Football History

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Sports Illustrated had a nice write-up on Mac Speedie a few years back that we thought sheds some good light on the player that Speedie was.

More than just statistics, Speedie's story resonates with his resilience and pioneering spirit. He defied expectations, proving that size and past challenges could not hold him back. In a league dominated by hulking running backs and bruising linemen, Speedie carved his niche as a smaller, faster player who excelled with his skill and intelligence.

Despite his achievements, Speedie's name doesn't hold the same recognition as other icons of the era. Perhaps it's the fleeting nature of the AAFC, or the shadow cast by his more glamorous teammates. But for those who remember his dazzling plays and relentless spirit, Mac Speedie remains a reminder that greatness can often be found in the most unexpected corners of the gridiron.

So, the next time you watch a wide receiver weave through defenders or snag a seemingly impossible pass, remember Mac Speedie. Remember the "Flea" who defied the odds and danced across the field, leaving behind a legacy of brilliance that deserves to be retold.

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Stewart Ferguson was a college football coach who did things in a style quite differently than most any coach in any sports you have ever known about. Author Peter Oltchick picked up where his dearly departed Father-In-Law, Journalist Bill Bell left off to complete a book on the famed Coach Fergie. From special coaching contracts to barnstorming antics of the gridiron, the adventures of Stewart Ferguson are a refreshing story of a unique coach.

Born November 20, 1944, in Indianapolis, Indiana, was Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Point Guard Louie Dampier. This legend was a four-time ABA All-Time team member and a seven -time NBA All-Star. Dampier won Rookie of the Year honors as well as an ABA Championship, playing all nine seasons of the ABA's existence with the same team. Louie was on the rosters of the Kentucky Colonels and the San Antonio Spurs.

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Jim Youel wasn't just a talented athlete; he was a Hawkeye legend, weaving his story into the very fabric of Iowa football history. From punting prowess to coaching glory, his name echoes through the halls of Kinnick Stadium, an enduring testament to grit, talent, and unwavering Hawkeye spirit.

Born in Vinton, Iowa, Youel's athleticism blossomed early. He starred in football, basketball, and track, before choosing the gridiron as his battlefield. As a quarterback and punter for the Hawkeyes in the 1940s, his name became synonymous with precision and power. His booming punts often pinned opponents deep, earning him the nickname "Iron Jim" for his unyielding leg and unbreakable spirit.

Youel's impact on the field went beyond punting. He played a pivotal role in defeating the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers in 1942, showcasing his leadership and knack for winning plays. His legacy reached beyond Iowa City, leading him to a brief stint with the Washington Redskins before returning home to teach and coach.

As a coach, Youel's legacy cemented. He led Fort Madison High School to two undefeated seasons and instilled the Hawkeye spirit in countless young athletes. His passion for the game was infectious, evident in his dedication to developing not just athletic prowess, but also character and integrity.

Though his life ended in 2020, Jim Youel's legacy lives on. His name graces Fort Madison's football field, reminding future generations of his achievements. He remains a cornerstone of Hawkeye lore, his story whispered in the stands and his spirit embodied in every Hawkeyes defender who lays it all on the line.

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The Hockey Writers website shares a few of the gems of the day for May 26 such as:

1986 - Mario Lemieux won the Lester Pearson Award.

1992 - Mario Lemieux lights the lamp with just 13 seconds remaining for the Penguins to secure a 5-4 win over Chicago, and end their 11 game playoff win streak.
These stories and more await.

Born April 24, 1918, was a legendary football player and executive Fred Gehrke. Fred was on the Cleveland Rams team that won the NFL Championship in 1945. Fred Gehrke went to college and suited up for the Utah Utes and also went on and played in the NFL for the Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Cardinals from 1940 through 1950.

Fred started a trend that we can appreciate today.To boost team morale, Gehrke designed and painted the Los Angeles Rams logo in 1948, which was the first painted on the helmets of an NFL team.

-Frequently Asked Question

-Who was the first to paint a logo on a helmet? The answer in the pro game is Fred Gehrke of the Rams in 1948, check out more about it in the story: First Helmet Logo.

Here is a video from our friends at the Football Video Archive that pits the Denver Broncos at the Phoenix Cardinals on December 16th, 1989.

Spoiler

The Denver Broncos trounced the Phoenix Cardinals 37-0 on December 16, 1989, in a one-sided Week 15 matchup. It was a dominant performance for the Broncos, who racked up 475 total yards compared to the Cardinals' measly 101.

Denver's offense put on a clinic, scoring touchdowns through the air and on the ground. John Elway completed 20 of 28 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, while Bobby Humphrey rushed for 109 yards and another score. The Cardinals' defense struggled to contain the Broncos' attack, allowing Denver to march down the field at will.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals' offense sputtered throughout the game. They couldn't seem to move the ball against the Broncos' defense, only managing seven first downs and failing to reach the red zone all game. QB Jim McMahon completed just 14 of 25 passes for 79 yards and two interceptions.

Ultimately, the game was a mismatch, with the Broncos showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive dominance. It solidified Denver's playoff contention while burying the Cardinals' hopes of a winning season.

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Forget your flashy modern heroes, their carefully curated Instagram feeds and meticulously crafted personas. Today, we dip into a different era, a time when swagger was earned in blood and mud, and legends weren't manufactured, they were forged in the furnace of gridiron battle. Step back with us into the golden age of football, where a name reverberated through the coliseums of concrete and steel: Chic Harley.

Chic wasn't a nickname; it was an essence. He oozed confidence, a swagger born not from entitlement, but from years of back-breaking practice and an unyielding fire in his belly. He wasn't just a quarterback; he was a gunslinger, a magician with a slingshot, an artist sculpting touchdowns from pure grit and audacity.

Imagine, if you will, a time before million-dollar contracts and helmet commercials. A time when giants roamed the sidelines, men like Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas, and Chic Harley held his own amongst them. He wasn't the biggest, the fastest, but he possessed something more potent: an unshakeable belief in himself and a burning, insatiable desire to conquer every field he set foot on.

His story is woven from the fabric of American football folklore. From leading his high school team to an undefeated season to engineering comeback victories that defied logic, Chic etched his name on the trophy of every opponent he vanquished. He wasn't afraid to take risks, to dance on the edge of disaster, and more often than not, emerge victorious, a grin splitting his face and a defiant fire in his eyes.

But Chic wasn't just about stats and trophies. He was a showman, a performer who treated the gridiron like his personal stage. He'd juke defenders into oblivion, launch lasers of passes that defied physics, and celebrate with a flourish that left fans breathless. He was the embodiment of the game's raw joy, the infectious spirit that made people fall in love with football.

So, buckle up, folks, because we're about to take a deep dive into the legend of Chic Harley.

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It wasn't just a toss, it was a revolution. On September 5, 1906, amidst the mud and roar of St. Louis's World's Fair, Bradbury Robinson hurled a leather-bound rebellion. That seemingly simple act – the first legal forward pass in American football history – wasn't just a technicality; it was a seismic shift, a crack in the dam of a ground-bound game.

Before the pass, football was a battlefield of trenches and brute force. Running attacks dominated, often leaving players mangled and crowds bored. But Robinson, quarterback for Saint Louis University, saw a future painted in the sky. He saw the potential for aerial ballet, for strategy soaring beyond the scrum.

His first attempt, sailing incomplete, was a whisper amidst the rumble, but it carried the weight of change. His second, a 20-yard touchdown to Jack Schneider, echoed across the gridiron like a sonic boom. It was a turning point, a declaration that the air itself could be conquered, that touchdowns could be painted on the canvas of the sky.

The pass faced resistance. Purists cried sacrilege, clinging to the game's ground-bound traditions. But the genie was out of the bottle. The forward pass spread like wildfire, transforming the game into a three-dimensional chess match. Quarterbacks became generals, receivers their agile pawns, and the vertical threat altered defensive landscapes forever.

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Born January 12, 1920, in Odell, Illinois, was the great end from Utah, Mac Speedie. The Pro Football Hall of Fame says that Mac Speedie was the Detroit Lions' 15th-round pick in the 1942 NFL Draft, but he enlisted in the Army to serve his country rather than play pro ball, at least at first.

After the War, he signed on with the AAFC’s Cleveland Browns and led the League in receiving 3 out of the League's League four years, also setting AAFC records. He was an All-Pro three times, All-NFL twice, and All-AAFC in four seasons. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Mac Speedie 100 years after his birth in 2020.

More than just statistics, Speedie's story resonates with his resilience and pioneering spirit. He defied expectations, proving that size and past challenges could not hold him back. In a league dominated by hulking running backs and bruising linemen, Speedie carved his niche as a smaller, faster player who excelled with his skill and intelligence.