Football History

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Darin Hayes and Timothy Brown engage in a compelling dialogue that centers around the untold story of a proposed giant stadium in Houston, Texas, envisioned by the eccentric Glenn McCarthy in the late 1940s. As they explore McCarthy's dream of a 100,000-seat stadium featuring a retractable roof, the episode provides a rich historical context of American football during a time when cities were vying for NFL franchises. The discussion highlights the challenges Houston faced due to inadequate facilities and how McCarthy's audacious plans aimed to fill this gap, showcasing his commitment to community and the sport.

Of course, this discussion all stems from Tim's original article titled: Glenn McCarthy And Houston's Giant Stadium .

We also have an audio podcast version of the conversation found here: Timothy Brown Reveals the Legend of Glenn McCarthy's Stadium Dream

Brown elaborates on McCarthy's life, revealing the intriguing connections between his experiences and the cultural landscape of Texas. With anecdotes about his flamboyant personality, his rise and fall in the oil business, and his eventual inspiration for the character Jet Rink in the film 'Giant', the episode portrays McCarthy not just as a businessman but as a larger-than-life character who sought to leave a lasting mark on the city. The conversation also reflects on the broader implications of stadiums in shaping the identity of communities and their sports culture, emphasizing how these structures are often emblematic of local pride and ambition.

Takeaways:

-The podcast discusses the historical significance of a large stadium project in Houston.

-Glenn McCarthy aimed to create a 100,000 seat retractable roof stadium in Houston.

-The character Jet Rink from the movie Giant is based on Glenn McCarthy's life.

-The Shamrock Bowl in 1949 was a major event hosted by Glenn McCarthy in Houston.

-College stadiums often built for large crowds during special games, unlike modern NFL venues.

-Timothy Brown highlights the dynamic history of football stadiums and their evolution over time.

Ultimately, this episode serves as a reminder of the dreams that once fueled the quest for football greatness in cities like Houston, even if those dreams did not come to fruition. Through Brown's historical insights and Hays's engaging hosting, listeners gain a newfound appreciation for the complex narratives that weave together the fabric of American football history.

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Timothy Brown joins Darin Hayes to spotlight the significant yet often overlooked contributions of Henry Mitchell McCracken to the safety and evolution of American football. McCracken, who became NYU's chancellor in the late 19th century, played a pivotal role in advocating for safer rules in the sport during a time when football was facing scrutiny for its dangers.

Of course, this discussion all stems from Tim's original article titled: Stadium Size, Football Droppers, and Deemphasizers: NYU .

The audio-only podcast of the discussion can be found at: Henry McCracken Contributions.

Following the tragic death of a player during a game, the NYU Chancellor galvanized university leaders to convene and develop new regulations, ultimately leading to the formation of what is now the NCAA. The discussion delves into McCracken's legacy, including his influence on the establishment of halls of fame in the United States and his efforts to reform the game. Join us as we explore these fascinating historical insights and uncover the impact of McCracken's work on modern college football.

The conversation unfolds as Darin Hayes and Timothy Brown recount the historical landscape of football in the early 1900s, shedding light on the challenges and dangers the sport posed to its players. Timothy elaborates on the culture of college athletics at that time, where university presidents and chancellors, like McCracken, wielded significant influence over the direction of sports programs. The episode paints a vivid picture of the educational values intertwined with athletics, as faculty members played a crucial role in governance, leading to a system that prioritized student safety amidst the chaotic nature of early football games. The narrative details how McCracken's response to a fatal accident during a game exemplified the urgent need for reform in college football, ultimately resulting in a collaborative effort from various universities to establish safer playing conditions. This historical reflection not only honors McCracken's contributions but also invites listeners to consider the ongoing evolution of sports governance and safety in today's athletic landscape, drawing parallels between past and present.

Takeaways

-The podcast discusses the contributions of Henry Mitchell McCracken to football safety and history.

-Timothy Brown highlights McCracken's role in establishing the first Hall of Fame in America.

-McCracken's advocacy led to significant changes in football rules after a player was killed.

-The episode emphasizes how college sports governance was once more influenced by university presidents.

-The origins of the NCAA can be traced back to McCracken's initiatives in the early 1900s.

-Listeners learn about the historical context of college football's evolution and its challenges.

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The podcast episode presents a compelling dialogue between Darin Hays and Timothy P. Brown, who dives into the historical complexities of college football programs that have experienced declines or outright cancellations. Brown, known for his expertise on football history through his work at FootballArchaeology.com, provides a thoughtful analysis of the interplay between football programs and their respective stadiums, particularly focusing on Catholic universities. As Hays sets the stage, he emphasizes the importance of remembering these programs and their legacies, inviting listeners to reflect on the broader implications of their histories.

Of course, this discussion all stems from Tim's original article titled: Stadium Size, Football Dropper - Catholic Univ.

The audio-only podcast of the discussion can be found at: Decline of Catholic U.

In a detailed exploration, Brown shares intriguing anecdotes about various schools, including Catholic University, which once had a vibrant football culture. The conversation highlights the significance of stadium size and capacity as indicators of a program's success or failure. Brown recounts how many schools, during the 1920s, sought to emulate the success of Notre Dame by investing in football, leading to the construction of sizable stadiums. However, as the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that these investments did not guarantee long-term sustainability. Brown attributes the decline of many programs to a combination of factors, including financial constraints, demographic shifts, and resource limitations faced by urban universities. He reflects on how the events of World War II drastically impacted college athletics, leading institutions to reassess their commitment to football amidst manpower shortages and budgetary pressures.

The dialogue also addresses the contemporary landscape of college football, where the challenges of urban institutions persist. Brown discusses how land constraints and high operational costs continue to hinder football programs at schools located in densely populated areas. Despite these challenges, he offers a glimpse of hope as he points to a growing trend of D3 schools reinstating football programs as a strategic initiative to attract students. This episode ultimately serves as a rich narrative that intertwines historical insights with current realities, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of college football and its cultural significance.

Takeaways:

-The episode discusses the history of college football programs that have dropped or de-emphasized their football teams, focusing on the reasons behind these decisions.

-Timothy P. Brown explores the significant impact of stadium size on football programs and their sustainability over time.

-The podcast highlights the shift in Catholic universities' investment in football due to the influence of Notre Dame's success in the 1920s.

-Budget constraints and manpower shortages are key factors leading to the cancellation of football programs in various universities.

-The discussion includes how urban universities face unique challenges, such as land constraints, making it difficult to maintain football programs.

-Catholic University, which dropped its football program during WWII, later revived it in 1977, showcasing the evolving landscape of college sports.

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The ability to change direction on a dime, explode past defenders, and leave them grasping at air – these are the hallmarks of a truly agile football player. But how did these skills develop throughout the game's history? And how can modern players hone their footwork for peak performance?

No time for a video? Check out the Agility Drill Podcast version

Join us as we delve into the world of football agility drills with renowned football historian Timothy Brown. Mr. Brown's deep knowledge of the game's past sheds light on how training methods have evolved, offering valuable insights for players and coaches alike. In this exclusive interview, he'll be sharing:

-Historical Drills: Explore the agility drills used by legendary players of the past, and see how they've shaped modern training techniques.

-Drill Evolution: Learn how agility drills have adapted to the ever-changing demands of the modern game.

So, lace up your cleats and prepare to elevate your game. With Mr. Brown's expert guidance, you'll be well on your way to developing the lightning-fast footwork that separates the good from the great on the gridiron.

-Timothy Brown Box Aglity Drills

I've got an image that shows one of the early agility drills. And what this is, this shows, it was a 1921 Kansas State team. And, you know, they're, they're working out and they're trying to become more agile.

So nowadays, there's, you know, we have all these agility drills, and people run through ropes, or they, you know, but for a long time, people ran through tires, or in this case, they ran through wooden boxes. And, you know, it's same kind of thing as we asked players to do today, you're running through an obstacle course, sometimes they have these boxes, you know, pushed off to the right and left. And they got to do, you know, run with high knees, and they're double stepping or whatever, you know, whatever the coach told them that they needed to do.

So it was a way, not so much. Well, certainly it helped from a conditioning standpoint, but a lot of it was just trying to build agility. And, and, you know, kind of looseness of the step and the ability to cut and change direction.

But at the time, the best that they could come up with was either old car tires, or wooden boxes like this. And you know, you have to look at this and say, how many guys tripped on these things, and scuffed up their shins or broke a leg or whatever. And so, you know, it turned out that there was a guy named Joe, I believe it's pronounced Paupa.

He had coached the Chicago's Navy Peer Team during World War One. But he and he was a guy who in the 40s, who invited who invented what he called the runner training apparatus. But those are the ropes that we all know and love and that we probably ran through, you know, high-stepping at some point in our career, even if we were linemen.

So that he was the guy who invented the ropes. But you know, you think there's a lot of training devices and steps that people do nowadays. But they originated with obstacles like these boxes or tires, and then ultimately ropes.

And now there are ladders and, you know, different devices, all trying to get people to become more agile, lift their feet, and do other things.

Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai.

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Have you ever wondered how and why a football looks the way it does? What about the grainy texture, the color or the stripes? Our friend Author Timothy Brown has the answers.

Discover the secrets behind the ball's shape, size, and materials, and learn how technological advancements have transformed the game. Brown offers a unique perspective on the football's cultural significance and its impact on society throughout history.

Join us as Tim discusses his latest groundbreaking work, The History of the Football. In this captivating conversation.

We also have a podcast audio version of the discussion found at:
The History of the Football with Timothy Brown or you can find it on your favorite podcast provider in the Pigskin Dispatch Podcast.

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Hold onto your helmets, football fans! In a groundbreaking episode, Timothy P. Brown, the mastermind behind FootballArchaeology.com, joins host Darin Hayes to unveil a hidden chapter in American football history. Buckle up as Brown exposes the story of Anthony Harris, the first known Black college football coach at a non-HBCU institution, leading Colby College in 1903 and 1904 – years before the previously credited Matthew Bullock. This revelation throws a fascinating wrench into the established timeline and shines a long-overdue light on Harris's pioneering role in the sport.

However, the episode doesn't shy away from the challenges of unearthing African American contributions. The lack of coverage in mainstream media during this era makes uncovering these stories an uphill battle. But together, Darin and Tim celebrate the importance of recognizing these overlooked figures and ensuring their legacy is preserved for future generations.

This episode promises to be a captivating journey, rewriting narratives and reminding us that football history is richer and more diverse than previously thought.

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Listeners are transported back to the winter of 1918 as the podcast recounts the dramatic backdrop of the Rose Bowl featuring military teams.

Host Darin Hayes welcomes Timothy P. Brown, who reveals the intriguing details of how the game came to be played with teams composed of military personnel rather than the collegiate athletes typically associated with the event.

Of course, this discussion all stems from Tim's original article titled: December 29, 1917: 1918 Rose Bowl Coaches .

The audio only podcast of the discussion can be found at: 1918 Rose Bowl Coaches.

The episode delves into the unique circumstances surrounding the Rose Bowl, such as the decision-making process that led to the inclusion of the Mare Island Marines and Camp Lewis, both of which were military training camps. Timothy emphasizes the significance of this game, not only as a sporting event but as a cultural touchpoint for a nation undergoing the trials of war. The coaches emerge as pivotal figures in the narrative, with Timothy elaborating on their diverse coaching philosophies and the camaraderie they fostered among their players. By examining these relationships, the podcast paints a vivid picture of teamwork in the face of adversity, offering listeners a deeper appreciation for the role of sports in shaping American identity during tumultuous times.

Takeaways

-The 1918 Rose Bowl featured military teams instead of college teams due to World War I.

-Timothy P. Brown detailed the historical context of the teams and their coaches.

-The coaches of the teams included notable figures like Hugo Bezdek and Red Stanton.

-Mare Island Marines and Camp Lewis had contrasting playing styles during the game.

-Bezdek was one of the first showman coaches, famous for his charisma and innovation.

-The game ended with Mare Island winning 13 to 0 in a competitive match.

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The Pigskin Daily History Dispatch offers an enlightening episode featuring Darin Hayes and Timothy P. Brown, who delve into the lesser-known yet fascinating aspects of football history through Timothy's 'Factoid Feast' series. This segment highlights the joy of uncovering small but significant stories that enrich the broader narrative of the sport. Timothy discusses his passion for collecting football postcards, particularly one remarkable postcard from a World War II Army Air Force field, which serves as a window into the past when servicemen not only trained for combat but also formed football teams to foster spirit and camaraderie.

Of course, this discussion all stems from Tim's original article titled: Factoid Feast VII .

The audio-only podcast of the discussion can be found at: Single Wing Image Has Something Missing.

The episode takes a closer look at the visual elements of the postcard, including its combination of imagery and play diagrams that offer a humorous glimpse into the creative methods used for football promotion during the era. Timothy points out the amusing misrepresentation of player positions in the play diagram, which prompts a lively discussion about the evolution of football tactics and the sometimes humorous interpretations of the game by those not fully versed in its complexities. The hosts share laughs over their personal experiences with football gear, especially the resourcefulness shown by players who relied on makeshift solutions, such as duct tape, to secure their equipment.

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Get ready to dive into the history of football conditioning! In tomorrow's Tidbit, we’ll explore a 1923 publication on the subject. But today, let's go back to 1913.

Pop Warner's Carlisle Indian team was facing a tough matchup against Dartmouth. Despite being the underdogs, Warner decided to switch up his practice routine. Instead of grueling drills, he had his players play leapfrog! This unconventional approach paid off as Carlisle dominated Dartmouth 35-10, proving that sometimes, a little fun can lead to big wins.

Of course, this discussion all stems from Tim's original article titled: Factoid Feast VII .

The audio-only podcast of the discussion can be found at: Carlisle Leapfrogs Dartmouth.

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Timothy Brown of Football Archaeology found some images of two-tone colored football jersey numbers and dug up some history on these unique features from the past.

Tim takes us back to Cal Tech and their innovation of split and two-tone colored jersey numbers with his original Tidbit titled: Two-Tone and Split Jersey Numbers.

-Transcribed Two-Tone CalTech Jerseys with Timothy Brown

Hello, my football friends. This is Darin Hayes of PigskinDispatch.com. Welcome once again to The Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history. And welcome to Tuesday, FootballArcheology.com day. Timothy P. Brown, the founder and head writer of that site. Tim, welcome back to The Pig Pen.

Hey, Darin. Good to see you again on a beautiful summer evening. Looking forward to talking a little bit of old football. Yeah, we are getting to the point where football is.

You know, there's pads being clacked around the country and balls being thrown. And we're going to be seeing a lot of that real soon. Well, of course, we can still watch our friends north of the border who have been playing, but it is getting exciting.

Yeah. I mean, well, I was going to say before you added the CFL, our CFL friends, I've been I don't I haven't been really watching when it's on CFL Plus, but when it's on the CBS thing, you know, I take those and watch those games. So it's fun.

It was some great, great football. It definitely is a lot of offense. They really gear it towards scoring some points.

So that's what makes it attractive. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

So we're going to talk tonight about one of your tidbits that you had back in June, you know, just a little over a month ago and talking about some jerseys, which is a favorite topic. I love talking about those and something in particular unique about the numbers, and I'll let you take it from there. Yeah.

So this is. Sometimes, I can't even recreate how I found some of these stories, but I think what happened was I I was looking, somehow I'd come across the story about Caltech. So California technology.

And right there, you know, it's going to be something wacky when that school name and football come together. There's something going to be. Yeah.

Well, they don't play football anymore, at least at the varsity level. But they did for a long time. You know, they had success in the California small college circuit, you know, the Occidentals and the Whittiers and, you know, those kinds of schools.

And. But, you know, they sit in the school in Pasadena. And so, you know, one of the cool things about them is that there's a picture of one of their home games in the Rose Bowl, in 1933 or something.

But, you know, they played their games in Tournament Park before the Rose Bowl stadium was built and then in the Rose Bowl because they're literally right next door. And so anyways, you know, they did attract a couple of thousand fans to see a game under the lights and in the Rose Bowl. So, you know, kind of fun stuff.

I'm sure it had to be a big treat for any of the opposing teams to get a chance to play there. But so somehow, I came across them. I actually wrote two stories in a row about Caltech because the previous tidbit was about the face shields that they wore in the 1940s and 41st centuries.

And but they ended up, you know, they were basically shields to allow guys who wore glasses to play football. And this is before face masks, you know, were common. And so somehow, in searching through their yearbooks, I came across a couple of pictures where it's like, what is going on with those jerseys? And so what they had was, you know, for want of a better term, two two-toned numerals on the jerseys.

So they they only had numbers on the backs. They didn't have them on the front. But that they had, you know, a wide, a dark, wide stripe that ran through the sleeves and then the body and maybe, you know, just above the belly button, but not all the way up at the chest.

And so it's probably a six-inch wide, seven-inch wide stripe. And because that thing was there when they put the numbers on, you know, they couldn't have like a dark number. Because it would have overlapped with the dark stripe.

And then, on the rest of the jersey, where it's white, they couldn't have a white number. So what they did was they had a two-tone number. So on the dark where, you know, where it went over the dark stripe, it was a white number.

But then, above the stripe, it was dark. Yeah. So let me let me cut in here real quick here, folks.

If you want to, Tim will explain this. You can see a great example of it. We have the link in the show notes to take you right to Tim's football archaeology dot com site.

He's got some great images of what he's talking about there. So you can appreciate that. So I'm sorry.

Go ahead, Tim. Yeah. So, yeah, I should I should have mentioned that myself.

But so the thing is, you know, I mean, like, I literally track every college yearbook that I look at, you know, just to make sure I have covered this turf before or not. And, you know, I probably need to go through a bunch of them just because I'll see new things. But I've looked at, like, now, I'm just under thirty-four hundred old college yearbooks that I've paged through to look at the, you know, the football section.

And I've never come across these two-toned numbers before, or at least I haven't noticed them. Anyway, I think they're unique. You know, I've seen like Penn used to have, or Penn probably still does.

And Harvard, both schools, I've seen like the P or the H logo where. There'd be a diagonal, you know, split, you know, from lower to lower to upper. And so one would be maroon, and the other would be white, and one would be blue and the other white.

So, you know, so if you can imagine that, if you've seen that logo, then that's basically what it looked like, except as a horizontal split, you know, upper and lower of the dark and the white. But anyway, it's just one of those weird things that thankfully never caught on. And as much as, you know, nowadays it used to be, you could only have Arabic letters, and then there were certain constraints; you could only use these typefaces.

Nowadays, there's so much. You know, basically unreadable. And I think I think they still there's just a greater number of fonts.

I think they can use what they've got. So we're going to have, you know, a certain size block number to be legal. I think even NCAA, because otherwise somebody like Oregon would be pushing the limits probably beyond what Caltech did in this case.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you have to.

Yeah, it's just, you know, I've seen too many like white on gray uniforms, you know, white numbers on gray uniforms. The fonts are all the things that they look like. They're from NASCAR.

They're just big, ugly. And so anyway. And don't get me started on colored fields because that's another story.

Yeah. Yeah, I know there's one blue one in particular. I don't even know if I can watch the games.

It drives me crazy. But great football there, but not the great field. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. So, anyway, this is just one of those things that is kind of bizarre.

I mean, I've never seen it. You know, it obviously didn't take off, and it didn't become popular, but, you know, maybe somebody else had one. If they do, reach out and let us know. Well, that's why we count on you for the bizarre football items.

And you definitely deliver those. And this is one of them. So we love it.

I mean, I think it's a great it's great conversational pieces. And you learn a lot about what people were trying to experiment with and innovate or try to gain an advantage over the other team or whatever. Personal style choice.

I don't know what you'd call this, but it's cool stuff. It's really interesting. So we appreciate that.

I mean, I've used it a couple of times, but it's the, you know, innovation versus oddity. You know, it's if people adopt it and, you know, it takes off, then, oh, you were innovative. But if you did something that everybody thinks, especially looking back, you know, 50, 60 years later, you know, what in the heck were they thinking? But why do those people have stripes down the middle of their helmets? What are they crazy? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Those things. Yeah. I know.

Wow. You know, if you could share with us, you know, the listeners so we can enjoy your tidbits because you have items like this, you know, seven days a week and you have you have some beauties that are come on there like this and you'll get a good chuckle out of her. Just be entertained for, you know, a few minutes and talk about the people at the work around a water cooler next day or whatever.

But he's well; you're having a few cold ones. It's a great way to do it and get some football history every single day. So, Tim, could you share how the folks could join you in that?

They appreciate that. Sure. You know, the best way to do it is just to go to football archaeology dot com and subscribe.

You can do that for free. And then, you know, basically, you'll get an email from me every night at seven o'clock Eastern. I'm also on the substack platform on on Twitter and on threads.

So and all under the same name, football archaeology. Well, Tim Brown, thank you very much once again for talking to us about some great football history and your football archaeology dot com tidbits. And we will talk to you again next Tuesday.

Very good. Thank you very much. Have a good one.

Love the football jersey designs and evolution wait till you check out the History of American Football Jersey.

-Football Jersey Frequently Asked Questions

-What are American football jerseys made of? Modern jerseys are a mix of synthetic fibers such as polyester or a blend of different materials such asspandex, for more check out our in-depth study ofThe Make up and Materials of Football Jerseys.

-What are some of the unique football jerseys in history? Gridiron jerseys with logos on the front were some what of fad once upon a time. Check this story titled Football Jerseys with Emblems.

-Whose college football jersey was the first to be retired? Red Grange's Number 77 Ilinois Illini jersey was the first college uni to be shelved in 1925. There were a couple more about the same time and we chatted with a college football expert historian help divulge College Football and its First Retired Jerseys.

-When did football jerseys start having numbers on them? Though there was documented talk of it since 1894, players did not all wear digits in a game until the 1905 Iowa State at Drake game, check this out more on this storyThe Origins Of Football Player Numbers.

-Who are some of the most famous NFL players at each jersey number? From Red Grange's jersey number 77 to Tom Brady's iconic number 12, a slew of NFL players made their digits proud. Want to know more? You are in the right place as we covered all 100 jersey numbers and the best to wear each:About Football By Numbers.