By Darin From “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” to the ironman nicknamed “Polyphemus,” May 20th serves as a powerhouse date in the football archives. Imagine a player logging 73 straight games without a single substitution. Or picture a college star so electric he finished fourth in the Heisman race before becoming a famous TV detective. Whether it’s the Philadelphia Eagles bolstering a championship roster in 1949 or the legendary Frank Leahy attempting a bold coaching comeback, today’s history lesson explores the grit and the glory. In addition, you will read about the surprising Hollywood crossovers that define the gridiron’s legacy.
Published cooperatively by the Athletic Departments of the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Institute of Technology – Director of Publication, D. W. Scott, editor Frank F. Carver
May 20 American Football History Timeline
- May 20, 1949 – Former New York Giants player Frank Reagan signed with the defending champion NFL Eagles.
Elmira, New York, and their paper, the Star-Gazette, with the headline,
“Reagan Inks Contract with Philly Eagles.”
The story reports that former New York Giants player Frank Reagan signed with the defending champion NFL Eagles.
- May 20, 1957 – Former Notre Dame star and coach Frank Leahy had agreed to return to coaching at Georgetown University. The school had suspended its football program in 1950.
The Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the day came from the Lincoln Journal Star in Lincoln, Nebraska, which reported that
“ Georgetown, Leahy Back to Football.”
Former Notre Dame star and coach Frank Leahy had agreed to return to coaching at Georgetown University. The school had suspended its football program in 1950, but decided to revive the gridiron Hoyas. They brought in a big-time name to rekindle the football flame at the Washington, D.C., College. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the program ever got off the ground with Leahy. The Hoyasaxa.com website says, ” In 1959, the National Football Foundation invited Georgetown’s president, Rev. Edmund Bunn, S.J., to discuss opportunities for Georgetown, Fordham, NYU, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, and MIT to schedule extramural football contests between the schools, but Bunn declined the invitation outright. In late December, newspaper articles from various sources reported that Leahy was poised to sign with Texas A&M.
May 20 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these gridiron icons! From the pioneer “ironmen” of the 19th century to the fathers of modern quarterback dynasties, here is your list for May 19 and 20, organized by their year of birth:
- Andy Wyant [1867] A true “Ironman,” Wyant played eight varsity seasons for Bucknell and Chicago. He once logged 73 straight games without a substitution. Standing 6’3″ and nicknamed “Polyphemus,” he was a giant of the single-platoon era who later earned five degrees. He also served as a physician in both World Wars.
- Al Sparlis [1920] A fierce blocker and defensive force for UCLA, Sparlis had his career interrupted by service in the Coast Guard and Air Force during WWII. He returned to earn All-America honors in 1945. Afterwards, he played for the Green Bay Packers and eventually re-entered the Air Force for battle assignments in the Far East.
- Herman Wedemeyer [1924] Known as “The Flyin’ Hawaiian,” Wedemeyer was a versatile superstar at St. Mary’s who finished fourth in the 1945 Heisman vote. After a brief pro career, he became a household name in pop culture. He portrayed Detective Duke Lukela on the original Hawaii Five-O.
- Archie Manning [1949] The patriarch of the Manning passing dynasty, Archie was an electric playmaker at Ole Miss who once set an SEC record with 540 yards of total offense against Alabama. He was a two-time Pro Bowler for the New Orleans Saints, and he remains one of the most beloved figures in Southern football history.
- Tim Krumrie [1960] A defensive tackle with a relentless motor, Krumrie remains the all-time leading tackler among Wisconsin defensive linemen with 444 career stops. He went on to a 12-year NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Notably, he earned two Pro Bowl nods and led the team to Super Bowl XXIII.
- John Friesz [1967] A small-school legend at Idaho, Friesz became the first quarterback to win the Walter Payton Award after throwing for over 4,000 yards in 1989. He parlayed his prolific college production into a decade-long NFL career. Primarily, he played with the San Diego Chargers.
Conclusion
The milestones of May 20 remind us that football is built on more than just Sunday afternoon stats; it is built on legendary character and tireless service. From Andy Wyant’s “ironman” streak in the 1890s to Tim Krumrie’s record-shattering tackle counts in the 1980s, these icons bridged the gap between the classroom, the battlefield, and the end zone. As we celebrate these Hall of Fame birthdays and historical headlines, we honor the men who proved that a legacy can start on the field. In addition, that legacy can extend to the halls of medicine, the front lines of war, and even the silver screen.