Inspiration Sensations

Inspiring stories from football about uplifting people.

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Some people have that inner desire where they just won't give up. They are a rare breed indeed as most of us turn from our dreams with the slightest of obstacles. But there is hope, the great folks and their stories can inspire us to achieve our own goals through patience and perseverance. That is whay we consider them to be Inspiration Sensations.

Kurt Warner

Football is filled with inspiring people and stories throughout its long history. People who had to overcome great obstacles just to have a chance at participating on the great green stage. Their stories touch our hearts and pull us out of a bad day. They inspire and uplift us to accomplish some of our own goals in daily life, they are Inspiration Sensations. The subject of this Inspiration Sensation is former quarterback, Kurt Warner. According to Biography.com Kurt Warner was born on June 22, 1971 in Burlington, Iowa to his parents Gene and Sue Warner. The couple divorced when he was about four so spent most of his childhood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa under the care of his mother with his older brother Matt. Sue made ends meet by working three jobs and eventually remarried for about five years in what ended up to be a rough relationship for her and her sons. The sporting life Kurt found a peaceful distraction to his changing homelife in athletics. Warner starred in Basketball, football and baseball while in high school at Cedar Rapids own Regis High School. The youngster earned himself the starting quarterback at Regis in his junior season and earned the trust of his coaches. After his final high school season he earned the right to play in Iowa’s all star game and had even won the MVP honors in that game due to his excellent play. Despite all of this he had some disappointment when none of the larger colleges recruited him so he stayed local in Cedar Rapids and played for Northern Iowa in the Division I-A level. At first he didn’t have much luck in getting playing time at the college level. Warner was red-shirted in year one and then sat the bench the next three seasons. If it were not for the encouragement of his family he would have quit playing altogether, but he stayed on the team for his last season of eligibility. His patience paid off, Kurt Warner ended up getting the starting nod, and then led Northern Iowa to a winning record and a playoff appearance and as an individual he won his conference’s Player of the Year Award for the 1993 season. Northern Iowa gave him something even better than the opportunity to play the game as he met his future wife Brenda Meonio, who was a single mother of two young sons. One of the boys, Zach, had suffered a brain injury as a baby. The couple fell in love and eventually married in 1997 and Kurt soon after adopted the boys as his own. After college Warner tried to keep his career going into the NFL but after being undrafter in 1994, he did get an invite by the Green Bay Packers to go to camp but was cut after spending five weeks with the team. His dream was bruised a bit but his spirit was not broken. He took a job restocking shelves at a local Cedar Rapids store until he had received an opportunity to play arena football with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League. Kurt had some great success in the arena game so that the Rams took notice and sent him to NFL Europe to develop. Eventually he became the starting QB of the then St. Louis franchise after the quarterbacks ahead of him suffered injuries. Rams coach Dick Vermeil had faith in the 28 year old journeyman and it paid off as Kurt led them to a Super Bowl victory in his second season with the team. Warner found himself to be the ring leader of what the media called the Greatest Show on Turf. A prolific passing offense that was complimented by a strong running back named Marshall Faulk. In the Super Bowl win Warner was named the games MVP after throwing for a whopping record 414 yards on the big stage. In his pro career he earned the league's annual MVP award twice, played in three Super Bowls and inspired people everywhere not to give up on their dreams. He is also a great role model as a father, a husband and just an awesome human being. His great faith in God is his core and molds him into who he is. He eventually played for the Giants and the Cardinals before retiring and becoming an analyst on the NFL Network. Warner has used his fame to help others. He and Brenda have established the Kurt Warner First Things First Foundation, which is dedicated to impacting lives in a lasting way through Christian values and ecouragement that all things are possible when people put first things first. The organization has helped ill children with trips to Disney Worldand building recreation centers in children's hospitals for the kids. You can vistin the foundations website and help the cause by going to their website by clicking here. Kurt’s truly inspiring story is being made into a movie titled American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, due to hit theatres sometime in late 2020 or early 2021. Per February 2020 article on NFL.com the film is based off of Warner's own memoirs an will be co-produced by wife Breda and written by "Friday Night Lights" David Aaron Cohen. Kurt is quoted in the NFL.com article about the movie to say, "I am extremely excited to bring this story to the big screen. In hopes of encouraging all who see it not to never stop believing in themselves and what God can do with them." ref. Kurt Warner

Gale Sayers

The NFL was taken by storm in 1965, when the “Kansas Comet” lit up the excitement in the league. He was a rookie running back sensation from the University of Kansas, that ignited the Chicago Bears offense into a very formidable rushing force to be dealt with. His name was Gale Sayers, and he was a two time All-American as a Kansas Jayhawk and his 99 yard run in college set the NCAA record and added to his notoriety and intrigue in the football fandom. ref. Gale Sayers

The First Lady of Football Journalism

We lost a great pioneer on May 16, 2020 in Phyllis George. In 1975 Phyllis did a very brave thing when she and CBS aired her on the popular very male dominated Sunday pregame show NFL Today as a co-anchor. Here was this lovely 1971 Miss America beauty queen speaking about NFL football alongside Brent Musberger, Irv Cross and Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder. Women weren’t part of football at that time, heck it was a man’s program. Not anymore, thanks to Phyllis George. Phyllis George was born on June 25, 1949 in Denton, Texas and as a youth she was trained as a classical pianist. She was proud of where she came from as evident in a 1985 interview, when she said,"I am from Denton, Texas, and I will never let you or anybody else forget that, I am a small-town girl from a small town and a small-town family. If I hadn't come from Denton, I wouldn't be sitting here right now with this great job and my great husband and my beautiful children." The husband she spoke fondly of was none other than the former Governor of Kentucky. John Y. Brown. The couple married in 1979 and later divorced in 1998, but not before raising two children who were born while the family lived in the Governor's mansion. Phyllis had a triple threat of beauty, brains and bravery that propelled her to her many successes. She won the Miss Texas 1970 title and the Miss America crown in 1971 using her talent, gift of graceful intelligent speech and yes her beautiful aura and smile. Let’s not forget that day in September 1975 though on CBS. The bravery it must have taken to break the barrier was enormous. Phyllis' success and acceptance by men watching football opened the doors for the many women who work in sports journalism today. This hard working lady not only was broadcasted during football but she also was seen on the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, The Rose Bowl and even the Super Bowl. She even served a short stint as the anchor of the “CBS Morning News.” After her broadcasting career she created a chicken dish sold by Hormel Foods, authored a book and later founded a women’s beauty line that was marketed. This strong woman even fought a rare blood disease for 35 years, outliving the medical prognosis by over ten years! Phyllis George had a magnetic personality and an unwavering drive that made her a success at almost everything she did. Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren and on every sport show on every network that has a woman broadcaster. Phyllis George was truly a national treasure and a great Inspiration Sensation! ref. The First Lady of Football Journalism

Big Mike

In this edition of Inspiration Sensations we celebrate the accomplishments of a young man that overcame many obstacles in his early life to become a successful football player in the NFL. The story of Big Mike As a young boy our player, Michael, was one of twelve children in a single parent home. His mother Denise had addictions to both drugs and alcohol. Michael's father was almost never seen by the boy due to multiple imprisonments. This is a bleak outlook for anyone at this point and Michael was going down the road of being a product of his environment. He was often unsupervised and much of the fundamental parental guidance he needed in his development was lacking in his life. To say that the life of this youth was unstable is an understatement as he attended 11 different schools in 9 years! It was not his intelligence or IQ that forced him to have to repeat the 1st and second grades, as Michael was a smart kid, he merely did not receive the love, basic fundamentals of self discipline and daily life skills that most children received and it made him unsure of himself in the setting like the structured setting of the classroom. Michael seemed destined for a future of little or no hope. A pivotal moment in Michael’s life came when he had a temporary living arrangement with a friend’s family who was trying to get their own son enrolled in a local Christain High School to play football. The father of this same family decided to enroll Michael as well as he was growing into a large strong frame. The matriarch of the family felt for the youth and bought him clothing, and accepted him into their family. "Big Mike" started to get a smile on his face and was gaining the support and structure he so long desired as a boy. His athletic talent and large frame helped to develop as a force on the gridiron as well. Does the story sound familiar? Player reveal There may be much to say of Michael Oher’s story as documented in the Sandra Bullock 2009 movie “The Blind Side”. The Blind Side was the film adaptation of a section of the Michael Lewis 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. But Mr. Oher, himself was disappointed with many of the portrayals of his life on the silver screen. There were dramatic details added to the script that were not totally accurate in Michael's opinion. One of those being that he seldom smiled. Those that know Mike say he is fun loving and often has a big grin on his face. Though the movie and real life may not be in harmony the basic story of this young man, with the help of a caring family from the "other side of the tracks" is a true inspiration to us all. The will of Michael Oher to overcome all of the obstacles and short-comings dealt to him as youth to become the stud NFL Left Tackle truly made Michael Oher an Inspiration Sensation! ref. Big Mike

The Pennsylvania Sensation

There is never a more uplifting football tale as the one I am about to tell you. Please enjoy the video presentation! ref. The Pennsylvania Sensation

The Passionate tale of Brandon

Warning! This story will stir your emotions to your very core. It is a true tale of a determined young man that truly inspires! ref. The Passionate tale of Brandon

The Sensational Express: Ernie Davis

There are some people that the world only has for a short precious time, but it is what they do with that time that makes a difference in the world, and they are remembered many years after the jounrey has ended. Ernie Davis from Syracuse is one of the people from this category. ref. The Sensational Express: Ernie Davis

Amos Alonzo Stagg

On this episode of the Inspiration Sensations we discuss Amos Alonzo Stagg, football's grand man with Author Jennifer Taylor Hall. ref. Amos Alonzo Stagg

Pro Football Researchers Association

Historian George Bozeka tells us about a great organization preserving Pro Football History and their upcoming convention as well as many more HOF Legendary stories. ref. Pro Football Researchers Association

Red Grange

In this episode we discuss the early college and NFL superstar Red Grange and some interesting tidbits of his legacy from author Chris Willis who wrote a book on the great athlete. “Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL’s first Superstar.” We will provide you with a little bit of football nostalgia on one of the legends that helped the game so popular. ref. Red Grange

McKenzie Milton

In the opening game of the 2021 NCAA football season for both number 9 Notre Dame and Florida State University a very unlikely hero for the Seminoles did the unthinkable. Late in the fourth quarter McKenzie Milton entered the game after the FSU starter QB Jordan Travis had to leave when his helmet came off on a play. Travis did a lot with his feet but it seemed like the Irish defense had his number in the passing game. When Milton entered the game he brought a spark to the Seminoles who rallied from an 18 point second half deficit to take the game in to overtime. What McKenzie Milton did in the game is pretty great by itself but when you consider that he did it after suffering a horrible leg injury in the 2018 season when calling signals for the University of Central Florida and then being told by medical experts that he would probably not be able to walk again or at least with out extreme pain is a major miracle. He not only walked but suited up in a football uniform and played at a high level, even taking off on a deleayed scramble run up the middle of the fierce Notre Dame defense. Milton is an inspiration to those who have ailments that set them back. With determination, great medical care and some grace from the man upstairs you can achieve the unbelieveable. Hats off McKenzie and good luck this season! ref. McKenzie Milton

Formation of Football

This tale from football's past travels back to the game's humble beginnings, the foundational root of the game itself. ref. Formation of Football

Herb Mul-Key

The Washington Franchise had a try out for walk-on players in the early 1970's and one player from that not only made the team but became Pro-Bowl player in just his second year. Herb Mul-Key a man who beat the odds and lived his dream by scoring touchdowns in the NFL. ref. Herb Mul-Key

Gene Washington

Born January 25, 1944 was Hall of Fame player Gene Washington. Here is a special tribute to this legend as we learned about him through an interview with his daughter Maya back in 2022. Some 100 years after the Civil War, equal rights for black Americans were still being fought for in the 1960s. Many places would not allow some people to sit down and have dinner in a restaurant or even drink out of the same water fountain because of the color of their skin. Brave souls like Rosa Parks, Dr. King, and others including the famous football father of our guest Maya Washington1 battled racial ignorance in their own lives. Maya shares her family's story of over 50 years ago in her book and film, which she tells about the powerful tale of courage and a championship football team that defied the odds. ref. Gene Washington

Ray May

There are many professional athletes that have given back to their communities and those less fortunate. Linebacker Ray May is one of those that did something pretty amazing with a bonus check he got one offseason. ref. Ray May

Sean Conley

Norm Van Brocklin

We are honored as our guest today is author Karen Vanderyt, the daughter of Norm Van Brocklin and Gloria Schiewe. Karen joins us to talk about the story of her parents that she wrote down in her latest book, "The Dutchman and Portland's Finest Rose: A Love Story Inspired by the Life of Football Legend Norm Van Brocklin." ref. Norm Van Brocklin

Walking Alone

You may know that Kenny Washington was one of the first in a group of men that broke the NFL Post WWII Color Barrier, but how much more do you know about this standout in football history? Our friend Dan Taylor joins us to share some other things that Kenny accomplished and more from his book on the legend. Walking Alone: The Untold Journey of Football Pioneer Kenny Washington. ref. Walking Alone

Helping Others While Being a Fan

Life long Buffalo Bills Fan, Del Reid took his fandom and Social Media Influencer status to not only help start Bill Mafia as a Western New York NFL Fan Identity but to help others less fortunate in his local area with his company, 26 Shirts. ref. Helping Others While Being a Fan

Once a Giant

When we think of the NFL in the 1980s the 49ers, Bears, and the Giants come to mind as the dominant teams. Author Gary Myers, who covered the New York Giants during their Championship run joins us to talk about this team, their coaches and life after football in his Book: Once A Giant, A Story of Victory, Tragedy, and Life After Football. ref. Once a Giant

Coach of a Lifetime - Lewis Cook Jr

Author Gaylon H. White helps us recognize the story of this man who has turned kids seemingly on their last straw into a life that has led to success on the field and in life. Coach has inspired some of his former players not only to play college ball and positions in the NFL, but he has men who became professionals in business, like Doctors, preachers, and Roman Catholic priests. Here is an avenue to purchase a copy of Coach of a Lifetime: The Story of Lewis Cook Jr., Legendary High School Football Coach by author Gaylon H. White - Foreward by Alabama's Coach Nick Saban ref. Coach of a Lifetime - Lewis Cook Jr

Coach Stewart Ferguson

Sometimes we forget how enjoyable the game of football is intended to be. A story like that of Coach Stewart Ferguson from the last century can rekindle the intentions of the game. Our guest Peter Oltchick picked up on a project that his now deceased Father-in-law Bill Bell did not have the opportunity to complete in a book titled Football for Fun. ref. Coach Stewart Ferguson

Quotes

Here are some bits of wisdom that players, coaches and other folks in the football know have stated over the years. These are meant to bring inspiration, sometimes a smile, but always perservation of gridiron history. ref. Quotes

Preserving Gridiron History in a New Way!

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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer

We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there! Brought to you by Number 80 Productions and Pigskin Dispatch _________________________

Gridiron Legacy: Pro Football's Missing Origin Story

Author Gregg Ficery tells the story of the beginnings of Pro Football through the pro football career of his Great Grandfather, Bob Shiring _________________________

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Sports Jersey Dispatch

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Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry

Author Joe Ziemba the master historian of football in Chicago has released another beauty. It is titled Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry. _________________________