Football History

Born on April 12, 1966, in Hollywood, Florida, Lorenzo White became a dominant running back at Michigan State University. His remarkable talent and record-breaking performances solidified his place as a Spartan legend.  

-College Career

Lorenzo White was the cornerstone of the Michigan State Spartans' offense from 1984 to 1987. While in East Lansing, White etched his name into the school and Big Ten Conference record books. He remains the Spartans' all-time leading rusher, a testament to his consistent excellence and prolific output. According to the National Football Foundation, White holds nearly every significant Michigan State career rushing record, including 1,082 rushing attempts, 4,887 rushing yards, 43 rushing touchdowns, and an impressive 23 100-yard rushing games. After his collegiate career, his 4,887 rushing yards stood as the second-most in Big Ten history and still rank among the top ten. White also boasts two of the top three single-game rushing performances in Spartans history, highlighted by a career-best 292 yards against Indiana in 1987. He spearheaded the Spartans' charge to a Big Ten title in 1987, earning them a coveted Rose Bowl berth against USC. In his final collegiate game, White delivered a memorable performance, rushing for 113 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over No. 16 USC, helping Michigan State secure a final No. 8 national ranking. His outstanding college career was recognized with unanimous First Team All-American honors in 1985 and consensus First Team All-American accolades in 1987. He also finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in both of those remarkable seasons.  

-Road to the Pro Game

White's exceptional collegiate achievements made him a highly sought-after prospect for the National Football League. In the 1988 NFL Draft, the Houston Oilers selected him in the first round, signaling the beginning of his professional career.  

-Football Legacy

Lorenzo White's football legacy is firmly rooted in his record-shattering career at Michigan State. His durability, power, and ability to consistently gain yardage made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He single-handedly carried the Spartans' offense for much of his tenure and led them to significant success, including a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl victory. His numerous rushing records at Michigan State stand as a testament to his dominance and impact on the program. While his professional career with the Houston Oilers (seven seasons, including a Pro Bowl selection in 1992) and a final season with the Cleveland Browns (1995) was also notable, it is his remarkable accomplishments in the green and white of Michigan State that truly define his enduring football legacy. The College Football Hall of Fame enshrined his collegiate achievements with a display in his honor in 2019, further solidifying his place among the game's all-time greats.  

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats

-Michigan State Spartans All-Time Leading Rusher (4,887 yards)  

-Michigan State Career Rushing Attempts Leader (1,082)

-Michigan State Career Rushing Touchdowns Leader (43)

-Michigan State Career 100-Yard Rushing Games Leader (23)

-Two-time First Team All-American (Unanimous in 1985, Consensus in 1987)  

-Two-time Heisman Trophy Finalist (4th in 1985 and 1987)  

-Big Ten Champion (1987)  

-Rose Bowl Champion (1988)  

-First Round NFL Draft Pick (1988, Houston Oilers)  

-Pro Bowl Selection (1992)  

-College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2019)

April 11, 1962, in Ames, Iowa, marked the birth of Terry Hoage, a dominant safety who became a legendary figure for the University of Georgia Bulldogs from 1980 to 1983. His exceptional playmaking ability was evident early in his career, as highlighted by the National Football Foundation. In the 1981 Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, Hoage blocked a crucial field goal attempt, contributing significantly to Georgia's victory, undefeated 12-0 season, and national championship title.  

-College Career

Hoage's impact on the Georgia defense was profound. As a sophomore in 1981, he established himself as a key playmaker. His junior season in 1982 was nothing short of spectacular, as he led the entire nation with an astounding 12 pass interceptions. This remarkable performance earned him his second All-America selection, alongside his first Academic All-America award, showcasing his excellence both on and off the field. His senior year in 1983 was equally impressive, garnering him consensus All-America honors for the second time and his second Academic All-America award, as well as his third All-SEC academic selection. He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time that season. With Hoage anchoring the defensive backfield, the Bulldogs amassed an incredible 43-4-1 record, the best among all major division teams during his tenure.  

-Road to the Pro Game

Terry Hoage's stellar college career naturally led him to the professional ranks. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 1984 NFL Draft. Over a successful decade-long NFL career, Hoage played for several teams, including the New Orleans Saints (1984-1986), the Philadelphia Eagles (1987-1989), the Washington Redskins (1990-1993), and the Arizona Cardinals (1994). He was a key contributor to the Redskins' Super Bowl XXVI victory.  

-Football Legacy

Terry Hoage's football legacy is defined by his exceptional collegiate career at Georgia, where he set a standard for defensive excellence and academic achievement. His playmaking ability, exemplified by his national-leading interception total and crucial blocked field goal, was instrumental in the Bulldogs' national championship run. His consistent All-America selections, coupled with his multiple Academic All-America awards, underscore his commitment to both athletic and scholastic pursuits. The NCAA recognized his all-around excellence with a prestigious Big Five Award, given to the nation's top five outstanding athletes. Further cementing his legendary status, the SEC named him to its 25-year team (1961-85), and the Walter Camp Foundation honored him on its all-century team. His indelible contributions to college football were celebrated with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His successful professional career further solidified his reputation as an elite defensive back.  

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats

-1981 Sugar Bowl National Championship  

-1982 NCAA Interceptions Leader (12)

-Two-Time All-America Selection (1982, 1983)  

-Two-Time Consensus All-America Selection (1983)  

-Two-Time Academic All-America Selection (1982, 1983)  

-Three-Time All-SEC Academic Selection

-Two-Time SEC Defensive Player of the Year

-NCAA Big Five Award Winner

-SEC 25-Year Team (1961-85) Selection  

-Walter Camp Foundation All-Century Team Selection

-Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2000)

-Super Bowl XXVI Champion (Washington Redskins)

NFL Teams: New Orleans Saints (1984-1986), Philadelphia Eagles (1987-1989), Washington Redskins (1990-1993), Arizona Cardinals (1994)

April 8, 1967, in Terre Haute, Indiana, marked the birth of Anthony Thompson, a running back whose tenacity and talent would leave an indelible mark on Indiana University football and beyond. Even legendary Iowa coach Hayden Fry recognized his exceptional abilities: "Anthony Thompson is by far the best running back we’ve seen in years and years and years."  

-College Career:

Thompson's career at Indiana University was nothing short of spectacular. Despite a delayed start to his freshman season in 1986 due to a deep thigh bruise that kept him out of the first six weeks of practice, he burst onto the scene in his first start in week eight, setting a Big Ten freshman rushing record with 207 yards. He continued his impressive performance in his sophomore year, surpassing 100 rushing yards in five games. His junior season in 1988 saw him achieve consensus All-American honors and finish ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, while ranking third nationally in rushing and second in scoring with 24 touchdowns. Thompson also proved to be a versatile threat, showcasing his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. His senior campaign in 1989 was truly remarkable. He narrowly missed winning the Heisman Trophy in a historically close vote but secured the Maxwell and Camp Awards, recognizing him as the nation's top player. That year, he led the nation in both rushing and scoring and ranked fourth in all-purpose yardage. By the end of his collegiate career, Thompson held the all-time Division I record for touchdowns. Indiana University now honors its most valuable player with the Anthony Thompson MVP Award.  

-Road to the Pro Game:

While the provided information doesn't explicitly detail Thompson's professional career, his dominant college performance undoubtedly made him a highly sought-after prospect for the NFL. Further research would be needed to specify the professional teams he played for and the details of his NFL career.

-Football Legacy:

Anthony Thompson's legacy extends far beyond his impressive statistics. He is remembered as a powerful and determined runner who consistently defied expectations. His record-breaking performances and numerous accolades cemented his place as one of the greatest players in Indiana University football history. The fact that the university's MVP award bears his name speaks volumes about the impact he had on the program. His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007 further solidified his national recognition and lasting impact on the sport.  

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats:

-Big Ten Freshman Rushing Record (207 yards)

-Consensus All-American (1988)

-Heisman Trophy Finalist (1989)

-Maxwell Award (1989)

-Camp Award (1989)

-Led NCAA in Rushing (1989)

-Led NCAA in Scoring (1989)

-Fourth in NCAA All-Purpose Yardage (1989)

-All-Time Division I Record for Touchdowns (at the end of his college career)

-Indiana University MVP Award is named in his honor

-College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2007)

April 15, 1947, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, marked the arrival of Theodore "Ted" Kwalick, a transformative figure in the evolution of the tight end position in football, both at Penn State and in the professional ranks.  

-College Career

Ted Kwalick's arrival at Penn State in 1966 coincided with the burgeoning importance of the tight end in modern football offenses. Standing at an imposing 6'4" and weighing 225 pounds, Kwalick possessed a rare combination of size, athleticism, and skill. As a tight end for the Nittany Lions from 1966 to 1968, he excelled as both a powerful blocker and a gifted receiver. Assistant coach Bob Phillips aptly noted his exceptional hands and catching ability, while head coach Joe Paterno famously declared him "what God had in mind when he made a football player." Kwalick's impact was immediate and significant, making him a cornerstone of the Penn State offense. He earned All-American honors in 1967 and was a unanimous All-American selection in 1968, solidifying his status as one of the nation's premier collegiate players.  

-Road to the Pro Game

Kwalick's exceptional college performance naturally paved the way for a successful professional career. He was drafted in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In the NFL, Kwalick continued to showcase his versatility and talent as a dominant tight end. He spent several productive seasons with the 49ers, becoming a key offensive weapon known for his reliable hands, blocking prowess, and ability to gain significant yardage after the catch. Later in his career, he joined the Oakland Raiders, further demonstrating his enduring skill and contributing to their success. His transition from a college standout to a respected NFL player underscored his exceptional abilities and the impact he had on the game at both levels.  

-Football Legacy

Ted Kwalick's football legacy is defined by his pioneering role in elevating the tight end position. His combination of blocking strength and receiving finesse set a new standard for the position, influencing how teams utilized their tight ends in both the college and professional ranks. His success at Penn State helped solidify the program's national prominence, and his subsequent achievements in the NFL further cemented his reputation as an exceptional talent. Kwalick's impact extended beyond his individual statistics; he embodied the ideal of a complete tight end, capable of contributing in all facets of the game. His influence on the position is still felt today, as tight ends are now routinely expected to be both effective blockers and dynamic receivers.

-Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

Ted Kwalick's stellar career was marked by numerous accolades. He was a consensus All-American in 1968. His collegiate achievements were recognized with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, a testament to his lasting impact on the college game. In his nine seasons in the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers (1969-1974) and the Oakland Raiders (1975-1977), Kwalick established himself as a premier tight end. While specific career statistics may vary across sources, he was consistently a reliable target, amassing significant receptions and yardage throughout his professional tenure. His consistent performance and recognition as one of the top tight ends of his era underscore his significant contributions to professional football.  

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Born May 4, 1938, Hampton, Arkansas, was Wayne Harris who played center for Arkansas from 1958 to 1960. The NFF states that Wayne was  an excellent blocker on offense and a fierce tackler on defense keeping his on the field most of the game as a two-way player. A First Team All-America selection, Harris set an Arkansas single-season record for tackles with 174 in 1960.

A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, he was named Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1960.  Harris was nicknamed "Thumper" for his hard hits, and the Arkansas coaches now honor the best defensive player with the Thumper Award. A true scholar-athlete, Harris was named First Team Academic All-America in 1959 and twice earned First Team Academic All-Conference honors.

Wayne Harris was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 after the National Football Foundation tabulated their votes. He was further honored in 1976 when the Canadian Football Hall of Fame inducted him for his play with the Calgary Stampeders.

The records and stats of the Akron Zips football program are housed and presented quite well on the College Football Reference site.

Sports-Reference is your one-stop shop for college football history and stats. Dive into team and player records, explore past seasons, track rankings, and relive iconic games. Find Heisman winners, conference champs, and all-time leaders. From scores and schedules to rosters and recruiting, delve into the numbers that tell the story of college football's past, present, and future. So, whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual enthusiast, Sports-Reference serves as your ultimate college football knowledge base.

Check out previous seasons, biggest games, origins, logo design, and players for Akron and their accomplishments in the MAC Conference and beyond.

Join us in our salute to the history of the 1935 College Football Season in our series titled Football History Rewind Part 76. We cover the big games, top players, and some of the most exciting games of the 1936 CFB season.

Nestled in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, Cardinal Stadium stands as a testament to the city's unwavering passion for football and the University of Louisville Cardinals.

Its history, though relatively young compared to other college football stadiums, is one of remarkable growth, thrilling moments, and unwavering support from the Louisville Cardinal faithful.

-Humble Beginnings and Rapid Expansion (1998-2000):

-Officially opened in 1998, Cardinal Stadium replaced the aging Cardinal Stadium, marking a new era for Louisville football.

-The initial capacity of 42,000 quickly proved inadequate as demand for tickets soared.

-Within two years, the stadium underwent its first expansion, increasing capacity to 48,000.

-A Decade of Transformation and Defining Moments (2001-2010):

-The early 2000s witnessed further expansion and modernization of the stadium.

-The addition of luxury suites, club seats, and a state-of-the-art press box elevated the fan experience and enhanced the stadium's amenities.

-On the field, the Cardinals enjoyed a period of unprecedented success under head coach Bobby Petrino, winning Conference USA championships in 2000 and 2006.

-Cardinal Stadium witnessed historic moments like the dramatic 2006 victory over West Virginia, solidifying its place as the heart of Louisville football.

-The Rise to National Prominence and Beyond (2011-Present):

-With the arrival of head coach Charlie Strong, the Cardinals ascended to new heights, joining the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 2014.

-Cardinal Stadium became a stage for national championship aspirations, hosting thrilling ACC battles and captivating the college football world.

-The 2016 season witnessed Lamar Jackson's Heisman Trophy campaign, further solidifying the stadium's national recognition and the Cardinals' place among the elite.

-A Vibrant Home and a Legacy in the Making:

-Today, Cardinal Stadium stands as a modern marvel, boasting a capacity of 60,800 and featuring cutting-edge technology and amenities.

-The passionate roar of the Cardinal faithful creates an electric atmosphere on game days, making it one of the most intimidating venues in college football.

Beyond the victories and championships, Cardinal Stadium remains a symbol of the city's love for the game and its unwavering support for the University of Louisville Cardinals.
For more on the history of Cardinal Stadium visit College Gridirons.com

The football fields on which modern games are played have undergone many transformations over the years. The field has been morphed almost as many times as the rules of the game have been changed.

Our guest, Timothy Brown of Football Archaeology, has admired and brought to our attention the work of a historian who has really captured the evolution of the American Football Field.

James Gilbert has put together an impressive research study on the evolution of the American football field over the years of rules revisions and modifications since 1876, complete with graphics. Enjoy this Substack post that he put out recently.

-Transcribed Conversation on Football Field Evolution with Timothy Brown and James Gilbert

Hello, my football friends. This is Darren Hayes of PigskinDispatch.com. Welcome once again to The Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history. And wow, we have a great episode coming on tonight.

We have Timothy P. Brown of Football Archaeology joining us, and we're going to be talking about the football field and some evolutionary changes that have happened to it over the years. Tim, welcome back to The Pig Pen. Darren, good to see you again, as always.

Thanks for having me. Never want to take it for granted that you're going to let me come onto your show. The invitation is always there, my friend, and I'm never going to take it for granted that you join us each week because it's quite a treat for myself and the listeners.

We get to learn about something new with football or be reminded of something maybe that's been long forgotten. And I think that's kind of typical of what we have tonight. You know, something that we see every single game that we watch, and it's so obvious that we probably take it for granted.

That's the football field itself. You know, without it, there's not much of a game going on. And you came across a friend of yours that you guys wrote a piece together a few years ago on the evolution of the football field, and it's really quite interesting.

And maybe you could talk about that a little bit tonight. Yeah, so this is, you know, the friend that you're mentioning is James Gilbert. And, you know, kind of longtime readers or somebody who's gone back through the archives might remember that back in November 2021, he and I co-authored a story about the University of North Carolina team from 1893.

They were the first Southern team to go to the North and play a game because they played Lehigh towards the end of the season in Manhattan. So, you know, he and I kind of worked together on that. And I forget, even now, how he and I first connected.

But, you know, he's in the kind of old football and just general sports, you know, arcane information, you know, like me. And I had, you know, like in my How Football Became Football, I documented at least the major sequences of how the field and markings changed. You know, goalpost locations, all that kind of stuff.

So, I mean, I took it to a certain level. And, but now, James recently launched a Substack newsletter or blog called James's Newsletter. And one of his first articles is an article about the evolution of college football field.

So basically, he's what he did, and he's been doing this for quite some time. He's been creating, you know, graphics, images of the football field and all the markings at each point in time. So, going back to 1876.

And then, you know, each time that it changed, either the dimensions or the markings, location, this or that on the field, he basically created all these graphics to show this information. And then what he's done now is mirror it in a Substack article. So he's got kind of the description of what was happening, you know, why it changed what was happening, the game led to the change, and then just the detailed description of the change.

And, like, when I did mine, I stopped at 1960, but he carried on to really to the present. So all the different changes that, you know, we sometimes don't think about the things like the size of the coach's box, the size of the team, team's box, how far off the sideline to get back, you know, they get back coach has to get back, you know, all that kind of stuff. You know, he just he's outlined, outlined, he put in detail all this information.

So this is one of these where, you know, normally we talk about my tidbits or an article, but this, I just wanted to make sure there's some attention brought to him and the effort he's gone through. Because it's just, you know, it's a great resource. And I don't know anybody who has documented how the field has, has changed over, you know, 147 years of football history, like he has, you know, so it's just a really neat effort.

He's done a couple of other things as well. Yeah, that's. I know exactly what you're talking about. I did a piece similar to you, where I covered the football field probably two or three years ago. Actually, it was an adaptation of an article I wrote back in 2003.

And I had my son, you know, throw some graphics up there. And but James's article, you know, I had the grid field in the early 1900s, but I had it going, you know, goal line to goal line, which it did. But I had forgotten about the aspect of the back in, and I believe it was 1903.

And we were just talking about it. I ran across an article the other day in newspapers.com, where they went from a 25-yard line to a 25-yard line with the grid. And then it was the normal stripes, you know, outside the 25s or to the goal line. Anyway, so just the detail, he's doing that.

And I can tell you from officiating, you know, the 27 years I officiated at the high school level, there was a field change every single year, you know, as you said, the coaches box changing by the yard or, you know, the teams were allowed to the 20s. And it was a 25s or boundary lines or a hash mark is now, you know, instead of three inches, it's four inches wide or whatever, you know, so I can imagine what the collegiate field has been doing over those years. It's probably every year; there's something small.

So, this is really a Galathian chore that James is doing, and it's much appreciated. We'll have a link here in the show notes, folks, to James's site and Pigskin dispatch.

So you can appreciate his work. You know, that's really going to take a lot of effort on his part. And that's appreciated.

Yeah, you know, the thing about it is like there's so, you know, there's a bunch of times when, um, yeah, there's, well, you and I go on a particular site that sometimes they post a pic, you know, these unidentified, you know, people can't figure out where's this, you know, who's this team in this picture? You know, there's a game in a stadium. Where is this? Who's playing? What's the period? So, a lot of times, you can tell certain things just based on the uniforms or the formations, and you have a pretty good sense of what's going on. But there are other times where, you know, if depending on the angle of the shot, you can see the field markings, and that tells you a tremendous amount.

In some cases, like 1903, it tells you exactly what year the game was played. You know, if you have the right kind of angle or the right kind of shot. So, so anyway, so just anybody who enjoys doing that kind of thing, or sometimes finds themselves looking back at an old photo and trying to figure out, well, when, when was this thing from, you know, his site will be really a great reference, you know because it just collects all that kind of information in one place.

You know, the other, the other thing that, another thing that he does that is interesting is, and he, some of his posts on it, on the, on his newsletter reflect this, where he's a, he's a North Carolina, you know, UNC graduate and fan. One of the things he's done is go back and try to figure out where every North Carolina football game was played. And I don't mean that at a very casual level; I mean out of detail.

And so, you know, like, you can go back, and there are all kinds of sites where there's a site called jhowell.net that I use all the time to find the old scores and where games were played and that kind of stuff. And so it might say the game was played in Milwaukee or New Haven or wherever it was, but it doesn't necessarily tell you the exit or the field. Well, a lot of the old football, you know, especially going further back, you know, in the 1800s, you know, maybe up till 1920, sometimes these games were just played in some local park, you know, and they slapped up temporary stands or the games were played in a minor league baseball park that got torn down 80 years ago.

And now there's, you know, an expressway is sitting on top of it or, you know, a shopping mall or whatever it is. There are all kinds of these past stadiums that just are no longer there. And in a bunch of cases, kind of people have lost track of where they are.

So he goes in, and I don't really understand all the resources that he uses, but I know he uses like these old, there's a bunch of online through like Library of Congress, there's these online insurance maps that used to document, you know, the streets and major cities and all that kind of stuff and which buildings were where. And so I think he uses those kinds of things and all kinds of stuff from, you know, the newspapers telling you, well, it's at the intersection of 42nd and Western or wherever. And so then he finds where this game or where this field was and then plots the field atop, you know, what it looks like today, like in Google Maps.

So it's just really kind of fun. And then he's created some databases that, you know, dig into other information. You know, it's very UNC-specific.

So, I don't necessarily care about UNC, but I really appreciate his digging into it. It's just, you know, just getting the details of a particular topic. But just think about all the fields that it covers, you know, everybody that UNC traveled to play over the years, where their stadium is, you know, you're going to know where Duke played their games when they were, you know, Trinity College or whatever, you know, at the time. So that's some really interesting stuff.

I'll have to add that to my bookmarks and check that out because, you know, you have like the uniform sites, you know, the gridiron uniform database, and you have the helmets, you know, sites that you can go to and see where helmets are from here. Now that having a resource to look at fields of an era and where football stadiums were, you know, that's pretty cool too. So that's why I'm sure a lot of people will be interested in having that information too.

So good job, James. Yeah, no, it's just kind of fun stuff. And, you know, just the, you know, again, as I said, I don't know the method that he uses to get there, but, unfortunately, he couldn't join us tonight.

Otherwise, you know, he wouldn't would have done so. But so anyway, it's just interesting stuff. And, you know, if you're enough of a geek, like you and I are, you know, you can really, you just, you know, it's like you see somebody who's got an interest in this sport or this aspect of the sport, and they dig into it, or they collect, you know, certain things.

It's just one of those things. There's nothing I had thought of, but I just have a really deep devotion to the particular aspect of the game. Yeah. Well, let's use a little bit of James's information.

Okay. Now, you just recently saw this and appreciated it. What's something that jumped out at you that either you didn't realize, or maybe you forgot, and it brought a different light on what James did in his fieldwork?

Yeah. You know, I think the, I don't know that for me it's, it's any one thing. I know he just did it, just did an article.

I think maybe it was today or the other day where, you know, he's pointing out that North Carolina is going to play a game in Charlotte. You know, I think they're playing at the Panther stadium. And so he's, the articles about, Hey, they played, you know, it's the eighth most frequent city that they played, you know, but for them, it's kind of like, you know, they played, they played at a lot of intermediate cities, you know? So, I mean, teams used to do that all the time.

I've got an article that's my Saturday tidbit is about this, where, you know, teams traveling, you know, we've got this big thing about the West coast athletes are going to be traveling to get to the Big 10 schools and all that kind of stuff, you know, with the conference modifications. But back in the day, when people traveled by train, they spent a lot of time on the train, too. And so a lot of times, they find these cities halfway between one another, and both teams would meet there and be a bigger city, especially if they were kind of rural schools.

So they played in all kinds of locations, you know? And so, but in North Carolina in particular, it just seems like they played a lot. They played in a lot of places, you know, a lot of different intermediate towns. And maybe it's just the geography of, you know, where they were in the transportation network at the time. But yeah, it's just kind of interesting, all the different places that they played.

Oh, very cool. All right. Well, why don't you go ahead and if you have James's information, if you want to call it out now, so people can do it.

But again, you know, if you're driving or something, you can go to the show notes and get the link there. But Tim, go ahead and let us know where we can find James. Yeah.

As I said, he's on Substack, which is just a platform. You can find him at jameslegilbert.substack.com. And I checked beforehand, just Googled James Lee Gilbert Substack. And, you know, it's one of the first things that comes up.

Then you'll have the link, you know, the actual link in the show notes. But James Lee Gilbert, Substack, should get you there. All right.

And folks, the graphics are really splendid. You're going to be really pleased, I think, when you see these graphics, especially of the football field evolution that we started talking about. I got to go and check out all these coordinates of where the fields were. I have to go. I appreciate that here when we get done.

So I can't wait to do that. You just added another thing to my to-do list tonight. So, thanks, James.

So far, he doesn't have a lot of those on this site. But you know, he's done a bunch of them in the past. So, I hope you know that he recycles them and republishes them on Substack.

Well, Tim, wow, that is great stuff. Thanks for bringing this to our attention so we can appreciate his work and your work.

Why don't you tell us how folks can get your daily news? Yep, just go to footballarchaeology.com, and you can subscribe. You'll get an email every night at seven o'clock Eastern with today's article. Otherwise, you can follow me on Twitter, Threads, or the Substack app. All right, Timothy P. Brown, footballarchaeology.com. We thank you once again for joining us, and we will talk to you again next week.

Very good. Thanks.

-Frequently Asked Questions About an American Football Field:

-How long is a football field? A football field from goal line to goal line is 100 yards long with two ten yard deep end zones. Want to know more about the evolution of the playing field, you are in the right place as we covered it here:Field Size Evolution.

-How wide is a football field? Most levels of American football play on a field that is 53.3 yards wide.

-What are the hash marks for? The hash marks are used for a few different things during a game, but most importantly they are the inbounds spot for the ball to rest fo the next play adjacent to where it became dead on the previous play outside of the hash marks or out of bounds. Here is a great piece explaining the has marks and their history and evolution: The Fumble Fiasco Out-of-Bounds Oddities in Early Football.

In the annals of college football history, few pranks have captured the public's imagination quite like the Great Rose Bowl Hoax of 1961. This audacious caper, orchestrated by a group of mischievous Caltech students, forever altered the face of the Rose Bowl and cemented its place as a legendary moment in sports history.

A Masterfully Planned Deception:
The brainchild of a group of Caltech undergraduates known as the "Fiendish Fourteen," the hoax was a meticulous operation executed with military precision. The students, led by the charismatic Dick Feynman, created hundreds of index cards bearing Caltech's name and strategically inserted them into the card stunts prepared by the University of Washington cheerleaders. Their goal? To infiltrate the Rose Bowl halftime show and replace the University of Washington's script with their own, declaring Caltech the victor against a fictitious opponent, MIT.

The Hoax Unfolds:
As planned, during the halftime show, the unsuspecting Washington cheerleaders began displaying Caltech's name instead of their own. Initially met with confusion, the crowd soon erupted in laughter and astonishment as the prank unfolded. The national television broadcast captured the bewildered faces of the Washington cheerleaders and the jubilant faces of the Caltech students, forever etching the moment in sports history.

Impact and Legacy:
The Great Rose Bowl Hoax was hailed as a stroke of genius, showcasing the ingenuity and humor of the Caltech students. It became a national sensation, sparking discussions about sportsmanship, tradition, and the power of a well-executed prank. Though some deemed it disrespectful, the hoax ultimately enhanced the allure of the Rose Bowl, adding a layer of intrigue and humor to its legacy.

More than just a prank:
While primarily remembered for its comedic value, the Great Rose Bowl Hoax also highlighted the intellectual prowess and resourcefulness of Caltech students. It served as a testament to their ability to think outside the box and execute complex plans with meticulous detail.

There is more n the story at the link below.