legendary stories.

We're diving into the archives to revisit the headlines that rocked the NFL landscape. From legendary draft-day decisions that changed franchises to record-breaking performances that left fans in awe, get ready to relive the electrifying moments that shaped the game we love. So, lace up your cleats and join us as we explore the captivating stories from the gridiron's rich past!

The 1st to Create Pads

November 3, 1877 - Princeton's L.P. Smock introduces wearing padding to the game of football when he and his team faced Harvard. Smock sewed padding made mostly of cotton into his uniform jersey and pants for this game. The rules in that contest more closely resembled rugby than our modern American Football but it  was a rough sport nonetheless. Per the source of sportsrec.com Smock's pads were thin quilted layers sewn to the shoulders, thighs and knees of the laced-up jersey and knee pants he designed as the first football uniform for Princeton's players. The pads were not very heavy, and they also did not provide much protection.

Battle of Unbeatens

November 3, 1900 - University Park, Ithaca, New York - Two undefeated heavyweights of the early gridiron era squared off in a week seven showdown as the Cornell Big Red would travel to play the Princeton Tigers. Entering the game, according to an article on the cornellbigred.com website Princeton had never lost at home with an amazing 121-0-1 record there. Cornell featured All-American fullback Ray Starbuck while Princeton countered with their main man captain H. W. Pell. Cornell made history as they handed the Tigers their first loss at home 12-0 on a rainy afternoon. The Big Red's  Raymond Starbuck and Henry Purcell each scored touchdowns and Starbuck booted a pair of extra-point kicks to lead Cornell past the Tigers. It was the first time in 31 seasons of Princeton football that they had ever suffered a loss in their own house! Truly a remarkable feat!
 

11 Picks

November 3, 1935  - Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts - Philadelphia Eagles beat Boston Redskins, 7-6. Considering the era of football and the score, it doesn't sound like the ball went into the air much during the contest but  respective quarterbacks combined to throw an NFL record 11 interceptions.

The Vote for Vets Stadium

November 3, 1964 - Philadelphia voters narrowly approve $25 million referendum to build a new multi-purpose stadium that would later  become known as Veterans Stadium.

513 Yards Passing!

November 3, 1966 - Provo, Utah - BYU quarterback Virgil Carter sets new NCAA single-game records with 513 passing yards and 599 yards of total offense in 53-33 win against Texas Western per the onthisday.com site.

6 FGs for Turner

November 3, 1968 - Shea Stadium, New York City,  New York - Jets kicker Jim Turner boots 6 field goals and an extra point to defeat the Buffalo Bills, 25-21.

BYU Receptions Record

November 3, 1973 - Cougar Stadium, Provo, Utah - Brigham Young University wide receiver Jay Miller, set an NCAA football single game record with 22 catches for 263 yards as the Cougars went on to snatch 56-21 victory over the University of New Mexico.

Big Passing Day!

November 3, 1990 - The Astrodome, Houston, Texas - Texas Christian University quarterback Matt Vogler completes 44 passes including 5 touchdowns for an NCAA football record 690 passing yards but was outmatched when the opposing Houston Cougars quarterback David Klingler threws for 7 TDs. The Cougars overcame the great offensive showing of the TCU Horned Frogs with a 56-35 final score. 

Rice Gets There First

November 3, 1996  - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice  becomes the first player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions in a  24-17 win over the  New Orleans Saints as he  hauls in  3 passes for 45 yards and a TDs. Rice  finished his career with 1,549 receptions to set a milestone for NFL receivers of the future to strive for.

7 OTs

November 3, 2001 - Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi - The University of Arkansas defeats the University of Mississippi, 58-56  in 7 overtime periods to provide at the time  the longest game in NCAA football history. 

Navy Breaks the Streak

November 3, 2007 - The Navy Midshipmen  defeated the  Notre Dame Fighting Irish 46-44 in triple overtime, ending the Fighting Irish's NCAA Football-record winning streak against the Midshipmen at 43 games. When was the last Navy win over Notre Dame you might ask? It was a 35-14 Midshipmen win  in 1963.

Foles and Eagles Soar

November 3, 2013 - Oakland, California - Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Nick Foles completes 22 of his 28 passing attempts for 406 yards with scoring 3 tosses to Wideout Riley Cooper to become 7th passer in NFL history with 7 TD tosses in a game during Philadelphia Eagles’ 49-20 win over the Raiders.
 

Charley Barrett -QB

November 3, 1893 - Bellevue, Pennsylvania - Charley Barrett the slick quarterback from Cornell University arrived to his parent's delight on this day. Chuck was the consensus All-American quarterback in 1914 and 1915 while playing for Cornell and led the Big Red to an undefeated season with an accompanying national championship in the 1915 season.Per the cornellbigred.com website, Charley chose the plays, called the signals and was a triple threat man in every respect.  He also handled the kicking and punting chores for Cornell. Chuck Barrett was inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in the year 1958.  

Bronko Nagurski

November 3, 1908 - Rainy River, Ontario, Canada - The famous fullback from the University of Minnesota, Bronko Nagurski was born. Nagurski was a consensus All-American in 1929 for the Gophers. As a matter of fact, according to gophersports.com Bronko is the only player who has been named to two positions on the same All-America team. In 1929, his senior year at Minnesota, he was voted to the first team at both tackle and fullback. In addition, he was named to some All-America teams as an end. Nagurski was a star at Minnesota from 1927-29 and led the Gophers to an 18-4-2 record during that time. Amazingly Minnesota's four losses came by a combined five points. The National Football Foundation could hardly wait to enter Bronko Nagurski into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. 
After school was over Nagurski signed on with George Halas and his Chicago Bears teams of 1930 through 1938. Bronko was one of the star players for those Bears squads and he helped the team win NFL Championships in both 1932 & 1933. He was a great write up on one of the infamous 1933 victory and the play made in part by Nagurski that helped take the Bears to victory by clicking here. Bronko Nagurski was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the entry class of 1963.
 

Jim Houston

November 3, 1937 - Massillon, Ohio  - Marked the birth of Ohio State University's two way end, Jim Houston. He was a three-year starter under head coach Woody Hayes from 1957 through 1959 and twice was voted as the team's MVP. He was elected the team captain as a senior. The website footballfoundation.org has a great bio on Jim and it tells us that as a sophomore, Houston helped the Buckeyes to a 9-1 record and to claim the title of the National Championship for the 1957 season. The NFF Selection committee placed the career of Jim Houston into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. After school, Houston played 13 years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and was selected to four Pro Bowls.

Kirk Baumgartner - QB

November 3, 1967 - Colby, Wisconsin - Celebrated the arrival of Kirk Baumgartner, a quarterback that played for the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point into our world. Kirk played with the Pointers from 1986 through the 1989 seasons. Baumgartner was a three-time First Team NAIA All-American, a two time NAIA National Player of the Year and arguably the best quarterback in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics history. As a junior and senior he led the nation in total offense. Baumgartner still ranks among the all-time greatest college quarterbacks with 14,847 career passing yards and 122 career touchdown passes. Kirk Baumgartner was honored with a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.