October 12

Here is what happened in football history on October 12: The biggest trade in NFL history and the most decorated college player ever.  This edition of our podcast will not disappoint as it is filled with legends and occurences that will make you, say "Oh yeah I remember that" and "Oh that's when that happened."

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!

October 12, 1989 - In what was the largest player trade in the history of the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys traded running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for 5 then current players and 6 draft picks of the future. The Cowboys were winless at this point of the 1989 season after five games played. The franchise was somewhat of a laughing stock of the league as their new Owner/GM Jerry Jones and Rookie head Coach Jimmy Johnson looked like they got into something a little bit too much for them to handle. They really looked foolish when they traded their star player, but the compensation of basically 11 players for one? That seemed like an offer too good to pass on. According to an ESPN article on the trade the deal went something like this: the Cowboys would give the Vikings Walker, their third and 10th round picks in 1990, and their third pick in 1991. In return, the Vikings would send linebackers Jesse Solomon and David Howard, defensive end Alex Stewart, running back Darrin Nelson, cornerback Issiac Holt and Minnesota's first-, second- and sixth-round picks in 1990.  Then the real craftyness started, Nelson refused to report with Dallas, so he was traded to the San Diego Chargers and became two draft picks: a sixth-rounder in 1990 and a second-rounder in '91. The Cowboys took Emmitt Smith of Florida, in the first round of the 1990 draft; defensive tackle Russell Maryland of Miami in the first round in '91; cornerback Kevin Smith of Texas A&M in the first round in '92; safety Darren Woodson of Arizona State in the second round in '92; and cornerback Clayton Holmes of Carson-Newman in the third round in '92. A dynasty had been born in Dallas with the jump start of trading one star player, and the clever draft maneuvering of the Cowboys brass. The Vikings did make the playoffs in 1989 with Walker running the ball, only to get knocked out by a very good SanFrancisco team.

October 12, 1991 - Mike Lerch of Princeton ties NCAA record with 370 receiving yards along with 4 touchdowns to lead the  then unbeaten Princeton Tigers to a 59-37 victory over a winless Brown University.

October 12, 1991 - Doug Flutie, formerly of Boston College and now with the BC Lions set a CFL passing record of 582 yards despite losing to Edmonton Eskimos, 45-38 in overtime

October 12, 1992 - Washington Redskins wide out Art Monk sets NFL record with 820th reception. Monk did it in grand style too as the game was played on the Monday Night Football stage, with all of the nation watching. The Redskins had their way with their opponents that night the Denver Broncos as they won handedly 34-3. It was a 10-yard reception from Redskin quarterback Mark Rypien in the fourth quarter, when Monk passed Steve Largent for the most career receptions in NFL history. Monk finished the game with seven receptions for 69 yards. For his career, Monk totaled 840 catches, 788 of which came in his 14 seasons as a Washington Redskin. 

Ocotber 12, 2019 - The University of South Carolina knocks off the 3rd ranked University of Georgia by a score of 20-17.

October 12, 1878 - Truxton Hare was a guard from the University of Pennsylvania. Hare played on the Penn Quakers football team from 1897 through 1900. He was the first of four players to have been a four-year All-American per pennathletics.com. Even more amazing was that Hare played every minute of all 54 games in which he competed, as the rules of his playing era players couldn’t return to the game after being substituted. Truxton was a big dude when he played too as he stood 6’-2” and weighed 208 pounds. Truxton was quite an accomplished athlete even without football. According to Olympic.org, Hare won a Silver medal in the 1900 Olympic games in Paris for the Hammer Throw Competition and a Bronze medal in the 1904 Olympics played in St. Louis. Truxton Hare was selected to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

October 12, 1921 - South Bend, Indiana - Les Horvath was born.  Don’t let his birthplace fool you into thinking Les was with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, no he was not. It might get a little bit clearer when you find out that after the family moved he spent most of his childhood in Parma, Ohio. Les attended and played for Ohio State University as a halfback/quarterback. He earned football letters in 1940, 1941, 1942 & 1944. He was not eligible to play football in 1943 as he attended dental school that year. THe 1944 season was a special eligibility for Horvath, as most players of that era only had 3 seasons of eligibility but the NCAA granted an extra season due to World War II and the lack of athletes in college. OSU Head Coach Carroll Widdoes asked Horvath to return to the team for a fourth year. Due to the demands of dental school, Horvath was initially reluctant to play but agreed to do so after Widdoes promised that Horvath would be flown to all of the games and would not have to practice as much as the other players. Ohio State went 9-0, won the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 nationally. Horvath rushed for 905 yards and passed for 345. He ranked second in the nation in rushing, third in total offense, was unanimous All-America, Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten, and won the Heisman Trophy. Les was the very first Buckeye Heisman Trophy in 1944 winner according to heisman.com. The National Football Foundation invited Les Horvath into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969. LEs graduated dental school in 1947 and then the NFL came calling as he was drafted by the LA Rams and played there and with the Cleveland Browns before hanging up his helmet to practice dentistry in the LA area.

October 12, 1970 - Thoamasville, Georgia - Charlie Ward was a Quarterback from the Florida State. Charlie may be the most decorated college quarterback of all time according to heisman.com as he won every award he was eligible for in 1993. For starters he won the Heisman Trophy, and he led his Florida State Seminoles to the National Championship title. Ward also was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Toyota Leader of the Year. Ward filled his trophy case even more by taking home the Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards and wass only the second college football player ever to win the Sullivan Award given annually to the nation’s top amateur athlete. His 1993 number were off the charts with completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,032 yards with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Football was not where it stopped though as the super athlete also guided FSU’ basketball teams to 3 NCAA tournaments and Charlie became the first ever Heisman winner to play in the NBA. Ward ended up staying in the NBA for 12 seasons and never put on an NFL uniform . Charlie Ward entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.