November 9

In this edition of the Football's History Headlines, we discuss Aaron Rodger 6 TD game, Army and ND battle to a scoreless Draw 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!

Canadians play football

November 9, 1861 – The first documented football match in Canada is played at University College, Toronto according to a wikipedia report.

First lateral

November 9, 1912 - According to a charlotteobserver.com story, the lateral pass is used as an offensive weapon for the first time by Worcester Tech coach William F. Carney. Carney’s team beats Amherst 14-13.

Number 1 & Number 2 Tie

November 9, 1946 - Second-ranked Notre Dame fights to a 0-0 tie with No. 1 Army at Yankee Stadium to snap the Cadets’ 25-game winning streak. The Charlotte Observer’s article goes on to say the Irish defense holds Army’s running backs Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis to a combined 79 yards.

Spartans serve upset

November 9, 1974 - East Lansing, Michigan - Michigan State knocks off No. 1 Ohio State.  According to the National Football Foundation’s website , Michigan State’s upset of the top-ranked Buckeyes was as controversial as it was stunning. Ohio State went up early in the contest but Michigan State cut the lead to four on a 44-yard touchdown strike to Mike Jones and took a 16-13 lead when Spartan tailback Levi Jackson broke off an 88-yard scoring run with 3:30 on the clock. JUst moments later the Spartans were upset over a pass ruled incomplete that appeared to have been intercepted by linebacker Terry McClowry. It would have stalled the Buckeye drive giving the ball to the Spartans offense to run out the clock., but incomplete was the call and remember there was no replay review for the officials in that era of football.
Hearts around the country really pumped out of people’s chest at the end of the contest as the officials claimed time had expired before Ohio State snapped the ball and scored what would have been the winning touchdown. Referee Gene Calhoun also said that the offense had committed a game-ending penalty as well, which had College Football Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes livid. Final score Michigan State 16, Ohio State 13.

Faulk sets Frosh Record

November 9, 1991 - Future Hall of Famer, Marshall Faulk of San Diego State returns after missing three games due to injury. The real news comes when the Charlotte Observer tells us that in this first game back he broke the NCAA record for touchdowns by a freshman with his 20th in a 42-32 win over Colorado State.

400 points

November 9, 1991 - University of Houston's kicker Roman Anderson is the 1st in NCAA history to kick 400 pts by knocking through a 32-yard field goal in the Cougars’ 23-14 victory over Texas again as told by the Observer.

Another Holy War

November 9, 1996 - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts - Onthisday.com chimes in that the 8th College Football Holy War is played as Notre Dame defeats Boston College 48-21.

Paterno ousted 

November 9, 2011 - State College , Pennsylvania - The Charlotte Observer is all over this one. Long time Head Coach Joe Paterno is fired by the Penn State board of trustees due to the growing furor over the handling of child sex abuse allegations against assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Penn State President Graham Spanier is also ousted because of the scandal.

Rodgers with 6

November 9, 2014 - Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers throws six touchdown passes to tie the team game record and match the NFL record for a half in a 55-14 rout of the Chicago Bears. Here is more on the story. Green Bay’s #12 tied the NFL mark for scoring passes in a half set by Oakland’s Daryle Lamonica in 1969.

Big Battle in SEC 

November 9, 2019 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama - It was an SEC matchup of the Number 2 LSU Tigers traveling to play against the Number 3 ranked Tide of Alabama. The rolltide.com website give us the story as Joe Burrow passed for 393 yards and three touchdowns as his LSU Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in a slugfest of heavy weights 41-46.

 

The picture in the banner above is from the US Library of Congress' collection and is of a shot from the stands during a game in Durham, North Carolina during the Duke University-North Carolina football game in 1939.