- J. D. Roberts
The Amazing Gridiron History of October 24! 🏈
Ready for a dive into a date defined by NFL record books and unthinkable statistics? October 24 is one of the most statistically significant days in American football history! We’re celebrating the day by exploring the massive records and milestones that make October 24 a goldmine for gridiron geeks!
Rockne’s Shadow: Notre Dame Edges Pitt in 1931 Showdown
The college football landscape in 1931 was in transition after the tragic death of coaching legend Knute Rockne. Yet, the rivalry between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Pittsburgh Panthers (Pitt) remained one of the sport’s most compelling matchups. On October 24, 1931, the two powerhouse programs clashed at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, in a crucial early-season contest.
Bishop? illustrated the cover, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
The Contest
In front of a massive crowd estimated at nearly 42,000 fans, the Irish, now guided by coaches Hunk Anderson and Jess Harper, secured a hard-fought victory over Jock Sutherland’s formidable Pitt squad with a final score of 25-12.
Notre Dame’s star halfback, Marchmont “Marchy” Schwartz, drove the outcome with exceptional play. Schwartz, a unanimous All-American, was the offensive catalyst, proving too elusive for the Panthers’ defense. Contemporary accounts highlight two crucial passes to teammates Melinkovich and Jaskwhich that helped secure the Irish lead and effectively sealed the victory before halftime.
Season Significance
The win was vital for Notre Dame, affirming the program’s strength even in the post-Rockne era. While the Irish ultimately finished the season with a respectable 6-2-1 record, the victory over their long-time rivals was a major highlight. Despite the loss, Pitt proved their quality throughout the year, finishing 8-1, with their only blemish being the defeat to Notre Dame. The 1931 meeting remains a prime example of the intense, low-scoring football that defined the era.
October 24 American Football History Timeline
- October 24, 1970 – Wake Forest edged preseason ACC favorite North Carolina 14-13 at Groves Stadium to improve to 4-3 on the season. Wake trailed 13-0 entering the fourth quarter before Larry Russell scored on a quarterback sneak to cut the deficit to 13-7. The Deacons won by marching 94 yards in the closing minutes, with Larry Hopkins scoring on a 3-yard run with just 12 seconds left to tie the game. Tracy Lounsbury added the extra point for the win.
- October 24, 1981 – Chapel Hill, NC – In this “Battle of the Carolinas” edition, the No. 3 team in the nation, 6-0 North Carolina Tarheels, hosted the unranked South Carolina Gamecocks, whose record stood at 4-3. The Gamecocks were a year removed from Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers and in flux, having lost their identity when their great runner had moved on. The Tarheels, meanwhile, were riding high on a stingy defense that, so far into the season, gave up just 14 points per game. The Gamecocks jumped out early, took the opening kickoff, and drove into the end zone in three minutes for a 7-0 lead. They then forced multiple turnovers and extended their lead, but the North Carolina squad fought back just before halftime with a backup quarterback to keep it a one-score game at 14-7. The Gamecocks dominated the second half, and the University of South Carolina upset the 3rd-ranked University of North Carolina, 31-13.
- October 24, 1991, Music industry Executive Larry Ryckman purchased the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders franchise was struggling financially, and Ryckman’s guidance was just what the Doctor ordered. The new owner made a string of positive decisions that turned the team’s finances around, including signing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He also launched a successful marketing campaign that won over fans and put the team on a winning streak, including 5 Grey Cup appearances and a 1992 championship.
- October 24, 2009 – South Bend, Indiana – The 19th annual College Football Holy War saw Notre Dame defeating Boston College 20-16. Surprisingly, it was Notre Dame’s first win in the series in nine seasons!
October 24 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Y.A. Tittle [1926] – An iconic, gritty signal-caller inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, Tittle starred for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants across a 17-year career. The 1963 NFL MVP and seven-time Pro Bowler retired as the league’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns, famously co-developing the “alley-oop” pass and personifying the era’s relentless toughness.
- Johnny Lattner [1932] – A versatile halfback and defensive back for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Lattner captured the 1953 Heisman Trophy along with two Maxwell Awards (1952, 1953). A first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1954, he earned a Pro Bowl selection in his lone NFL campaign before military service and injury cut his playing career short; he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
- J.D. Roberts [1932] – A ferocious two-way guard under legendary coach Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, Roberts won the 1953 Outland Trophy as the nation’s premier lineman and helped kick off the Sooners’ historic 47-game winning streak. Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993, he later served as head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1970 to 1972, drafting and mentoring rookie quarterback Archie Manning.
- Jay Novacek [1962] – A consensus All-American at Wyoming who later entered the College Football Hall of Fame, Novacek became a vital weapon in the NFL as Troy Aikman’s favorite third-down security blanket. A five-time Pro Bowler and 1992 First-Team All-Pro, his dependable hands and savvy route-running helped propel the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) in the 1990s.
