September 19, 1919 - Mike Holovak a fullback from Boston College. Fordham Head Coach Frank Leahy noticed Mike Holovak while Leahy was observing the coach opposing Holovak's high school squad in a guy by the name of Vince Lombardi. A month later Leahy left Fordham to take up the position of leading the Boston College football team. Leahy didn't forget about Holovak's strong play and recruited him to attend BC and play for the Eagles. As a sophomore Mike contributed to the Eagles rushing attack as well as being a key piece on the defense too. Holovak scored twice in big situations for Boston College that season; once in a 19-18 victory over Georgetown University and then again in the Sugar Bowl as the Eagles upset a strong Tennessee squad 19-13. As a senior he became a consensus All-American and finished second in total rushing yards in the nation. Holovak's performance in the 1942 Sugar Bowl was phenomenal as he averaged 15.0 yards per carry and scored 3 touchdowns. Mike served in the Navy during World War II and after the war he played in the NFL for the LA Rams and the ChicagoBears. Holovak returned to Boston College in 1951 to become the Eagle's head coach and he stayed in that position through the 1959 season. He moved into professional coaching ranks a couple years later as he headed the New England Patriots from 1961 through 1968 and then was the General Manager of the Houston Oilers for a period of time. The National Football Foundation selected him into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
September 19, 1921 - Charlie Conerly a former halfback from Mississippi. He was referred to as 'Chuck'n Charlie'' as he was an active passer from the tailback position. Charlie played the 1942 season at Mississippi and then spent a few years serving in the U.S. Marines fighting in the South Pacific during World War II. Chuck'n Charlie returned to Ole Miss after the war and ended up leading the nation in pass completions at 133. Conerly had 18 TD passes mixed in those 133 completions and added nine more with his legs for the Rebels.Charlie was voted as a consensus All-American and was selected as the Player of the Year by the Helms Foundation. Conerly played 14 years with the NY Giants as their quarterback and was voted the league's MVP in 1959. Charlie Conerly was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966’s induction ceremonies.
September 19, 1930 - Don Heinrich was a quarterback from the University of Washington who played for the Huskies in the 1949, 1950 & 1952 seasons. He missed the 1951 season due to an injury. Heinrich led the nation in passing in both 1950 and 1952 and was selected as an All-American in each of those seasons. After school Don served in the U.S. Army for almost two years before joining the New York Giants where he played for 6 seasons. The last couple of years that he played in the NFL were spent on the rosters of the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders. The National Football Foundation selected Don Heinrich to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
September 19, 1957 - Dan "Danimal" Hampton was a defensive lineman out of the University of Arkansas. Dan Hampton was the fourth overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He was versatile and played both defensive tackle and defensive end for the Bears and was elected to four Pro Bowls and was named a first or second team All-Pro at both defensive line positions. Danimal was part of the Chicago Championship defense that won Super Bowl XX, and in that game he registered two tackles and one sack for 10 yards against the Patriots in the 46-10 romp. That 1985 Bears defense has gone down in history as one of the best ever assembled to play the game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2002.
