November 5

In this edition of the Football's History Headlines we discuss the Game of the Century, a long Bears streak comes to an end and one QB throws for 571 yards in a game as well as many more Football Hall of Fame 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!

End of Bear's Streak

November 5, 1933  - Boston, Massachusetts - The Chicago Bears 30 game unbeaten streak ends as the Boston Redskins knock off George Halas’ visiting club by the score of 10-0. This started a bad slide for the Bears according to the Pro-football-reference.com website as they scored a whopping 3 points in three games and suffered two losses and a tie. They would mend their ways though as they eventually defeated the New York Giants for the 1933 NFL Championship by the score of 23-21.

3 Picks by James

November 5, 1950 - Cleveland, Ohio -The Cleveland Browns' defensive back Tommy James intercepted 3 passes of the Chicago Cardinals to set a franchise single game record. According to the Pro-football-reference.com website the Browns needed all of them as they narrowly won the game 10-7.

Saints Win!

November 5, 1967 - New Orleans Saints 1st NFL victory was against the Philadelphia Eagles with a final score of Saints 31, Eagles 24. If you remember we covered the announcement of the franchise being award on November 1, 1966 and the very first game of the Saints took place on September 17, 1967.

571 yards Passing in 1 game

November 5, 1977 - Quarterback Marc Wilson of Brigham Young University set a new NCAA passing record of 571 yards against Utah. The Cougars went on to win the game 38-8 over the Utes. If you were thinking we spoke about a BYU passing record recently you are right. The November 3 edition of the Football History Headlines told of Virgil Carter having passed for 513 yards against Texas Western  November 3, 1966. There have definitely been some live arms in Provo, Utah!

Madden has 100th Victory

November 5, 1978 - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO - Oakland Raiders Head Coach John Madden becomes 13th coach to win 100 NFL games as his Raiders defeated the KC Chiefs 20-10.

SEC Showdown #1 versus #2

November 5, 2011 - Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama - It was dubbed the “Game of the Century,” and they might not be wrong with that! The two top ranked teams in the country played in a BIG SEC showdown when the top ranked LSU visited the number two ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The website theadvocate.com tells us that: The game would eventually count 42 NFL draft picks and numerous free agents among its participants. Twenty-eight players were ultimately drafted on defense. Ten of those were first-round picks. Stars such as LSU’s Eric Reid, as well as Morris Claiborne, and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix were on the field making plays that day. It was a defensive stalemate alright with all of that talent as the battle ended up being by the special teams units kicking field goals as LSU defeated Alabama in an Overtime thriller by the score of 6-9! The two teams would square off in the National Championship game as they both won their respective BCS playoff games. That game played on January 9, 2012 at the Louisiana SuperDome in New Orleans wasn’t as close though as the Tigers triumphed again over their rivals 21-0 to take the National crown.

Record is Broken!

November 5, 2011 - University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum set an NCAA career yards passing record by surpassing Timmy Chang's mark. Keenum finshed up his collegiate career with 19217 yard through the air.

Coach Greasy Neale

November 5, 1891 - Parkersburg, West Virginia - Earle “Greasy” Neale dynamic early pro gridiron end and a fantastic coach became the pride and joy of his parents. A Sports Illustrated article from 1964 credits that writers assumed that Neale got his nickname, "Greasy", from his elusiveness on the football field, it actually arose during his youth, from a name-calling joust with a friend. Neale was an early professional player as he starred as an end on Jim Thorpe’s Canton Bulldogs before the first World War. He was also a successful college coach, he also led his Washington and Jefferson College squad to the 1922 Rose Bowl. Neale was hired in 1941 as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and he took the mediocre team and turned it into a contender almost immediately.  He studied film on the Chicago Bears, especially a 73-0 trouncing  they had over the Washington Redskins. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website bio on Greasy, After studying the film endlessly, Neale became the first coach to imitate, and some say, improve the Bears’ T-formation. The Eagles won the NFL Championship in 1948 and again in 1949, and were the only team to win back-to-back titles by shutting out their opponents as they blanked the Chicago Cardinals 7-0 and then the Los Angeles Rams 14-0. Head Coach Earle Greasy Neale was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

T- Bruce Bosley

November 5, 1933 - Fresno, California -  Bruce Bosley, the West Virginia Mountaineer tackle was born. The website footballfoundation.org gives the insight that Bosley helped to defeat Penn State three consecutive times. Bosley was named by the Associated Press as the National Lineman of the Week in two contests against the Nittany Lions.  One of the 12 All-America teams Bosley made in 1955 was the All- Players team. Bosley was named by 93 percent of opposing players.  The NFF’s voters chose Bruce Bosley to take a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Larry Pugh

November 5, 1943 - New Castle, Pennsylvania  -  Larry Pugh two way player from Westminster College in his hometown of New Castle, PA came into this world.  Larry won NAIA All-America honors in two consecutive years according to the National Football Foundation’s website bio on him.  The NAIA named Pugh as an All-American at offensive guard in 1962,  and in 1964 at defensive tackle.  Larry Pugh then had the honor in 1998 to be nominated to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame.

TE -Kellen Winslow

November 5, 1957 - St. Louis, Missouri - Kellen Winslow a tight end from the University of Missouri was born. According to his bio on mutigers.com, Winslow redefined the tight end position at the collegiate and professional levels during his playing career. At MU, he caught 71 passes for 1,089 yards and 10 TD's from 1976-78, earning all-Big Eight honors in 1977 and '78, and consensus all-America status as a senior. The powers that be in the National Football Foundation invited Kellen Winslow into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2002. Winslow was a first-round pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 1979 NFL draft. While playing for San Diego, he caught more passes than any tight end in league history from 1979-88 with 541 catches for 6741 yards and 45 touchdowns. He also played in 5 Pro Bowls. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Kellen in 1995.

LB- Percy Snow

November 5, 1967 - Canton, Ohio -  A linebacker from Michigan State University,  Percy Snow was born.  Per the source of msuspartans.com website we learned that Snow was a Two-time First-Team All-American in 1988 and 1989 as well as a Three-time First-Team All-Big Ten Selection from 1987 through 89. The NFF chose Percy Snow to be inducted into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2013. After college Percy was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft and played in the NFL for four seasons with the Chiefs and Chicago Bears.