October 26

Here is what happened in football history on October 26: A rivalry that almost ended Pro football before it really got started; Sid Gillman heads a list of Hall of Fame Legends that celebrate October 26 as their Date of Birth, we cover them all and more!

Gridiron ghosts are stirring! Today's date is etched in the annals of NFL history. From legendary comebacks to record-breaking performances, monumental trades to heart-wrenching defeats, the pigskin has witnessed its share of drama on this very day.  Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the iconic moments, game-changing plays, and unforgettable figures that forever marked their place in the grand narrative of professional football. So, gear up, football fans, as we delve into the captivating stories that unfolded on this historic day in the NFL!

Early Pro Rivalry Almost Ends Professional Football

October 26, 1906 - from profootballhof.com The two best teams in professional football were arch rivals the Canton Bulldogs and the Massillon Tigers. That season they played twice splitting the head to head meetings. The second meeting however was for the Ohio League Championship in which the Tigers secured victory. The fierce rivalry caused the two teams to overpay for talent to better themselves against the other and almost caused each club to go broke. That coupled with a betting scandal made pro football in all of Ohio have declining interest from the communities. Learn more about this in our interview with Gregg Ficery and the Massillon Tigers as well as our episode on Joe Carr with Chris Willis.

Deacons largest Upset

October 26, 1946 - Knoxville, Tennessee - They Wake Forest Demon Deacons knocked off the highest-ranked opponent in the football program’s history when they defeated the  No. 4 in the nation Tennessee Volunteers 19-6. The website godeacs.com has a great recount of the game. The Wake Forest line was a block of granite against the Tennessee running attack. Bob Leonetti and Ed Royston, guards; Boyd Allen, center; and Sidney Martin, tackle, refused to let the Vol backs loose for any damaging gains. The Deacon forwards also were terrific in rushing Vol passers.
The Deacons scored first in the opening period, and then came back in the third period to register two quick touchdowns to ice the ball game after the Vols had scored their lone marker in the second period to tie the score at 6-6. 

12 Sacks !!!

October 26, 1980 -Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland - The visiting St. Louis Cardinals defense got after the Baltimore Colts QB Bert Jones and sacked him an NFL record tying 12 times! According to an f64sports blog post, Card’s defensive end Curtis Greer dropped Jones an unofficial 4-½ times in the contest. It was not the first time had recorded 12 sacks in an NFL game but it was however the first time an NFL defense had sacked the same player 12 times in one game!

Gamecock Comeback

October 26, 2013 - In an unbelievable comeback, the University of South Carolina upset of the 5th ranked University of Missouri 27-24.  The Gamecocks found themselves trailing the heavily favored Mizzou squad 17-0 in the fourth quarter. USC quarterback Connor Shaw was banged up and had flu-like symptoms according to an article in the postandcourier.com website, but he spearheaded a fierce comeback surge for South Carolina. Earlier in the week Shaw admitted to having a partial tear in his LCL and a few days prior to kick off he had the flu so head coach Steve Spurrier did not let him start the game and the team took the field with Dylan Thompson under center. After watching Dylan struggle through the first 3 quarters, Spurrier turned Shaw and asked him if he could go and the youngster responded by getting the Gamecocks to tie the Tigers and take the game into overtime. The Carolina victory came in the second OT session when Mizzou tried to tie the score once more, but their kick banged off of the upright to fall away from its mark, allowing the underdog USC team to claim victory.

Joe Guyon

October 26, 1892 - White Earth, Minnesota  - Joe Guyon was Jim Thorpe’s teammate at Carlisle and from there he moved on to be an All-American tackle at Georgia Tech in 1918 and also saw a National Championship with the Jackets in 1917. In professional football though according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bio on the great player, he was a triple threat halfback that played in the NFL for the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians,  Kansas City Cowboys, Oorang Indians, the Rock Island Independents and the New York Football Giants. He helped the Giants claim the NFL Championship in 1927. The amazing thing is that he played on all of these teams and accomplished so much in just 8 seasons in the League. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Joe Guyon in the entry class of 1966.

The Passing Innovator, Sid Gillman

October 26, 1911 - Minneapolis, Minnesota - Sid Gillman who played college ball at Ohio State was born.  In the very first Chicago College All-Star game in 1934 legendary player Bronko Nagurski leveled Gillman and it set Sid’s mind that coaching may be the safer and wiser career option in pro football.  Gillman according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is quoted as saying: “The Big plays come from the pass. God bless those runners, because they give you the first down, give you the ball control and keep your defense off of the field, but if you want to ring the cash register, you have to pass.” This summed up the Gillman coaching legacy that lasted for 18 seasons in the AFL and NFL.  Sid’s LA and San Diego Chargers offense set the AFL’s offensive centric style of play apart from the 3 yards and cloud of dust mentality of the NFL in the 1960’s. The Chargers even won the 1963 AFL Championship.  After the merger Gillman still had success,as he as the AFC’s 1974 Coach of the Year. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Sid Gillman in the entry class of 1983

Sam Francis

October 26, 1913 - Dunbar, Nebraska - Sam Francis a fullback from the University of Nebraska came into this world. Francis was a great player, he ended up being the runner up to winning the Heisman Trophy after the 1936 season for his fine play. Earlier in 1936 Sam finished 4th in the Shot put at the Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. Sam Francis was ushered into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. Francis was the first overall pick in the 1937 NFLDraft by the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Eagles traded his rights to the Chicago Bears soon after where he played for four seasons. Later he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brooklyn Dodgers before attending the University of Iowa to go for his masters and also serving in the US Army during World War II.

Jim Weatherall

October 26, 1929 - Graham, Texas - Marked the birth of Oklahoma tackle, Jim Weatherall. Per the biography post on Jim on footballfoundation.org, Weatherall was a consensus All- America in 1950 and a unanimous All-America in 1951. Jim had a nine- year pro career that spanned from 1954 all the way to the 1962 season playing in the CFL with Edmonton, and then the NFL with the likes of Philadelphia, Washington, and Detroit. Jim Weatherall was summoned to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Les Richter

October 26, 1930 - Fresno, California - Les Richter, a former guard, kicker and linebacker from the University of California from 1949 until 1951 was born. The National Football Foundation tells us that Richter was a 6-2, 230-pound bulldozer on offense and an aggressive, single-minded scrimmage line protector on defense. His greatness was recognized with a deluge of awards that began with the team captain and included the Andy Smith Award for most time played, membership in the All-Time All-Pacific Coast Team, East-West Shrine and College All-Star games, a Most Valuable Player citation, Helms Hall of Fame and, best of all, All-America honors by United Press, Associated Press, International News Service and other recognized selectors.The NFF voted Les Richter into their College Football Hall of Fame in the year 1982.

Tony Casillas

October 26, 1963 - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Defensive tackle Tony Casillas that played for the Oklahoma Sooners came into this world. Tony was a big part of the Sooners 1985 National Championship team. The NFF’s website tells us  that Tony was a two-time consensus First Team All-America selection and that Casillas became only the second Sooner ever to win the Lombardi Award after the 1985 season, which is given to the nation's top lineman. In 2004 the National Football Foundation selected Tony Casillas to enter the exclusive club of the College Football Hall of Fame. Tony was picked in  the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Twice named an All-Pro, he played 13 seasons in the NFL with three different teams and won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.