By Darin 
November 23 is a date etched deep into the annals of football history, marking moments that range from solemn cancellations to freezing championship triumphs and the birth of gridiron legends. This single day saw the very first game played by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1887), witnessed the bitter intensity of early Iron Bowl matchups, and celebrated the brilliance of Heisman winner Mike Garrett. But it’s the stories of extreme weather, coaching controversies, and the enduring service of stars like Ken Kavanaugh and Dick Kazmaier that make this date a fascinating cross-section of the sport’s most memorable moments.
From Notre Dame’s Debut to Iron Bowl Thrillers: The Iconic Football History of November 23: Football History Headlines
November 23, 1887 – The Notre Dame football program plays its very first game. It was a respectable showing for the first-timers, who lost to Michigan 8-0. It was a start for one of the most storied sports teams in history!
November 23, 1895 -Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Alabama and Auburn met for the fourth time in what became the Iron Bowl game. This edition was all Tigers as they blanked their rivals 48-0 in this early college football contest. (source)
November 23, 1946 – The traditional rivalry game between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 23, 1946, concluded with a hard-fought 7-7 tie. This result capped Penn State’s undefeated 6-0-2 season, setting the stage for its historic Rose Bowl appearance the following year. (Banner Image has cover)
November 23, 1947 – Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. – Slingin’ Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins takes advantage of the Chicago Cardinals’ secondary as he tosses 6 touchdown passes. Washington won the game 45-21.
November 23, 1963 – The Notre Dame versus Iowa game was cancelled due to the untimely death of President John F. Kennedy.
November 23, 1965 – New York City – The 31st Heisman Trophy Award was presented, and for this season the selection committee chose Mike Garrett, the running back from the USC Trojans, as the nation’s top college football player.
November 23, 1968 – The memorable meeting of Harvard and Yale that ended in a tie.
November 23, 1975 – McMahon Field, Calgary – The CFL Champions game was played for the possession of the coveted Grey Cup. It was appropriate that the Edmonton Eskimos were in the game, as the weather conditions at kickoff were -15 degrees Celsius with 25 miles per hour winds, per the CFL.ca website. Interesting note: despite the cold, a woman was seen streaking across the field without a stitch of clothing during the coin toss. That makes me shiver just thinking about it! Those poor conditions helped prevent either team from scoring a touchdown, making it the third time in Cup history that no TDs were scored. It was the Edmonton Eskimos who came out on top as they defeated the Montreal Alouettes, 9-8. One of the other interesting tidbits from this Grey Cup game was that it was the first time since 1945 that all the points were scored by Canadians and the first time the big game was played in Calgary.
November 23, 1980 – CNE Stadium, Toronto – The 1980 version of the CFL’s Grey Cup was played. The Edmonton Eskimos claimed their 3rd straight title, punishing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 48-10.
November 23, 1984 – The Boston College “Hail Mary” throw to upset Miami took place, pivoting BC QB Doug Flutie to the Heisman Trophy.
November 23, 1989 – Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas – After the Thanksgiving Day contest between the Dallas Cowboys and the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, Coach Jimmy Johnson accused the Eagles’ head man, Buddy Ryan, of issuing “bounties” on Cowboy players. I am not sure if he did or not, but the Philadelphia Eagles rolled their longtime foes on national television, 27-0.
November 23, 1991 – Brigham Young University quarterback Ty Detmer unleashed the Cougars’ offensive firepower, leading his team to a 48-17 blowout victory over the Utah Utes, per the cougarstats.com website. Detmer’s 378 yards passing and 5 TDs helped the signal caller complete a fantastic college career. Detmer finished his NCAA career with 15,031 yards and a record 4,031 yards passed in a season. (source)
November 23, 1996 – Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama – The 61st edition of the Iron Bowl was a thriller! The Crimson Tide would score a fourth-quarter go-ahead touchdown to hang on as Alabama beat Auburn 24-23. Long-time Tide Coach Gene Stallings announced after the game that he would be stepping down at the conclusion of the season.
November 23, 2002 – Tuscaloosa, Alabama – In this 67th segment of the Iron Bowl, it was a freshman reserve running back, Tre Smith, who stepped off the bench for the Tigers and put up 126 yards on the ground to help the Auburn Tigers cause against number 9 in the nation, Alabama. ESPN.com reports that the Tigers also used two scoring strikes from Jason Campbell to Robert Johnson to help Auburn upset Alabama 17-7. (source)
November 23, 2007 – The excellent Triple Overtime thriller as Arkansas and LSU battled, with Tigers star back Darren McFadden leading the way with three scores.
November 23, 2008 – Olympic Stadium, Montreal – The second-highest attendance at a Grey Cup game in CFL history took place as 66,308 put their butts in the stands. According to the greycup.com website, the Calgary Stampeders reigned as Champs, beating the Montreal Alouettes 22-14. Calgary QB Henry Burris was named the game’s Grey Cup Most Valuable Player as he threw for 328 yards and one touchdown, leading the game’s rushing with 79 yards. Stampeders kicker Sandro DeAngelis won the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian award as he kicked five field goals.
November 23 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Ken Kavanaugh
- Dick Kazmaier
- Alex Kroll
Conclusion
From the inaugural snap of one of the nation’s most storied programs (Notre Dame) to the frigid Canadian spectacle of the Grey Cup, November 23rd consistently delivers high drama and historical significance. Whether it was Slingin’ Sammy Baugh tossing touchdowns in Washington, the Ty Detmer-led Cougars dominating their rivals, or the controversial “bounty” accusations levied after a Cowboys-Eagles clash, this day is a testament to the sport’s enduring power. The contributions of College Football Hall of Famers Dick Kazmaier and Ken Kavanaugh, both born on this day, ensure that November 23rd will forever be remembered as a crucial date for celebrating both gridiron excellence and service.