Football History

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When we think about the creation and evolution of American football, the name Walter Camp almost undeniably will arise. He was an important figure in the game's development.

What is Walter Camp responsible for in the evolution of the gridiron? What innovation and concepts did he accomplish? We have these answers and more in this episode.

Here are some of the headlines we hit on in this episode: Author Roger Tamte shares insight and knowledge on the man that helped create American Football into the sport it is today. Roger's book is Walter Camp and the Creation of American Football.

-Transcript of Walter Camp Book with Roger Tamte

Darin Hayes
Hello, my football friends. This is Darin Hayes of pigskindispatch.com. In this bonus edition of the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, we are bringing recognition to perhaps the most important man in American football history, Walter Camp, who many in the last 100 years or so have called the father of American football. There is some controversy and some inconsistency as to what day Camp was born. We'll talk about that in a moment. But as stated earlier on the Pigskin Dispatch, we're declaring this as Walter Camp weekend, just the same on the Pigskin Dispatch. Helping us in the study of Walter Camp is an expert and the author of an excellent book on the man titled Walter Camp, The Creation of American Football, authored by Roger R. Tamte, a scholar of early American football who studied Camp for many years. Roger Tampte, welcome to the Pigpen. Thank you, it's good to be here. No, we are certainly glad to have you, Roger. And first, we'd like to just learn a little bit about you. What brought your interest in the game of football?

Roger Tamte
Well, I've always been interested in football, and I grew up in Iowa, but my parents were from Minnesota. I was born in Minnesota, so I always had a little loyalty to Minnesota. I worked for 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was a patent attorney for them for 30-some years, plus some consulting years. When I finished working for them, I wanted to work on some projects. I've always been interested in history, and I was interested in the University of Minnesota football, which in the 1930s had some national champions. Bernie Biermann was a coach, and there didn't seem to be a lot written about them, so I thought, well, I think I'd like to try and research that. I got started on it, but pretty soon, I began to realize there was not any well-documented book about the creation of American football, so I started to investigate that and became more and more interested and serious about it. I didn't immediately study Camp, but pretty soon, I realized that he was the key figure, and so I began to focus more on him.

Darin Hayes
Yeah, he's a very interesting figure. I mean, I was kind of on a similar path. I used to be a football official, and I would do some writing on the side for football officiating on some websites. I was also assigned to write about the history of football rules. And I became, you know, of course, football rules history sort of starts with Walter Camp, which we'll talk about here in a few minutes, including some of his accomplishments. But yeah, man, his contributions to the game of football are truly interesting. Now, you said, you know, you're from Minnesota, and you talked a little bit about the Golden Gophers program from the 1930s to the early 1920s. I mean, they really had some great teams back then. And I don't know if you have any, you know, things you would like to say about those programs anymore.

Roger Tamte
I don't know, I don't think so. I've often wondered why we could do it then and can't do it now, but it's been

Darin Hayes
Yep. We just said, uh, we do a daily, uh, bio on birthdays of hall of fame for the College Football Hall of Fame and a pro football hall of fame. And I know there's one just recently, and it's on the tip of my tongue. I can't remember the player, but he was a fullback for the Golden Gophers in the 1920s. And, uh, Newt Rockany of the, of Notre Dame was quoted saying, you know, he had to play him like three years in a row. And he said I can't believe we've got to play this going to get the guy again. I hope he graduates; it's just something that affects him. And, uh, so just some great golden go for history there in early football. But we, I, sorry, I threw you for a curve ball there. I didn't mean to do that. Let's try to stay on topic here. And that's my fault. Um, now you said, um, you know, you grew up in Minnesota and Iowa, you know, right in the Midwest, but, uh, and you learned a lot about Camp through, um, looking at some of the early history. Now, what was some of your research that you did to look up Camp on, you know, game of football?

Roger Tamte
Well, I don't remember the exact sequence of what happened, but I started off researching in the Minnesota Historical Society Library but soon realized that if I was really going to study the creation of football, I needed to get closer to Yale Harvard and Princeton, which were the so-called big three of that early football. So, I was really in retirement, and I began to travel. Now, I guess, here again, I don't remember the exact sequence, but I was working part-time for 3M even then as a consultant, and I occasionally had to go to DC, where the patent office was to have a meeting at the patent office. And I got so I would extend those trips on my dollar and go over to the Library of Congress. And I began to get some feel for information. I found a couple of early camp writings in their rare books collection, but I believe it was something like 2003. I took a trip out to Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. And I suppose on that trip, I realized that Yale had the papers for Walter Camp, and they had over 50 microfilm reels of papers that had been assembled very, very carefully and thoroughly, and I began to look at them. And I came home with what I had gathered but soon decided I needed to go again. And I should say, you know, I really had no training in historical research, and I maybe was not as careful as I should have been because I would learn things. And I could remember that I'd read them, but I didn't always take good enough notes to find them. So sometimes, when I went back, I had to look things up again or look things over. I've had to see.

Darin Hayes
issue happened to me, so don't worry about that.

Roger Tamte
I went to Harvard and Princeton maybe three or four times, but I ended up going to Yale more than that. I suppose I spent more time at the University of Minnesota libraries. They had very good newspaper magazine collections covering the time period when American football was being developed. And so I would probably go there at least once a week and try to dig through the newspaper files and magazine files. I basically enjoyed the research. It's drudgery many times, and yet when you find something that's new, and you're pretty sure it's interesting, why is that exciting? And it's kind of like exploring. You're an explorer out there trying to track down things. And so it turned out I enjoyed very much the process of researching. These were kind of my retirement years, so my wife and I took a few trips going south in the wintertime, and we'd go to places like Auburn. I found some material for my book in Auburn. A young professor at Auburn really instigated getting the students interested and able to play football, and John Heisman came along as their coach. That was his first really major five years. He was there for five years. That turned out to have some relevance to the book, even though it didn't have a lot to do with Camp. Anyway, I sort of lost track of your question now.

Darin Hayes
You answered very well in your research. Now, just digging in a little bit, I want the listeners to appreciate because I've also read a lot of Camp's put out a lot of things in periodicals, and he's written books. I have a few copies of my own collection, but even people at the time, some of the terminology and things that we call today were called differently back then. So you almost have to; it's almost somewhat interpreting a different language, going back 120, 130 years ago, talking about the game of football. As a matter of fact, the word football was broken into two words, the word foot and the word ball, early on. So I appreciate your research and your being studious because sometimes it is difficult to read some of that and try to incorporate it into today's language.

Roger Tamte
Yeah, right. You sort of come up with your own terminology, too. For example, we're going to talk about downs. And I've come up with the term downs and distance. It's really what the rule is about. But that's just my own idea. There are other ways to describe it, too.

Darin Hayes
I guess one of the best examples of it, you know, is the word snapper back is what was used quite a bit and not, you know, we can translate that to snapper or what we call today the center who snaps the ball, but the snapper back was when it sort of threw me for a loop a little bit, you know, just things like that. It's just a difficult thing to research at that time, sometimes in writing. So, I appreciate your diligence in what you did because I know what a chore it is. Suppose we could change gears a little bit. You know, in your studies, you know, we know we're going to talk a lot about Camp, the innovator and coach, and foot became a football, but can you tell us a little bit about what kind of a person Walter Camp was?

Roger Tamte
He grew up in New Haven. His father was an elementary school principal, and he attended the school where his father was the principal. He then went on to a private school in New Haven. He was always very interested in sports, I believe, and had a chance to see certain; if baseball came to New Haven, he had a chance to go see it and do things like that. He talks about wrestling, but when he got to Yale, he played baseball at the private school, Hopkins Grammar School. He played baseball for them and played soccer. But at Yale, for example, besides football, he played varsity baseball. He was in the first intercollegiate tennis tournament on the doubles team, representing Yale. He competed in intramural events in track and field. So he had a very, very deep involvement in sports, but he was also a good student. I would say not at the very top tier, but he won. He was recognized for his scholarship and was interested in writing. He'd been interested in writing ever since he was at Hopkins. He's on their newspaper staff. He also wrote poetry and had some poetry published. I would say he was also a very diligent person. I mean, he would undertake tasks and he'd follow through on them. During the development of football, as we might see, as we talk further, he was very responsible and really carried the effort, I think, in many ways. He was the only person who continued during those early years. I mean, most of them would come along for three years maybe, and once they finished school, then they left. But he continued to be involved, very diligent, and responsible. He was always characterized as quiet. And exactly what that meant, I don't know. I mean, he certainly he ended up being a coach and doing things like that. So he could speak when he needed to speak, but he was kind of in the background and quiet.

Darin Hayes
It's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for, right?

Roger Tamte
Well, something's going on, maybe. Yeah. Yeah.

Darin Hayes
Now, I believe if I read correctly, he was getting after school, still coaching at Yale, but he became involved in a family business in New Haven.

Roger Tamte
Well, yeah, when he finished school, he graduated from undergraduate school for four years and then attended medical school for three years. He did not graduate from medical school, however. But when he finished the spring of 83, he said that he wanted to catch on in business. He got a job for a clock company or a watch company in New York City. Connecticut was very prominent in the clock and watch industry. But he didn't stay with them very long because some of the graduates who were very much believers in him and what he could do for Yale and student athletic associations offered him a job at Yale to be in charge of all the athletic interests at the school. Now, in those days, it was the students and the graduates who were interested. There's not a lot of interest from the officials at school. So he worked that year in that position. And really, you can tell they hoped that Yale would hire him to continue that job as a regular Yale official. But they didn't. The Yale president, I don't think, thought it was the right thing. And so in 1984, after he'd worked at Yale for a year in sports, he again worked for the New Haven Clock Company. Now, they had an official named Camp, but he was not related to Walter. It was a stock investment company. But Camp continued there. He went to work in New York for about three years in the sales capacity, came back to New Haven, and was sort of, you'd probably call him, the sales manager. In the early 1900s, he was named chief executive president of the company. He was the president of the New Haven Clock Company, which was a worldwide company for about 20 years.

Darin Hayes
Now, uh, you know, you talk about him, uh, having to travel quite a bit, you know, go to New York City and I think, uh, by train, New York City is probably an hour away from, uh, New Haven. So, quite a bit of traveling. So coaching a football team, uh, can be quite difficult, but he had some help, I believe, uh, from his wife if you could go into that a little bit.

Roger Tamte
Yeah. I think it was common among former players to go back and help their teams after they graduated, and he did some of that. But in 1888, the captain of the Yale football team, who obviously wasn't an admirer, had confidence in what the Camp could do and asked him to really take full charge of their team. And it so happened that the Camp had just married Alice. It was the name of his wife.

Darin Hayes
Graham, Graham Sumter, was it?

Roger Tamte
I know her name very well, but I can't come up with it right now. Anyway, Walter was; they got married in July of 1888, I believe, and Walter started coaching the team that fall. I don't think he had a lot of money. He lived in a house right behind where his parents lived. He and Alice, and of course, he was working for the clock company, so he couldn't always be at practice, but she went in his place, and that's kind of hard to believe, but it's quite well documented. She went out there, walked the sidelines, and then took notes, I guess, and in the evening, would talk to Walter about what she had seen. The players got to like her. They called her Mrs. Walter, and she must have done a pretty good job. Then, in the evening, the captain would come over, and often, some players would come over to their house, and they'd talk about practice steps they needed to take. I don't know how much that happened. I assume he was that practice a fair amount, but I'm sure there were a lot of times when he couldn't attend practice, so she went in his stead.

Darin Hayes
Yeah. Can you imagine what most wives today would do if a husband said, Hey, can you go down to the football practice and take some notes? Well, I'm going to go to work. I know my wife would probably throw a couple of shoes at me or something if I asked a question like that. So she must've been very understanding.

Roger Tamte
Yeah.

Darin Hayes
we're supportive. Okay, so he had a lot of help. He had really deep roots in the towns of New Haven and Yale. Now, let's get into maybe some of his contributions and innovations. What are some of the big innovations that Camp brought to football?

Roger Tamte
Well, I think the first big one was the American Scrimmage rule. There's a camp that never said that he was the inventor of that rule, although I think most writers presume he was. But what happened there, I guess, was that American football was derived from rugby. Harvard was introduced to rugby by McGill College in Montreal in the early 1970s. Harvard challenged Yale, so Yale played them in 1975, which was kind of, I guess, not really a very clear cut as to the rules they were using. But in 1876, they played again, and there they used the regular rugby rules, pretty much. Other schools also became interested, and, in the fall of 1876, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale formed the Intercollegiate Football Association. They adopted the regular rugby rules as the rules by which they would play. Now, the rugby scrimmage rule, which I'd like to read, says a scrimmage takes place when the holder of the ball, being on the field of play, puts it down on the ground in front of him. All who have closed around on their respective sides endeavor to push their opponents back and, by kicking the ball, drive it in the direction of the opposite goal line. I think of this as a brute-force type of game. They were intended to clash in the scrum and physically fight their way through that scrum and kick. He's kicking in opposite directions, but it, I think, was kind of a rough situation. They adopted that rule, and the Americans adopted that rule, but they really didn't like it very much. And they, you know, rugby had been in place in England for many years. And I've got a novel that was based at Rugby School, Tom Brown School Boys, it's called. And they have a rugby game described in there. And they describe the scene of a scrimmage. Here come two of the Bulldogs, and they go straight to the heart of the scrimmage, bent on driving the ball out the other side. And so the Americans, when they started playing that game, sometimes the varsity scrimmaged against the scrubs, and the varsity was bigger, and they could drive it through the scrubs. And so the scrubs began to think of something else, and they began to kick the ball sideways. And eventually, they began to kick it backward. They also didn't like the rugby method because when the two teams were clashing in the scrum and bouncing the ball back and forth, it often bounced out in unpredictable directions. Camp said that this conflicted with the Americans' idea of order and preparation. And now the Americans didn't have this history in rugby and weren't committed to it. So they began to try other things. One of the things they tried was to kick the ball backward, hoping one of their backs would get it and run around the scrum. And that became effective. At some point, what Camp wrote was an adventuresome spirit and developed a very vigorous backward kick. He was able to place his foot on the ball and kick it backward. And I'm assuming this was in the tangle of a rugby scrum. He somehow got his foot on the ball and was able to kick it out quickly so that the collegians began to call it a snapback. I guess it was fast enough and quick enough that they used the word snapback on it. However, the ball was kicked, and it was rolling and bouncing on the ground. So, one of the backs would gradually move closer and closer behind the guy who was kicking to be able to grab the ball before the opponents came through the line and grabbed it instead. And they began to call him the quarterback. I think they chose that kind of based on the location; he was closer to the line than the halfback. But anyway, the American-style scrimmage, or what I call the snapback scrimmage, developed out of that situation. In 1879 and 1880, the Americans deleted the rugby scrimmage lines of coming together and attempting to force their way through. And instead substituted other words, which, again, I'd like to read this. This rule was introduced in the 1880 rulebook. A scrimmage takes place when the holder of the ball, being in the field of play, puts it on the ground in front of it. All those words are exactly the same words from the rugby language. But then, this is the new part. It puts it in play when onside by kicking or snapping it back. The man who first receives the ball from a snapback shall be called a quarterback. And those seem simple words, but they accomplished a revolution. Rugby's brute force, forward kicking, and scrimmage battles were replaced with ordered play, planned and thought out in advance. And that happened because they knew who was going to kick the ball back. So that team was on offense, whereas in rugby, both teams were in the same status. I mean, you're on offense if you had the ball, but if the other team got the ball, then you were on defense. But in this case, they started the scrimmage with one team in charge of the ball. And so that team could know that it was going to be able to handle the ball and could put in effect a plan that they had practiced. And obviously, it changed the whole nature of the game. It's not clear who wrote those words, although Camp is commonly thought of as having written those words. What we know for sure is that he wrote a manual of instructions to go along with the rules. That manual, 11 pages, is a pretty detailed description of who was part of the 1880 rule book. Obviously, he had given this a lot of thought, and Yale had probably practiced it. And that became the American scrimmage rule.

Darin Hayes
I mean, just stop for a second and think about, I mean, how important that development is, you know, basically, you know, the invention of the quarterback or creation of the quarterback and creation of play calling, you know, the plans that you're talking about play calling for offenses, and subsequently defenses could call plays. So that's just the whole, probably the main source of interest for the game of football is just that I give and take and those, you know, one play, one team scheme against the other with their plays trying to gain an advantage and I mean that's gigantic in the game.

Roger Tamte
Yeah, it is. And it still has its effect today. Camp later, quite a few years later, the game was growing more and more popular. And he listed some reasons why he thought the game was popular. The first one he listed was the fact that the game is constantly developing and is always open to new methods. And that all arises from the fact that it's a game of planning. And the plans are quite an open slate of possibilities. And they keep developing and developing and developing. And it's responsible for what American football has become. So yes, it is. It was a very crucial and important rule. Now, however, I think you also asked about the downs rule. And I think that one is also a very important rule. This was definitely a camp invention. The first purpose was to correct a flaw in the 1880 scrimmage rule. The nothing in that rule limited a team in the number of possessions they could have. And so, teams, such as an inferior team, would stall and would not really try to move the ball forward; they would try simply to hold on to the ball if the other team could not score. That way, they at least would not lose. But those games were called block games. And the Americans tried for a while to overcome that problem. But they didn't, they didn't really solve it. And so in April of 82, in April 1882, they had an emergency rulemaking meeting. All four schools sent each sent three delegates. It was the largest rulemaking meeting they had at that point. Camp was in medical school, but he was a delegate for Yale. He came in with a proposed rule reading that if, in three consecutive downs, a team does not advance the ball by at least five yards, they must give up the ball to the opposite side on the spot of the last down. These are very familiar ideas. It was three downs, five yards. But today, you know, we think of that as kind of a natural or logical thing. But when Camp proposed it in 82, it really wasn't; I mean, if you think of the fact that putting a limit on the number of downs, which they didn't have, but also providing a way to extend that limit. That was a new idea and really a new creation. Conditioning the extension on how many yards the offensive team achieved within a certain number of downs was also a new idea. Using physical measurements to measure the distance a team had moved in three downs was a very new idea, and the other delegates were all opposed to this idea. They said you'll need a surveyor on the field to make it work, or constant delays will surely occur. The referee will be given superior powers and face impossible decisions. This is kind of an interesting satellite, but Camp answered them by suggesting that the field be marked with lines five yards apart. And the other delegates laughed and said, it'll look like a gridiron. And as far as I know, that's the first time that word was used that has become so common in describing a football field. Finally, the chair of the meeting, who was also opposed to the idea but had worked with the Camp enough to have some confidence in him, obtained a compromise. He says, and he persuaded them to enact the rule on the condition that in the fall if it didn't work, they would cancel the rule. Well, when the fall came, the play was so clearly improved that no effort was made to kill the rule. There was, first of all, an absence of block games. But more importantly, the game was made more interesting and compelling. Each down was important. Players had an exciting new focus. Each down became important to obtain the required yardage. Viewers knew what was at stake and were more interested, so they sat on the edge of their chairs, wondering if they would make these yards. Each down really told a story with winners, losers, and sometimes heroics. So anyway, Camp always said that it is the most important role in our game. And I think he was being sincere. It turned out that in 1912, the first historian of the rule, Park Davis, wrote that Camps' 1882 downs and distance rule had made American football preeminent over all other games of strategy and prearranged tactics. So, other people thought it was also an important rule.

Darin Hayes
Yeah, it's definitely a big contribution. I can't imagine going to a game and watching one team have the ball the entire game and just stand in the same place. That would be kind of boring. I think the game probably would have died out if it stayed that way.

Roger Tamte
worried about that. That's why they had an emergency meeting of 12 people because they really were worried that it couldn't die out.

Darin Hayes
Yeah, Camp, that's a brilliant idea he had, you know, and there was no other thing like it, you know, nobody had ever seen, as you said, so that's, that's really interesting. Now, if we could, you know, if we could fast forward to maybe 1904 or 1905, but the temperature of football was and what was about to happen and how camp sort of was involved in that, the whole thing with the, you know, there was no passing game at that point in time. Well,

Roger Tamte
Yeah, it was always a dangerous game, of course, but it became a time when there were a number of injuries and a number of deaths, and the public became upset about it and pushed for some sort of change. And Camp, I guess, you know, John Heisman had written some letters and claimed that he had suggested the idea of forward passing to Camp. I never found any letters from Heisman in the camp papers, so I don't know just what happened. But Camp was not too interested. And he really, they began to have in 1906; I haven't really looked at this stuff recently, but I think 1906 was the first year that the Rules Committee met. A number of the members of the committee advocated forward passing, which is a very limited kind of forward passing. Camp opposed it, however, and I think maybe it did start in 1905. In 1906, they did pass it. The Rules Committee over camps and other objections did put in rules allowing passing. I think they also, in that year, increased the downs, the yards that had to be made in three downs. There were still three downs, but they increased it to 10 yards. Now, President Theodore Roosevelt gets mixed into this story also. He was a friend of Camp's and a great admirer of Camp's. And, you know, I have not gone back and really refreshed myself on this story. And I don't think I want to take it on, but it's a really interesting story. Roosevelt eventually became persuaded that Camp was wrong and that there needed to be a change. He did some things to help that process along so that eventually, in 1912, a quite liberal passing rule was passed. Again, Camp opposed it. They did, at that point, increase the number of downs to four. So, in 1912, I think it was four downs to make 10 yards. But at the end of the 1912 season, Camp wrote in, you know, he had started a guide that contained the rules, and it had become taken over by Spalding. Camp was the editor and the main writer for this guide. And he wrote in that guide that 1912 had proved the effectiveness of rulemaking. And it was very complementary to forward passing. I think that's another insight into Camp: although he had opposed vigorously, in the end, he lost. However, he realized I think he had been wrong and that forward passing was going to be a very important part of the game. And it was, of course, and he used it. He used forward passing in his own coaching at Yale.

Darin Hayes
I believe it was even to the extent, going back to 1906 after Roosevelt sort of put the hammer down and told the intercollegiate rules committee they had to make some changes to make the game safer, institution of the forward pass, but Camp and some of the opponents of the forward pass put into some strict rules that first year, like if you threw a forward pass and it was incomplete, it was turned over on downs, like a recovered fumble. So you couldn't pass any more than five yards downfield, some really crazy rules that we wouldn't even recognize today. But it's, I'm glad to hear your 1912 that, you know, Camp saw the value of the forward pass and, you know, basically said, Hey, you know what, you guys are right. This is great for the game. And just like you said, in that 1912 rule book, a Spalding handle. So yeah, that's some great stuff there. Now, I got sort of a, let's fast forward another decade here, you know, Camp continued to go to the rules committee meetings that they were held annually, sometimes a couple of times every year. And, you know, he was extremely dedicated to the rules. And if you could take us maybe up to that 1925 rules convention, his last committee that he attended.

Roger Tamte
World War I also came along during this time. After the 1912 meeting and agreement, there were some rule changes, but within two or three years, they had reached a point where they made almost no changes to the rule book. That was really quite a change. I mean, almost every year until that time, there had been some fairly significant rule changes, but Camp has said the game is working well at this point, and we should let it continue. And so it did. After the war, during the war, there were a number of Army and Navy football teams. So, people got exposed to football that way. They also got some pent-up demand because some of the schools stopped playing football. So, at the end of the war, from 1920 to 1921, the number of games had really increased. And really, during the 1920s, a lot of the major football stadiums were built. But anyway, leading up to 1925, I don't think there was anything really earthshaking that was going to be held at that rulemaking meeting. But Camp had pretty much attended all of the meetings, and he went. He was 65 years old, I think, at that time. And they met together on Friday night and had some discussions. But planned to have further meetings the next day. They all went home to their hotel room. On Saturday morning, the committee met, but the usual prompt Camp was not there. And after an hour or two, the chairman of the committee sent a couple of people to go look for Camp. They got the hotel manager to open the door, and they found that Camp had died during the night. Apparently, he was at peace in his bed. So it's very ironic. This man who gave his life to football really died during the night between two sessions of the rulemaking committee. Obviously, it was quite a shock for his wife. That was the end of Walter Camp's participation in the rulemaking.

Darin Hayes
You know, I always maybe I'm over-romanticizing the situation, but I always like to think of it, you know, he accomplished so much and went through so much controversy to keep this game of football, you know, first of all, to get it off help get it off the ground and playing it and, you know, adapting rules and adopting rules and, you know, going to all these meetings and practices and going through the whole Teddy Roosevelt, you know, summons to the White House and the forward pass. You know, controversies, and he overcame all that, and football in the 1920s is sort of settled down, as you said, and there weren't a whole lot of innovations taking place at that time, at least in the major rule innovations, but he was sort of, you know, goes that that Friday night meeting. And you said how he died peacefully; I always like to envision it as he was sort of at peace with the game of football. And, you know, to be a football icon, you have to go out at a football rules meeting. There's just something about that that's astonishing and ironic, like you said, but also, you know, almost in a romantic sense that brings nostalgia to the event. And, you know, I don't know, it's just died doing the thing he loved, I guess, is a better best way to say it.

Roger Tamte
Yeah, there's a Grantland Rice. Walter Camp had presented an All-American team in Collier's magazine for many years, and when Camp died, Rice took that job over. But Rice was kind of a poet, was a poet. He wrote a poem that I always thought was if I can read it. Oh, please do. A few months after Camp died, Grantland Rice wrote this poem when he, I think, was perhaps naming the next All-American team, but Rice assumed Camp still remembered those players that he had named in the past and that he occasionally thought about them, imagined them as they marched along the skyline of memory. As they marched by, how often must have come to him the memory of the great battles which brought them fame, battles in rain and snow and sun and shadow, the flying tackle and the savage line thrust, the forward wall braced for the shock, the graceful spiral careening against the sky of blue and gray, the long run down the field, the goal line sand, the forward pass, the singing and cheering of great crowds, young and old America, gathered together on a golden afternoon with bands playing and banners flying? It may have been in the midst of such a dream that the call to quarters came, and Taff's was sounded as the great night came down the field. It's repeated more than once.

Darin Hayes
It's a beautiful tribute by Grant Lynn Rice to the great man Walter Camp. All right. I guess this is a question. Now, we've sort of encompassed the whole football life of Walter Camp, but you being an author and being so engrossed in his life, if you could travel back in time, I said, Roger, here's a time machine, and you can go back any time at any point in Camp's life and either witness an event or ask a question of Camp, what might that be?

Roger Tamte
Well, you know, one idea that comes to my mind is that I've always wondered what goes on in these rulemaking meetings. I mean, the Camp was apparently persuasive, but not a dictatorial person or early rulemaking meetings and see what the manner of discussion was and, you know, there would be a lot of times that might be of interest, but that's one that comes to my mind.

Darin Hayes
Yeah. And just you saying that sort of put the picture in my mind; I'm picturing a room full of cigar smoke in the air. We're probably waving our hands, trying to clear the air a little bit. And maybe what you said earlier with describing Camp as sort of a quiet person, maybe he was almost like that old EF Hutton commercial. You know, he didn't say much, but when Walter camp spoke, everybody listened, you know, maybe that's an instance that we could maybe look upon of what happened, you know, but that is, that would be a good question. Now, I appreciate you coming on today with us, Roger. Now, why don't you tell us the title of your book and maybe where some of our listeners can purchase your book?

Roger Tamte
The title is Walter Camp and the Creation of American Football. And, you know, I know that Amazon has the book available. But I don't actually know other places. I'm pretty sure that if you went to a local bookstore and asked for the book, they would get it. But that's all I know.

Darin Hayes
Okay. So, uh, Amazon, I mean, is a very common place where everybody buys books these days. Uh, the way they sort of the way the internet is taking over the marketplace, but again, that book is Walter Camp and The Creation of American Football by Rogers are T empty. Uh, make sure you check it out at Amazon and get a copy of it. Uh, it's a great piece of writing about a great man in American football history. And it's a very interesting read and, uh, one that everybody should have, uh, in their library. And, uh, Roger, we very much appreciate you joining us on what we're calling Walter camp weekend. I know we're a little bit controversial on the date, but, uh, uh, still, we're celebrating the man's life, uh, sort of in the appropriate time of year, the appropriate month, let's say, to, uh, make sure he has paid tribute to for his great contributions.

Roger Tamte
Well, thank you for asking. I've enjoyed participating. And, and I, you know, I feel that Camp is someone who we need to know better, and it is very much the father of American ball and, and there should be some times when we recognize what that contribution is because the game is obviously very important in, in the United States.

Darin Hayes
Sir, you've certainly shed some light with us here today and in your book and we are all much wiser and more informed for it and we thank you very much for your time. Thank you, Roger.

Roger Tamte
Thank you.

Donnie Shell wasn't your average safety. He wasn't just a ballhawk lurking in the secondary; he was a force to be reckoned with, a dominant tackler who redefined the strong safety position. This essay explores Shell's remarkable career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, highlighting his defensive prowess, championship runs, and the legacy he leaves behind.

From Special Teams to Starting Safety

Shell's journey began as a seventh-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1979. Initially contributing primarily on special teams, he patiently honed his skills. His dedication and talent were recognized in 1977 when he replaced Pro Bowler Glen Edwards as the starting strong safety. This transition marked the beginning of a legendary career.

A Pillar of the Steel Curtain Defense

Shell's arrival coincided with the peak years of the Steelers' famed "Steel Curtain" defense. He became a vital cog in this dominant unit, known for its intimidating physicality and ability to shut down opposing offenses. Shell thrived within this system, showcasing his exceptional range, tackling ability, and knack for interceptions. His presence in the secondary allowed linebackers like Jack Lambert and Jack Ham to roam freely, disrupting plays and shutting down running lanes.

Interception Machine and Tackling Force

Shell's impact went beyond shutting down passing lanes. He established himself as a ball-hawking safety, leading or co-leading the Steelers in interceptions five out of seven years. His career-best of seven interceptions came in 1984, a testament to his ability to read quarterbacks and create turnovers. But Shell wasn't just about takeaways. He was a punishing tackler, leading the team in tackles in both 1982 and 1984 and serving as a physical presence against the run.

Bio and Legacy

Born August 26, 1952 in Whitmire, SC was Safety Donnie Shell. The undrafted free Agent from South Carolina State was a strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) between 1974 and 1987. Shell was a member of the Steelers famed Steel Curtain defense in the 1970s.

Shell retired as the NFL strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51. He started 11 consecutive seasons for the Steelers and was selected to the Steelers All-Time Team, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2020), and to the NFL Silver Anniversary Super Bowl Team.

Thurmon Thomas wasn't just another running back; he was a highlight reel in cleats. Thomas carved his name into gridiron history as a cornerstone of the dominant Buffalo Bills dynamic offense of the 1990s. This article delves into the electrifying career of this Oklahoma State product, exploring his rise from college star to Super Bowl participant, his unique skillset that revolutionized the running back position, and the lasting impact he left on the game. Get ready to relive the magic of "The Machine" and rediscover the brilliance of Thurmon Thomas.

Born May 16, 1966, in Houston, Texas, was Oklahoma State running back from 1984 through the 1987 season, Thurman Thomas. For his collegiate career Thurman Thomas amassed 4,847 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns at Oklahoma State, catapulting him into school and conference record books.

His career rushing yardage is second best all-time in the conference, trailing only 2006 College Football Hall of Famer Mike Rozier of Nebraska. Thurman Thomas’ collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2008. The Buffalo Bills wisely selected Thomas in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. Thurman received the great honor of being the NFL MVP in 1991 and according to the ProFootballHOF.com website he recorded eight consecutive 1000 yard seasons running with the ball.

Thomas retired as the NFL's ninth-ranked rusher with 12,074 yards and added another 4,458 yards on 472 catches. He scored 65 rushing and 23 receiving touchdowns in his 13-season career.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the brilliant NFL career of Thurmon Thomas in 2007.

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The 1960 Ohio Bobcats football team etched their names in program history with a dominant and undefeated season. Led by the visionary Coach Bill Hess, these Bobcats soared to a perfect 10-0 record, captured the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship, and shut out five of their ten opponents in a display of defensive prowess.


Key Characteristics of the Team:


Balanced Offense: The Bobcats boasted a diverse offensive attack, featuring a strong running game led by Jim Albert and a reliable passing attack spearheaded by Bob Babbitt.
Defensive Dominance: The Bobcats' defense was a brick wall, shutting out five opponents and allowing only an average of 3.4 points per game. Ron Curtis and Cliff Heffelfinger anchored a formidable defensive line, while Frank Richey's schemes kept opponents off balance.
Poise and Confidence: Under Coach Hess's leadership, the Bobcats displayed remarkable maturity and composure throughout the season. They rarely lost their focus and displayed a relentless determination to win every game.

Memorable Moments:


Thrilling Wins: The Bobcats' season was not without nail-biters. Narrow victories over Kent State and Bowling Green showcased their ability to overcome adversity and win close games.


Shutout Spree: Five shutouts, including impressive performances against rivals Miami (OH) and Marshall, solidified the Bobcats' defensive dominance and sent shockwaves through the MAC.


MAC Championship Triumph: The Bobcats capped their perfect season with a convincing victory over Western Michigan in the MAC Championship game, cementing their place as undisputed conference champions.

Legacy of the 1960 Bobcats:


Unmatched Record: The 1960 Bobcats remain the only team in Ohio University history to achieve a perfect season and hold the record for most wins in a single season.


National Recognition: The Bobcats were recognized as the national "small college" champions by the Associated Press, further solidifying their place among the elite.
Inspiration for Future Generations: The 1960 team's dedication, resilience, and success continue to inspire future Bobcats and serve as a benchmark for excellence in Ohio football history.

The 1960 Ohio Bobcats were more than just a winning team. They were a symbol of unwavering determination, defensive mastery, and offensive balance. Their perfect season and championship victory remain an indelible mark on Bobcat football history, a testament to the program's potential for greatness and a source of inspiration for all who wear the green and white.

The Akron Zips football program, boasting a nickname as unique as its journey, is woven into the fabric of Akron's identity. Founded in 1891 as Buchtel College, the team has weathered storms, soared to victories, and remained a source of pride for the city throughout its 130-year history.


-Humble Beginnings and Early Successes:
Buchtel's first official contest occurred in 1891, a 6-0 defeat against Mount Union. Despite the initial setback, the program quickly found its footing, winning its first conference championship in 1894.
In 1913, the school adopted the name "University of Akron," the football team followed suit, becoming the "Zippers" due to the city's booming rubber industry. The name was later shortened to "Zips" in 1950.
Buchtel College Football Team in 1894
The Zips enjoyed a golden age in the 1920s and 30s, led by legendary coach Paul Brown. During his tenure, Akron won three Ohio Athletic Conference titles and first appeared in the Rose Bowl in 1942.
Paul Brown, Akron Zips Football Coach

-A Climb Through the Ranks:
After years of playing as an independent and in lower divisions, the Zips finally reached the pinnacle of college football in 1987, joining the Division I-A (now FBS) ranks.
The transition was initially challenging, but under the guidance of coach Leo Theis, Akron emerged as a competitive force in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
In 2005, the Zips achieved their ultimate dream, capturing the MAC Championship for the first time in program history. The victory over Bowling Green sent the city of Akron into jubilation and marked a defining moment in the team's legacy.


Straight from the best authority on Akron Zipp's football, the University of Akron itself. Enjoy the latest news, schedules, and history of the Zips program from the folks who know the information best.

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Few teams in college football history have captured the imagination and garnered the respect of the 1963 Navy Midshipmen. Led by the legendary Roger Staubach and coached by the stoic Wayne Hardin, this squad carved its name into the annals of gridiron glory, etching a legacy of precision, power, and unwavering determination.

At the helm of this formidable ship stood a young Texan named Roger Staubach. A natural leader with an infectious enthusiasm, Staubach possessed a rare combination of athleticism and intellect. He grasped the intricacies of the option offense.

Staubach thrived under this system, his pinpoint passing and elusive running carving up defenses with surgical precision.

Staubach's Heisman Trophy-winning season was a masterclass in offensive execution. He threw for 1,829 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 415 rushing yards and 6 more scores on the ground. His leadership extended beyond the field, inspiring his teammates with his unwavering work ethic and unwavering dedication to the Navy ideal.

But Staubach was far from a lone star. The 1963 Navy team was a symphony of talent, each player a vital cog in the well-oiled machine. Running back Eddie Hart's punishing carries kept defenses honest, while the receiving corps, led by the sure-handed Joe Bellino, provided Staubach with a reliable set of targets. The offensive line, a wall of blue and gold, provided the bedrock upon which the team's success was built.

The 1963 season was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for the Navy faithful. The Midshipmen opened with a dominant victory over West Virginia, followed by a hard-fought win over a talented William & Mary squad. Then came the defining moments: a thrilling upset of Notre Dame, a dominant victory over Army in the annual grudge match, and a nail-biting win over Pittsburgh.

But amidst the triumphs, there was heartbreak. A late-season loss to Syracuse, coupled with a controversial victory by Texas over Alabama, denied Navy a shot at the national championship. However, the Midshipmen received an invitation to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where they faced the mighty Longhorns.

The Cotton Bowl was a classic battle of wills. Staubach threw for two touchdowns, but Texas ultimately prevailed, 28-6. Despite the defeat, the 1963 Navy team left an indelible mark on college football. They finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation, earning the respect of their peers and solidifying their place as one of the greatest teams in Navy history.


-Transcript of Roger Staubach and the 1963 NAVY Team with Len Ferman and Giffer

Darin Hayes
Hello, my football friends. This is Darin Hayes of pigskindispatch.com. Welcome once again to the Pigpen, your portal to positive football history, and welcome to another trip back in time. And what do you need to go back in time? You need to have a friend on your Rolodex that's a time traveler, and we have that. Our good friend, Len Ferman, the sports time traveler, joins us once again to talk about a really special team from the Gridiron history. Len, welcome back to the Pigpen.

Len Ferman
Thank you so much, Darin, for having me back again. I really enjoyed each other the first time.

Darin Hayes
Yeah. And Len, you got some help today. You brought your muscle with you to talk about this team and, you know, an expert to have two experts on here telling me about this great story. And I'll let you introduce our special guest. Thank you.

Len Ferman
Well, first let me describe what I do. So I call myself the sports time traveler. It's kind of tongue in cheek. I go back in time virtually through newspaper archives and videos and experience great sporting events from the past as if they're happening now. I typically go back exactly 50 or 60 years. And Greg is one of my oldest friends and one of my biggest readers. And he told me early in the fall, Lynn, you got to go back to 1963. It's exactly, it'll be exactly 60 years ago and follow the Navy football team from 1963. It's going to be a really special year. So I was really excited to do that. And especially because it was Greg's, my friend's suggestion. And Greg's got a big tie into the Navy. Greg, do you want to introduce yourself and tell us about your experience?

Greg McGifney
Yeah. Hello, everybody. I'm Greg McGifney. I graduated from the Naval Academy in 1985. And I grew up, basically, with Navy football, that was my favorite football team for a lot of reasons. One, just, you got to pick a team back there. And there's only one college game on any given Saturday. So Navy was on a lot. And, you know, I just kind of fell in love with the Navy team. And, you know, there was a tie in too, because during the 1970s, you might remember a guy named Roger Staubach, who played football for the Dallas Cowboys. And but he was a Naval Academy graduate Heisman Trophy winner. And he was kind of a legendary Navy football player. And so with with all that said, I, I just follow Navy football, love Navy football as a kid. And then that kind of made me I said, you know, I want to go to Naval Academy, because that's, that's a great football tradition, great team. You know, I, I want to be part of this, you know, I want to be part of the Navy tradition, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I just said, you know, I want to do that. And eventually I applied and got in after, you know, really thinking about how you what you have to do. But time it was like, oh, Navy football, they play Notre Dame, they play Army, they're on TV. You know, this is great. And it's, and everybody's, you know, yelling and screaming and having a great time at these games. So it's, it's just one of those things you want to be part of, I guess, growing up picks a team. And I think a lot of maybe young kids pick colleges because of who they like in football in college, I don't know. But at the time, that's what I did. So that's my story. And I'm sticking to it.

Darin Hayes
But, well, Greg, we certainly welcome you to the Pigpen and thank you very much for your service and for all those out there listening that have served our country and protected our freedom. We really thank you for that. And this really puts an interesting twist on it. I love that we have a Navy guy talking about a Navy team here with a sports time traveler and here in Pixie and Dispatch. So I'm gonna hand the reins over to Len to sort of narrate us through the story of this 1963 Navy team. And of course, we'll get the expert analysis by Greg here to share it. And I'll have some questions along the way. So let's start this journey back to 1963.

Len Ferman
So I started following the 1963 Navy team. I didn't know much about them. I was really interested and surprised when I found out they had Roger Staubach and it was his junior year. Everybody knows Staubach from the Cowboys, but as Greg pointed out, he played for Navy and I didn't realize that. And the year before in 1962, Staubach's sophomore year, they were just a so -so team. They were only five and five, so there wasn't really high expectations. But they started out the season with two big victories over marginal teams, but then their third game of the season, they go into Michigan and they beat Michigan pretty badly. And so that was an indication there might be something special going on. And Staubach was brilliant. The Navy coach, the Michigan coach, Bump Elliott, who had been an all -American player himself, said after that game, he thought Staubach was the best football player he'd ever seen. So Staubach is starting to get some real national attention. Their fourth game, very interesting for later in our story, they go to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to play SMU. And they lose that game 32 to 28, but they lose the game when on the last play of the game, Staubach, Staubach had driven them something like seven or 80 yards in the last couple of minutes. And on the last play of the game, he throws into the end zone. And the wide receiver in the newspaper archives, I've read several accounts, either dropped the ball or juggled the ball and it dropped, but whatever it is, he dropped the ball in the end zone. If he catches the ball as time's running out, they will win the game. They would have been 4 -0. But then the next week, they beat VMI, they go to 4 -1 and then they play Pitt. And this is a big game, it's at Navy and they have the largest crowd in the history of the stadium there. Pitt is ranked number three in the country at that time. Navy after their 4 -1 start is now ranked 10th and they destroy Pitt. And that really puts them on the map. Suddenly now they're recognized by Sports Illustrated as the top team in the East and they get up to fourth in the rankings. And then they go into Notre Dame. And even though Notre Dame's not the greatest team, it's still pretty daunting to go into Notre Dame. And Notre Dame had already beaten USC and UCLA at home and Navy is able to manhandle Notre Dame. So they're really onto a very special season and Staubach is getting incredible press. In fact, I wanna read something that I found in the New York Times about Staubach. So Alison Danzig, you may have heard that name. He was a great sports writer for the New York Times for over 40 years. He was covering football in the 1920s. And so he writes about Staubach after the Notre Dame game. His unruffled toys before the rush of the enemy lineman, the cleverness with which he casually evades their fierce embrace and the discernment with which he had long last finds his receivers or picks up blockers have baffled opponents and amazed onlookers game after game. He has a law unto himself and he has been given a latitude in doing the unorthodox that has seldom permitted a player. I mean, this is really, it's really incredible stuff and if you ever get a chance to watch videos of Staubach playing in 1963, it's true to what Danzig says. He clearly is doing things you don't expect to see quarterbacks do. The way he evades rushers and is able to hit his wide receivers and he's also a big threat in rushing as well. And so he's having this incredibly special season. But if I could interject here real quick. Go ahead.

Darin Hayes
Yeah on your sports time traveler your blog post and we'll put the links to that in the show notes of this podcast Len has an embed of one of the games I believe it's the the Texas game you have video of on YouTube that you can watch the game so you can see some Stawback and his teammates, you know, just how special these guys were. So I'm sorry, but please continue

Len Ferman
Yeah, you can see actually the entire Army -Navy game, which we're going to get to in a minute. And you can see extended clips of the when they played Texas. But so along the way, they keep winning. They keep rising in the rankings. They make it to number two. And by mid -November, it becomes very apparent that there's nothing in the way of Navy not making it to a showdown in the Cotton Bowl with number one Texas, which is Texas is undefeated. The only thing that could possibly be in their way would be Army. And so this brings us to around the third week in November. And I want to give Greg a chance to talk. So Greg, do you want to tell us what happens in the third week in November 1963?

Greg McGifney
Well, if you remember history at all, and you remember the times we were in in the early 1960s, president was JFK, and he went to Dallas, as you call it, the third week of November, excuse me, in 1963, and he was very much involved in, let's say, local Texas politics, as well as having a lot of Texans around him, so to speak, John Connolly and LBJ, of course. So, as you remember, he went down to Texas at that time, and unfortunately, we know what happened with his assassination. It was a terrible time for the country, and whether or not you were a fan of Kennedy or his politics or anything else, the country was stunned. He was an innovative leader. He got us through the missile crisis, and he was basically looking at the 1964 election and for reelection, and he's collecting receipts, so to speak, and trying to build his popularity and everything else. So, that shock hit the world, and of course, right after that was supposed to be, what, the Army -Navy game, and it usually was played at the end of November. And so, most of the world in football leagues and everybody else except for one league, I will not name that league necessarily, but one league played their games that weekend, but colleges mostly and another professional league did not play games. They took the week off to mourn because there was a special day of mourning that the next day after the weekend, and it goes on from there. So, the Army -Navy game was postponed. Navy had a break, Army had a break, and so Army being still a good team and a legacy from the 50s, you remember the Pete Dawkins team and everything else, they were a big -time team in the 50s, and there off they go to play Army -Navy, a very big game. Army could have set Navy. Army's ranking was, I think, top 10 at the time. If not, they were close to it, and they were a very, very good team. And as you might not know, or people might not know, JFK, although he went to Harvard, remember, and growing up, I remember, PT -109. JFK was a naval hero. PT -109, he went through that, and that was people's mind, people knew that. Oh yeah, Kennedy was a World War II hero, a legitimate hero, a Navy guy. And I guess JFK probably adopted Navy as his football team because he went to a lot of important Navy games, including what the Orange Bowl, Joe Bellino played that game, and then he went to Army -Navy games as president. He was always there. He made it a point to be there. And he was probably Navy's biggest presidential football fan. I mean, remember Ike Eisenhower? He was an Army guy. He was a West Point guy. So in the 50s, there was Ike and West Point. Now in the 60s, you had Navy and Kennedy. It's kind of a neat, neat thing, but Kennedy really was a big Navy football fan, and not many people know that. This year, they played the game, actually, the 60th anniversary in Massachusetts, and not a worry about Kennedy, which boggled my mind, but still, it was a big deal, and a big deal to me, because I knew how much Kennedy was a football fan for Navy, and it was very meaningful. And so it goes, but the game ended up being played on December 7th, later that year in Philadelphia at the Old Memorial Stadium. And so that game was played on Pearl Harbor Day, and Pearl Harbor was still, it was a big thing back then, and so on. And it was, I guess, the only game going at that time, and it was, I guess it was Nashville, I guess it was a big deal, and everybody's watching it, and there's 100 ,000 people there, and there's JFK, or would've been JFK, except his memory, and the whole country was still mourning. So anyway, that game happened, and then, Len, you can tell them, why don't you tell the world about what happened in that game, because that was one of the best games and best stories of Navy football in probably that day.

Len Ferman
Yeah, I'll talk about the game itself in a minute, but I just want to reinforce some of the things Greg was saying about JFK being a huge Navy fan. This is one of the things, this is kind of the key part of the story that I wanted to make sure we get through, we describe here because it was something I didn't know. And the tie -in between JFK and the Navy team here is really something special. He was a really diehard Navy football fan. As Greg mentioned, when he was president -elect in 1961, he made it a point to go to the Orange Bowl game to root for Navy. And he was there in Philadelphia at the Army Navy game in 61 and 62, and he made it known he was very much looking forward to go into this Army Navy game that was supposed to be played on November 30th. He even had a plan that he was going to sit on the, he recognized as commander in chief, he has to look at least a little impartial. So his plan was he was going to sit on the Army side in the first half and the Navy side in the second half, and he wanted it, and he planned it out that way because he wanted to be on the Navy side when they won the game. And he knew as being a big football fan in general, his whole family was always a football fans. Being a big football fan in general, he obviously knew that if Navy won the game, they were going to get invited to the Cotton Bowl. Texas was the top team in the country. They had already finished an undefeated season, and Texas was going to the Cotton Bowl as number one. And if Navy won, they were gonna get the invite and be there as the number two team. Now the interesting thing is that up to this point in college football history, only one other time has a number one and number two team met in a postseason ball game. So this was gonna be a really special game. And some evidence that JFK was planning on, kind of knew this and was planning around it is I just uncovered, as I was writing my article about the Cotton Bowl game last week, that when Kennedy was in Dallas on November 22nd, the plan, the open air motor, Katie was in, they were going to the Dallas trademark. He was gonna be delivering a speech. As soon as that speech was over, he was going back to the airport. Air Force One was gonna fly him to Austin. And in Austin, he was planning to go see the University of Texas football practice. He was gonna be at their practice. That practice never took place. It was canceled, obviously. And he even had a joke prepared in his speech there where he says something to the extent we all would like to see a Navy Texas game. And if I can do something about it, I will, but I know you guys don't like a lot of federal intervention. So that was his little joke he was going to make in Austin that day. So that's kind of proof to me that he was really following this. He was definitely going to the Army Navy game. And he was looking forward to that win so he could go to the Cotton Bowl game. So this really got to me that JFK had this such passion for football and wanted to go see these games. Now the Army and Navy game, it turned out to be a great game. It was a classic case of powerhouse offense versus great defense. Army had a great defense. And Army took the lead, seven to nothing. Then Stawback did his magic. And with 10 minutes to go in the game, Navy's up 21 -7. And then something strange happened. Navy never got the ball back. Army comes down and scores. And they make a two -point conversion. And now it's 21 -15 with six minutes to go. Now Army's quarterback was a guy named Stickwa. And they also, as a lot of players did back in those days, as you know, Darren, they played on more than just one team. So Stickwa also played special teams. And so Army kicks off. Stickwa was there on special teams. Stickwa recovers the onside kick. So Army gets the ball back. And then with six minutes to go, he drives them down. He drives them downfield with a minute 37 to go. They've got first and goal on the Navy seven. So they had driven for a touchdown already. They're driving down again. It looks like nothing's gonna be able to stop them. And then Navy, they get about a couple of yards on second down. They get, I mean, they get a couple of yards on first down, they get a couple of yards on second down. Now it's third and three. And an army has no timeouts left. But the crowd, and I can't really imagine this, it's an open -air stadium. The old, what I heard, what was called JFK Stadium when I was growing up, it's not JFK Stadium yet at that point, it's just Philadelphia Stadium or Memorial Stadium. There's 102 ,000 people there. It's so loud that Stikwa, the army players can't hear Stikwa's call. So this is something kind of incredible -sounding to me. But at that time, and I don't know if it's still in place, there was a rule that if the crowd was so loud that the quarterback signals couldn't be heard by his own players that he could call an official time. He could turn to the official and call time. And he does this a couple of times. He does it on second down. And then he tries to do it again on third down. But what he doesn't realize, what Stikwa doesn't realize apparently, is yes, they're gonna give him this official time to momentarily stop the game. But then they're gonna start the clock again. And so unbeknownst to Stikwa, the clock starts again and time runs out. Time runs out on third and goal. And army didn't get another play. So Navy barely escaped, but they won the game. They retained their number two ranking and they were invited to the Cotton Bowl.

Darin Hayes
Wow. And they're probably wiping their brows, uh, all the sweat off their brows, all the fans, cause that's gotta be an edge of your seat moment. Those, uh, last six minutes. I mean, it's amazing. I mean, so they recover the onside kick and there's six minutes left and they tick off four and a half minutes and go what, 40 yards. That's incredible there. There must've been some, a bunch of two yard gains or something the whole way down there. Thank you.

Len Ferman
Well, they were mostly a running team. So, yeah, so they were just grinding out yardage and Navy wasn't able to stop them.

Greg McGifney
That's the old four minute offense. You're trying to run the clock out. You see a lot of all of a sudden NFL teams right on Sunday. They're they're winning and all of a sudden. Hey, we're we're going to run the clock out, right? We're going to try to get first downs and matriculate the ball down. Feel kind of very slowly and succinctly and not throw a lot of passes. So that's that was the strategy and it probably would have worked or should have worked if you had. You had some crowd stuff and the you know the 12th man showed up and definitely helped maybe team this time around.

Darin Hayes
Yeah. And, uh, Linda answer your question. I think that rule is still in place. And if you think back like 15, 20 years ago, there were NFL teams that were trying to do that, but the quarterbacks were finding, yeah, they got the pause and the officials would stop the game. Uh, not only with the clock restart, but the crowd would say, Hey, this is bugging that QB let's get louder and let's really get in his face. So I think they just sort of ignore it and they go to the silent counts, uh, to get by that, but, uh, yeah, great, great story though, uh, guys. That's a really puts me back into the moment there. And I really appreciate that. Yeah, go ahead and continue with our 1963 story of Navy.

Len Ferman
Yeah, so then they they've got three weeks to get ready for the Cotton Bowl game, which is on New Year's Day. And, and the irony of this is that the Cotton Bowl obviously is in Dallas. So, so here JFK, it's pretty certain he would have gone to Dallas six weeks after his first visit to Dallas, he would have gone back there to watch the Cotton Bowl game. It's pretty much a certainty. In fact, the reason I'm so certain is I had this hypothesis. And then I came across a book that's all about the 1963 Navy Army Navy game, and JFK. So a guy named Michael Connolly, who writes a lot of sports, great sports books, he wrote a book just about that game, and the time with JFK, the Army Navy game. So I contact I was able to contact him. And I said, Do you think JFK I think JFK would have gone to the Cotton Bowl? What do you think he said he definitely would have gone to the Cotton Bowl game. And, and he pointed out that the whole rivalry with LBJ LBJ, Lynn Baines Johnson was, was from Texas. So he was his Kennedy's vice president. So you know, that was another contributing factor that he certainly would have gone there to the Cotton Bowl game. And in fact, LBJ didn't end up going to the Cotton Bowl game himself, but he actually sent his daughter to the game. So so it's it's really, it's what really got to me is, you know, a lot of people focus on the Kennedy assassination, you know, here we are 60 years later, and the actor and director Rob Reiner is producing a major podcast now, where he's, he's saying, I've solved the Kennedy assassination. I, you know, it's a conspiracy, it was a conspiracy. And, and here's all the evidence I haven't listened to the podcast, but this is a big thing right now. And it, you know, it's occurred to me, as I was doing as I was researching this, and kind of experiencing this, that we've kind of dehumanized Kennedy over the last 60 years, just just focusing on the conspiracy theories around the assassination, we forget that this was a person who had, you know, dreams and aspirations. And one of his big dreams was to go to this Cotton Bowl game and see number two Navy and you know, the whole time he's been following Navy, they have never reached number two, they had not been this high in the rankings, since, since the war, since the war. And, as you probably know, in 1944 and 45, Army and Navy were the top two teams in the country. And the Army Navy game decided the national champion basically in 44 and 45 with Army winning both of those games and going undefeated. So this was Navy's chance to win a national title. They had not been in contention for a national title since they had lost to Army in 1945. I mean, this would have been one of the high points of Kennedy's life going as president to the Cotton Bowl, to watch them possibly win a national championship. And I have to believe that, and Greg, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, I'd have to believe that, you know, the motivation of knowing that you've got the president pulling for you would have been a big deal.

Greg McGifney
I absolutely believe it would have happened that that's, you know, everything I, I knew about Kennedy and, and the Navy football team, you know, being a graduate, of course, and having gone there and, you know, just just know the whole story behind it and what Kennedy was all about. I have no doubt he would have gave the guys a pep talk either in Annapolis, which is not far from Washington, obviously, or, you know, at the game, I have no doubt in my mind, Kennedy would have give them a pep talk and they would have probably responded very well to that. Just, just because I know he was he was pretty beloved and it's just like I said, it's a shame we don't realize that now, nowadays, but in that era, Kennedy and Navy were kind of a thing and like I said, he was a naval hero. He was, he wanted to be associated with the Navy very much so. And I think, you know, he, he was probably our best fan in term, definitely the best fan, as far as commander chief we ever have even probably better than Jimmy Carter I'm gonna guarantee because he really loved the team. He wanted to be part of the team. He wanted to be part of Navy football and he went to every army, he made it a point, I'm gonna be there. I love, I like Navy. You know, Harvard guy like in Navy who knew but hey that's, that's the way it went and was just such a great time in Navy football history that that team was just incredible and, you know, to think they could have beat a very good Texas team that was probably one of the history's best teams ever they were really good it just it just makes me, you know, think, gosh, that was a great season for for Navy and the Naval Academy so I just, I just wish I could have, you know, seen it myself I was, you know, too young probably to do that of course but that would have been an incredible time to be there.

Darin Hayes
I'm sure was now is it too presumptuous for me to say maybe either one of you can answer this now 60 years ago now we think of today, you know air force one is flying probably every day probably flying almost like a commercial jet going all over place but back in 1963 air travel is probably not as as prevalent as today and so for a president to be going you know basically thanksgiving being texas going back to washington going to philadelphia going back to texas within a month time that's probably quite a bit of travel even for the president of the united states in that time isn't it

Len Ferman
I think Air Force One was flying, you know, the average person was not flying all over the place like they are now, you know, the volume of passenger air traffic was a fraction of what it is today. But jet travel, we were in the jet travel age by the late 50s, and Air Force One was flying all over the place. In fact, the morning of the assassination, Kennedy woke up in Fort Worth, and they flew Air Force One from Fort Worth to Dallas, 10 minutes. So they didn't think anything of just flying, you know, flying Air Force One all over the place back then. But one of the things I want to bring up also is how the assassination affected the Navy team. And maybe this is something, Greg, that you can talk to how it would have impacted people in the armed forces more than the average person.

Greg McGifney
Well, I think Kennedy was a beloved figure. I mean, I still think of him in high regard as far as a lot of things related to that in that era. And there was a lot of turbulence, I guess, underlying turbulence politically in the world at that time. And you got to remember, Kennedy went to Dallas in November of 63 because he was starting, effectively starting his campaign for re -election. And there is no doubt about that. That's documented. That's why he was going there, it was to campaign. And so, he would have probably been going a lot of places throughout the country, but Texas to him was a big deal. And I think he thought he had to win Texas to win re -election. I think it was that he thought it was probably close again, just like it was against Nixon in 60. And it didn't end up being that way in 64, but he thought it was going to be. And he was definitely putting down markers to appeal to and to be part of and to be visible in these locations. So I got to think that's, he was looking at football maybe as a way that he could relate to people, which was pretty cool. And again, Kennedy was a naval hero. Kennedy was someone that I think Midshipman and the Naval Academy looked up to, had in high regard. I think when I was there, I think he was in high regard. I think people still remember, Kennedy was a fan. And we heard all the stories from the past and Roger Staubach related to that too, because he was NFL superstar. So I think there's still a lot of that going on and people will remember that and it kind of got further and further away now, but at the time, it was a very big deal. And I think it really, I think it really must've really affected the team because I think they thought him as one of them. I really did, even though he didn't go there per se, he was a Navy guy who went to war just like they were going to go eventually. And he was probably the closest thing they had to a president that they could relate to.

Len Ferman
Interesting. And the point the point I was wanted to make is that I think not only did they lose this potential motivation by not having Kennedy there, by losing Kennedy, the way they did, it really deflated the team. And, and the the Cotton Bowl game on New Year's Day 1964 does not go very well for Navy. What what happens is, and I wanted to get to the game itself, Texas, like Army was very much a defensive oriented, rushing team on offense, they hardly threw the ball, Duke Carlisle, their quarterback had only thrown for 400 yards passing the entire season in 1963. And so they catch the kind of catch Navy a little blindsided because they come in with a whole new strategy where they're going to throw, and they throw two touchdown passes early in the game, it's 14 nothing early on. And another thing they did very smart on their part, they apparently knew that the one of the Texas defensive backs, Pat Donnelly, who also doubled as a halfback. So another another two way player, Pat Donnelly had a hamstring injury. And so they threw at they threw in Donnelly's direction on two long bombs that they converted for touchdowns. And if you look at the you can see this in my sub stack article, you can see the videos where where Donnelly is just not able to keep up with the Texas wide receiver. And Texas scores these two early touchdowns. And that really, that really was an early nail in the coffin. And Texas ends up going up 28 nothing in the second half. And Stawback finally runs one in and, and it's 28 to six was the final score. Another interesting kind of side note is so Duke Carlisle who threw for just over 400 yards all season, he breaks the Cotton Bowl record by the third quarter, he breaks the Cotton Bowl record for passing yards in a game with something like 213. And then Stawback breaks the record in the fourth quarter. So Stawback ended up passing for 228 yards in that game. And that became the Cotton Bowl record. So the records broken by both quarterbacks in the same game. Wow. So so it doesn't end well for Navy losing 28 to six in the Cotton Bowl. But I have to believe that if Kennedy had lived and was able to go to Dallas, six weeks after that initial trip, that things could have been very different.

Darin Hayes
Yeah. Wow. That's a definitely a good point. And, uh, you know, something we'll never know. But, uh, you know, very interesting that they both quarterbacks broke the record of the cotton ball just tells you how badly each team wanted to win. Or at least the, the quarterbacks play, uh, was indicative of that. So, uh, very interesting indeed. Now, do we have any final notes on that? Where did Navy ended up? Did they end up ranked number two for the final balls?

Len Ferman
So here's the interesting thing. So back in those days, the final polls came out before the bowl games. Bowl games were really viewed as more like exhibition games. So officially, Texas won the national championship like three weeks earlier when the final poll came out around a little after the Army -Navy game. So around December 10 or 12, the final poll came out and Texas was one, Navy was two. And that's why I call it a de facto. The game was like a de facto national championship. It wasn't really the true national championship, but if Navy would have beaten Texas, it'd be hard to say, well, Navy wasn't really the national champion, but the official national champion had already been decided. And by the way, it's very interesting to note, it was the first ever national title for Texas. And Navy has never won a national title.

Darin Hayes
Interesting. And how about you, Greg? Do you have any final things to wrap up on our 1963 Navy team?

Greg McGifney
Well, you know, like, like Lynn said, it was, it was a disappointing thing all around, but bowl games were a really big deal until, you know, very recently, I think there's so many of them. But back then, there weren't that many. So it was a pretty big deal to have maybe go to the Cotton Bowl or maybe with the Orange Bowl. I mean, there weren't that many bowls. And if you go to bowl game, you got to be a pretty good team. And so I think there was a lot of maybe, I won't say height, but definitely interest in bowl games. And people took them seriously, as far as who, who beat who and what happened in a bowl game. And like today, you have opt outs and embarrassments and things like that. Now, the playoff is different. Now, it gets, it's more interesting. But still, I think college football was a little bit different than there were fewer games. And, you know, these, these one off games, you know, were that you hadn't actually televised or were televised or, you know, even radio broadcasts were a very big deal. And, you know, I just had one additional postscript about Roger Staubach, you know, where he ended up playing in his professional career from the at first, it was the Cotton Bowl. He played for Dallas Cowboys, he started, he played in the Cotton Bowl, then they moved to Texas Stadium later on, but he ended up playing home games at the Cotton Bowl and he ended up and Roger Staubach, you know, recovered from this defeat, obviously, because he became the first Dallas Cowboys quarterback to win the Super Bowl in Super Bowl six. So he actually was Dallas's first, you know, Super Bowl champion quarterback and they came close many times to winning NFL championships and the ice bowl and then the Super Bowl five was kind of a debacle. It was kind of a, they call it the Blunder Bowl and the Cowboys lost but Super Bowl six. Roger Staubach became the starting quarterback just before that in that season and he became the Super Bowl winning quarterback, the first one for Dallas and of course a Hall of Famer down down the road with many accolades and he ended up living in Dallas after that. So it kind of went full circle for him, but certainly, you know, Dallas was a certain place and at the time of the Cotton Bowl. You know, you realize that, you know, Roger Staubach was going to be in the Navy. He wasn't going to play professional football right away for a number of years and Logan B. Holley came back to play for Dallas. So I just thought that was kind of a karmic thing in a lot of ways that here comes Staubach and look where he is in his Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer, so

Darin Hayes
Anyway, good point on the irony now. He lost two games in a cotton ball that you're right. He lost correct you not a good Yeah, Texas. He did not have

Greg McGifney
good luck in the cotton bowl. But as a professional, he he had a lot better luck.

Darin Hayes
a great point. Well guys that is an excellent story and I thank you for sharing and bringing light into memories to this 1963 team and the greatness that was in some you know some really important moments in American history too of the country losing our leader very tragically and you know and how the the country responded and how football responded and a lot of people looked to things like football the entertainment to sort of take their minds off of it and I think it probably put a lot of people at ease knowing that the army navy game and the bowl games were being played and life could go on even though we lost such an important figure in world history at the time and gentlemen I really want to thank you again for for joining us and you know writing about this Len and you know commenting and sharing it with us here today on pixkin dispatch

Greg McGifney
Thank you for writing this line. It was one of the best things I've ever read. So thank you for following Navy football was tremendous.

Len Ferman
Well, thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Darin. It was great being here.

The Yale Bulldogs boast one of the most storied and dominant histories in college football. Their program, established in 1872, was instrumental in shaping the early contours of the sport. The pinnacle of their success was an unparalleled run of dominance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period that saw them claim an astonishing 27 national championships.

The era of Yale's supremacy was marked by a combination of factors. The university's academic prestige attracted top-tier athletes, and the program's early adoption of professional coaching and training methods gave it a competitive edge. Figures like Walter Camp, often referred to as the "Father of American Football," were integral to Yale's success, as they codified the rules and strategies that would define the sport.

The Bulldogs' dominance extended beyond mere statistical superiority. Their games were national events, drawing massive crowds and generating immense media attention. Yale's football program became a cultural phenomenon, symbolizing athletic excellence and institutional prestige. The rivalry with Harvard, known as "The Game," was particularly intense, with national championship implications often at stake.

While the landscape of college football has changed dramatically since Yale's heyday, the program's legacy endures. The Bulldogs' record-breaking championship tally serves as a testament to their historical significance. Although the Ivy League's emphasis on academics has limited their competitive success in recent decades, Yale's football tradition remains a source of pride for the university and a revered chapter in the annals of college football history.

It's important to note that determining national champions in the early era of college football is a complex task due to the absence of a centralized selection process. The championships attributed to Yale are based on various contemporaneous accounts, polls, and expert opinions. While there may be some debate about the exact number of titles, there is no question that Yale was an unparalleled force during its golden age.

The legacy of Yale football extends far beyond the realm of statistics and championships. The program's impact on the development of the sport, its role in shaping college athletics, and its enduring place in the hearts of alumni and fans solidify its status as one of the most iconic and influential programs in college football history.

Yale itself claims 27 titles (1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1927).

-Frequently Asked Questions - Yale Football

-Who was Yale's first coach? In early football, the captains acted as coaches, and a non-player, usually a grad of the team, was the advisor. Probably most would say Walter Camp would be the first coach in the modern sense. Walter Camp.

-When did Yale football begin? Technically the football program at Yale started before American football was created, in 1872. For more, check out Yale Football Origins.

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The Texas Longhorns football program boasts a rich history dating back to 1893, making it one of the oldest and most successful programs in college football. Here's a glimpse into its journey:

-Early Days and Establishing a Winning Tradition (1893-1925):
The program began modestly, fielding its first permanent team in 1893.
Early success came quickly, with the Longhorns recording undefeated seasons in 1900, 1914, 1918, and 1920.
Notable coaches of this era include John Heisman (1902-1903) and Dana X. Bible (1916-1932).

-Dominant Decades and the Rise of Legends (1926-1976):
The program experienced sustained success under coaches such as Clyde Littlefield (1934-1956) and Darrell Royal (1957-1976).
This era saw the emergence of legendary players like Davey O'Brien (Heisman Trophy winner in 1938), Bobby Layne (Heisman Trophy winner in 1950), and Tommy Nobis (Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1965).
The Longhorns won four national championships during this period: 1963, 1969, 1970, and 1975.

-Ups and Downs and the Quest for Restoration (1977-2009):
After Royal's departure, the program experienced a period of inconsistency, with only occasional flashes of brilliance.


However, the hiring of Fred Akers in 1977 and David McWilliams in 1987 brought some stability and success.
Notable players from this era include Earl Campbell (Heisman Trophy winner in 1977) and Ricky Williams (Heisman Trophy winner in 1998).
Despite individual triumphs, the Longhorns struggled to replicate the dominance of the Royal era.

-The Mack Brown Era and Returning to Glory (2010-2014):
Mack Brown's arrival in 2005 marked a turning point for the program.

He instilled discipline, recruited top talent, and implemented a winning culture.

The Longhorns won the 2005 national championship, their first in 30 years, with Vince Young leading the charge.

The program remained competitive throughout Brown's tenure, consistently ranking among the nation's best.

-Recent Years and the Search for New Heights (2015-Present):
Charlie Strong took over as head coach in 2015, but his tenure was marred by disappointing results.
Tom Herman replaced Strong in 2017, bringing renewed hope and optimism.

While the program has shown improvement under Herman, it has not yet reached the heights of the Mack Brown era.

The Longhorns continue their quest for national championship glory, seeking to add to their rich legacy in college football.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian has the program going in the right direction as it heads to the four-team playoff of the FCS in 2023 and to the SEC in 2024.

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With a rich history dating back to 1890, Ohio State football boasts a pantheon of legendary players who left their mark on the gridiron. Choosing a definitive "top" is subjective, but considering Heisman wins, individual accolades, and impact on the program, some names consistently rise to the top.

The Heisman Heroes:

-Archie Griffin (1972-75): The only two-time Heisman winner in college football history, Griffin shattered rushing records and led the Buckeyes to a national championship. His legacy of leadership and resilience remains unmatched.

-Les Horvath (1944): A versatile threat, Horvath won the Heisman in 1944, playing running back, quarterback, and defensive back. His leadership during World War II adds another layer to his legend.

-Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (1953): Cassady's Heisman win in 1953 marked Ohio State's first national championship after decades. His electrifying running style and punting prowess made him a triple threat.

Defensive Dominators:

-Orlando Pace (1999-2002): A unanimous All-American and 1st overall NFL draft pick, Pace revolutionized the offensive tackle position with his size, athleticism, and dominance.

-Jack Tatum (1967-69): A ferocious safety and leader on the famed "Super Sophs" defense, Tatum's intimidating presence and game-changing interceptions cemented his place in history.

-Chris Spielman (1984-87): An emotional leader and tackling machine, Spielman's intensity and defensive acumen led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and earned him NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Offensive Masters:

-Troy Smith (2004-2006): Smith's dual-threat ability revolutionized the Buckeye offense, leading them to an undefeated season and national championship game appearance in 2006.

-Joey Bosa (2013-2016): A terror on the defensive line, Bosa's speed and relentless pass rush helped lead the Buckeyes to a CFP appearance and earned him the Nagurski Award.

-Curtis Samuel (2014-2016): A versatile threat as a receiver, runner, and returner, Samuel's explosiveness and playmaking ability made him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

This is just a glimpse into the vast talent pool of Ohio State legends. From iconic coaches like Woody Hayes and Urban Meyer to countless other All-Americans and NFL stars, the Buckeye legacy is woven with the stories of these outstanding players.

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In the annals of college football, few tales weave together athletic brilliance, historic rivalry, and personal sacrifice like that of Charley Barrett. He wasn't just a quarterback; he was a triple-threat titan who tamed the wild west of early 20th-century gridiron with a blend of grace, power, and unwavering leadership.

Hailing from the steel town of Bellevue, Pennsylvania, Barrett arrived at Cornell in 1913, a raw talent yearning for the crucible of competition. Under the tutelage of Jack Moakley, he blossomed into a "real triple threat man," mesmerizing opponents with his swift runs, pinpoint passes, and bone-crunching tackles. He possessed a deceptive look – tall and slender, often mistaken for a passer. But the moment he touched the pigskin, his deceptive calm transformed into a whirlwind of athleticism.

His reign on the gridiron coincided with the golden age of the Cornell-Pennsylvania rivalry. Each fall, the gridiron became a battleground, a clash of two titans for Big Ten supremacy. And at the heart of it all stood Barrett, orchestrating victories with surgical precision and jaw-dropping displays of athleticism. His 1915 performance against Penn stands as a testament to his greatness. Trailing by nine points, he led a stunning comeback, racking up touchdowns of 40, 25, and 3 yards, and adding a drop-kick field goal and three extra points. "The Big Red Machine," they called Cornell that year, and Barrett was its engine, its relentless heartbeat.

But his story transcends touchdowns and trophies. He embodied the ideals of the scholar-athlete, excelling in the classroom as well as on the field.