Football History

Born February 26, 1914, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the stud center from 1933 through 1935 for the Ohio State Buckeyes Gomer Jones.

Gomer Jone's legacy at Ohio State University extends far beyond the gridiron, encompassing coaching triumphs and dedication to the sport that left an indelible mark.

From 1933 to 1935, Jones anchored the Buckeyes' offensive line as a center, leading them to a dominant 7-1 record each season. His leadership and talent earned him captaincy and All-America honors in his senior year. But Jones' impact wasn't limited to individual accolades. He was part of a winning culture, contributing to Ohio State's early gridiron success.

His passion for the game led him beyond the playing field. He transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant at Ohio State and John Carroll University before a 17-year stint as the line coach at the University of Oklahoma. During this time, he developed 16 All-American linemen, molding future stars and shaping the Sooners' defensive prowess.

Jones reached the pinnacle of coaching in 1964, becoming Oklahoma's head coach for two seasons. While his win-loss record might not reflect it, his leadership and dedication continued to inspire. He remained the athletic director at Oklahoma until his passing in 1971, leaving behind a legacy of service and commitment to the university.

Gomer Jones embodies the spirit of an Ohio State legend.

Born May 25, 2002 was the outstanding Miami Hurricane quarterback, Cameron Ward.

Cameron Ward's college career began at Incarnate Word, where he quickly established himself as a prolific passer. In two seasons (2020-2021), he threw for over 6,900 yards and 71 touchdowns, earning him national attention. He transferred to Washington State for his final two collegiate years (2022-2023). While facing tougher competition, Ward continued to shine, throwing for over 6,500 yards and 48 touchdowns. His strong performances led to him being named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award in 2023, an award given to the nation's best quarterback.  

Ward declared for the NFL draft after his final season. His legacy is that of a dynamic and productive quarterback who excelled at both the FCS and FBS levels. He showcased a strong arm, accuracy, and the ability to make plays both inside and outside the pocket. While he may not have won a national championship, his individual accomplishments and consistent performance solidified his place as one of the top quarterbacks in college football during his time.

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats:

Incarnate Word (2020-2021): Over 6,900 passing yards, 71 touchdowns.
Washington State (2022-2023): Over 6,500 passing yards, 48 touchdowns.
2023: Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist.

 

Sources and related content
Cam Ward - University of Miami Athletics

miamihurricanes.com

Cameron Ward Named to National Award Final Watch Lists

Mike Munchak carved his name in football history in two distinct chapters: a dominant playing career and a lengthy coaching tenure.

Playing Career:

Drafted by the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft, Munchak became the first offensive lineman drafted that year.

He played his entire 12-year career with the Oilers, quickly establishing himself as a left guard mauler.
Munchak earned numerous accolades, including nine Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, and selection to the 1980s All-Decade Team. He was known for his exceptional technique, strength, and durability.
He retired in 1993, tied for the second-most seasons played with the Houston Oilers franchise.

Coaching Career:

Munchak transitioned into coaching after his playing career, holding various assistant coaching positions with teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans.
In 2011, he became the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, leading the team for three seasons.
While his head coaching record was 22-26, he displayed a strong commitment to building a physical and disciplined team.

He left the Titans in 2014 and continued his coaching career with the Pittsburgh Steelers as their offensive line coach. Munch later moved to work in the same capacity with the Denver Broncos. During his time with the Steelers and the Broncos, the team boasted one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

Born February 3, 1940, in Richmond, Virginia, was Fran Tarkenton, the mobile quarterback from the University of Georgia. Fran led the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was an Academic All-American.

Tarkenton is best remembered at Georgia for the 1959 game with Auburn. Trailing 13-7 with time running out, Georgia had the ball, fourth down, on the 13-yard line. Tarkenton threw a touchdown pass, and Georgia won the game and clinched the conference title. The National Football Foundation selected Fran Tarkenton for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Tarkenton was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1961, and in his first game, he tossed four touchdown passes and used his legs for a fifth. In 1967, Fran left the Vikings and spent five seasons with the New York Giants until a surprising trade in 1972 led him back to Minnesota. According to ProfootballHOF.com, Fran rewarded the Vikings for trading for him in his final seven years with the Vikings as he led Minnesota to six NFC Central Division titles and three Super Bowl appearances. He was named first- or second-team All-NFL three times. In 18 seasons in the NFL, Fran played in 9 Pro Bowls, threw 47,003 yards passing, and 342 TDs while he ran for another 3674 yards.  In 1986 ceremonies, the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Fran Tarkenton in their Canton museum.

A real trendsetter was this quarterback, who could kill a defense with his scrambling ability as much as possible with his accurate arm.

Art Howe, born on March 3, 1915, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, was a versatile athlete who excelled in football, leaving a lasting impact on the sport, particularly at the collegiate level.

-College Career

-Art Howe's college football career reached its heights at Yale University.  

-He was a standout quarterback and a key player for Yale's football team in the early 1900s.  

-Notably, he was the sophomore quarterback on a 1909 Yale team with a perfect 10-0 record, showcasing his role in a dominant football team.  
That team outscored their opponents 209-0.  

-He also had notable plays in the 1910 and 1911 seasons.

-He made a major impact on the early formation of Yale Football.

-Football Legacy

-Art Howe's legacy is firmly established within the history of Yale University football, and the early years of the collage football game.  

-He was a pivotal player during a period of Yale's football dominance, contributing to the team's successes.  

-His placement into the College Football Hall Of Fame, cements his Legacy.

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats

-College Football Hall of Fame inductee (1973).

-His most impressive stat, is that of his 1909 season with Yale, and the teams astounding record.  

-His play in key Yale v Princeton games is also noteworthy.

Born on January 16, 1894, in Blue Springs, Nebraska was Guy Chamberlin, the sensational back and end of Nebraska Wesleyan and University of Nebraska. In 1911 and 1912 Chamberlin starred at Wesleyan, he then transferred to play with the Cornhuskers of Nebraska and in 1914 the team was 7-0-1 in 1914 with Chamberlin at halfback scoring on runs of 90, 85, 70 and 58 yards per the NFF.

After a transfer to end in 1915, he became an All-America selection and Nebraska went 8-0 on the season. The Cornhuskers had beaten Notre Dame 20-19. Knute Rockne, then a Notre Dame assistant coach, called Chamberlin "the key to Nebraska's victory." For his final college game, November 20, 1915, he moved back to halfback and scored five touchdowns in a 52-7 romp over Iowa.

Guy Chamberlin’s stats and bio went into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1962. After serving in World War I Guy played pro football for eight years. Bears legend, George Halas called him "the greatest two-way end in the history of the game." He was not only a good player but he was a great early coach in the NFL according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In his six coaching seasons, five of which were spent as a player-coach, Chamberlin also won four NFL championships for the Canton Bulldogs in 1922 and 1923, the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1926. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Guy Chamberlin in 1965.

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Much of what we are reminded of about the legendary running back Jim Brown was from his NFL playing days in Cleveland. Brown was an equally fantastic colleague in football at Syracuse University.

Brown, in 1956, had a season where his rushing yards per game read something like 197 yards, 162, 155, 154 & 151 yards! He ended up with 986 yards for the season, ranking him third in the nation and giving him the nod for unanimous All-America status for the Orangemen.

But that wasn’t it for “First Down Brown’s” accolades, though, as he also kicked for Syracuse. This is evident at the Colgate game in 1956 when Jim scored six touchdowns and kicked seven extra points. That was 43 points in a 61-7 Cuse victory. Jim Brown won on the ballot to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995, and the University retired the number 44. The Cleveland Browns wasted no time making Jim their first-round pick in the 1957 NFL Draft.

Born February 10, 1965, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was the cornerback with World Speed from Purdue Rod Woodson.

Per his bio on the FootballFoundation.org website Rod was the 1986 runner-up for the Jim Thorpe Award and left Purdue holding 13 individual school records. He left Purdue as the career leader in solo tackles, interceptions, interception return yardage, interceptions returned for touchdowns, kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage, and he still ranks in the top five in nearly every category. Rod Woodson was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes. Woodson was the tenth overall player taken in the 1987 NFL Draft picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

All he did was produce great stats for the majority of his career. In 1993 he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a six time All-Pro during his 17 year career. Rod picked off 71 career passes and held the NFL record for interception return yards at 1473 when he retired. Besides the Steelers , Woodson played with the 49ers, the Ravens and the Raiders. Rod Woodson was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. For more on this legend, check out these awesome posts below:

Bobby Layne, a legendary quarterback born in Santa Anna, Texas, in 1926, excelled at the University of Texas. While not known for his exceptional running or passing abilities, Layne's innovative play in the T-formation was truly remarkable. Despite missing part of the 1945 season due to his service in the Merchant Marine, he returned to lead the Longhorns to the Cotton Bowl, where his exceptional performance, including 11 completions in 12 attempts, contributed to a decisive victory over Missouri.

Layne's collegiate career was marked by numerous achievements, including All-America honors and the breaking of 11 school records. His success continued into the NFL, where he enjoyed a record-setting career with the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. A highlight of his time with Detroit was his clutch last-second pass that secured the 1953 NFL Championship. Throughout his 15-year NFL career, Layne was recognized for his exceptional play, earning two First-Team All-NFL selections, four Second-Team All-NFL selections, and the 1956 NFL scoring title.

Layne's impact on the game was undeniable. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, solidifying his place among the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Tom Shevlin, born on March 1, 1878, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a pioneering figure in the early days of American football. His contributions to the sport, both as a player and later as a coach, left a lasting impact on the game.

-College Career

The National Football Foundation’s biography of Shevlin tells us that he was a physical specimen, fast, and intimidated opposing players who would wear head and nose protection with taunts and vicious hits. During Shevlin's four varsity campaigns, the Elis scored an impressive 42-2-1 record. Tom captained the 1905 Blue and White squad that finished with a perfect 10 game record in a season when Yale out-scored the competition, 227-4. The Princeton Tigers were the only team to get a sniff on the scoreboard against Yale that season, as they finished as co-National Champions with the University of Chicago Maroons. The NFF voters selected Tom Shevlin for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

-Shevlin's football prowess blossomed at Yale University, where he was a standout end from 1896 to 1899.

-He was a key member of Yale's dominant teams of that era, known for their innovative strategies and physical play.

-His speed, agility, and exceptional catching ability made him a formidable offensive weapon.

-He was also known for his tough defensive play.

After his playing days, he became a very respected football coach.

-Football Legacy

-Tom Shevlin's legacy is rooted in his contributions to developing early football strategy and his exceptional play at Yale.

-He was considered one of the top players of his time, helping to solidify the importance of the end position in the evolving game.

-His coaching helped to spread his knowledge of the game.

-He was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats

-College Football Hall of Fame inductee (1954).

-He was recognized as one of the premier players of his era.

-His impact was primarily felt in his college career, and in the early coaching that he performed.

-Due to the period, reliable statistical data is scarce, but his recognition by the Hall of Fame speaks to his immense impact.