Football Daily

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Born May 2, 1945, in Fort Worth, Texas, was the Arkansas Razorbacks tackle from 1964 through the 1966 season, Loyd Phillips. According to the National Football Foundation Phillips recorded 304 career tackles and he played on Razorback teams that compiled a 29-3 record during his stay. Loyd earned All-Southwest Conference accolades three times and First Team All-American honors twice. A unanimous First Team All-American selection in 1966, Phillips won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman. Loyd Phillips was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.

Bill Warner, a name synonymous with early 20th century college football, wasn't just a player or coach; he was a pioneer, a visionary, and a Hall of Famer whose influence transcended generations. Unlike his more celebrated brother Glenn "Pop" Warner, Bill carved his own unique path, leaving an indelible mark on the gridiron.

Warner's playing career (1899-1902) at Cornell University established him as a dominant force. Standing at a formidable 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he was a "rock" upon which Cornell built one of the best offensive lines in the nation. While not known for flashy plays, Warner's consistency and intelligence garnered him All-America honors in 1901 and 1902, solidifying his reputation as a "workhorse guard."

But Warner's impact truly blossomed in his coaching career. Following his graduation, he head-coached at Cornell in 1903, leading them to a respectable 6-3-1 record in his debut season. He then embarked on a remarkable journey, coaching at various universities across the country, including North Carolina, Colgate, Saint Louis, and Oregon.

Warner's coaching philosophy was ahead of its time. He emphasized offensive innovation, utilizing forward passes and deceptive running plays to challenge traditional defensive schemes. His "Warner System" became a hallmark of his tenure, paving the way for the evolution of the modern passing game.

His success was undeniable. Warner boasted a winning record at every institution he coached, amassing an impressive 180-79-14 record over 22 seasons. He led Colgate to two National Championships (1906, 1908) and his Oregon teams became a force in the Pacific Coast Conference.

Beyond wins and championships, Warner's legacy lies in his lasting impact on the game. He revolutionized offensive strategies, mentored future coaching giants like Pop Warner and Knute Rockne, and laid the foundation for the exciting, pass-driven football we witness today.

Born May 2, 1887, in St. Louis, Missouri, was the halfback from Texas A&M from 1905 to 1907 Joe Utay. The FootballFoundation.org shares that in the three seasons that Utay played with the Aggies the school had a 19-4-1 record. What Utay did for the gridiron after his playing days were over was truly remarkable. Utay graduated in 1908, went to law school, and was a practicing attorney in Dallas for 55 years. He returned to Texas A&M in 1912 and served one year as freshman football coach and director of athletics. That same year he founded the Texas Officials Association, and he was its president 1912-36. In 1914 he helped found the Southwest Conference. Still seemingly finding some times on his hands Joe wrote the Southwest review of each football season in the NCAA Guide for 25 years. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Joe Utay into their legendary museum in 1974.

Born April 25, 1927, in Hector, Minnesota, was Minnesota’s Gustavus Adolphus tackle Calvin Roberts. With Roberts in the lineup the Golden Gusties won three consecutive league titles and boasted a 23-1 regular season record per the footballfoundation.org. The 1951 team was undefeated as Roberts won the first of his two All-America honors and became a three-time All-MIAC selection. The National Football Foundation selected Calvin Roberts for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Calvin was drafted by the New York Giants, but an illness prevented him from taking on competition at the professional level. Therefore Roberts then entered the Marine Corps where he was named to the All-Marine Corps team while playing for the El Toro Marines. Calvin later became a line coach at Augsburg College for a short period before entering a role as a teacher in physical education.  

Born May 4, 1910, in Milton, Massachusetts, was Barry Wood the Harvard University quarterback from 1929 to 1931. The FootballFoundation.org tells us that he was quite the tremendous athlete as Dr. Barry Wood earned ten varsity letters at Harvard, lettering in football, hockey, baseball and tennis. However, it was football where he really excelled,  as evidenced by his selection to Grantland Rice's first team All-America in 1931. As a sophomore in 1929 he threw a 40-yard touchdown pass and drop-kicked two extra points in a 20-20 tie with Army. He drop-kicked a field goal and extra point in a 10-6 victory over Yale. In 1930, Harvard beat Yale 13-0; Wood led the way by completing six of nine passes. In 1931, he led two touchdown drives as Harvard beat Army 14-13. The National Football Foundation selected Barry Wood for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Born May 7, 1930, in Rochester, Pennsylvania, was Babe Parilli the legendary University of Kentucky quarterback. Parilli quarterbacked the Wildcats for Hall of Fame coach Bear Bryant from 1949-51 according to his bio on the footballfoundation.org website.

Babe introduced Bear Bryant's "T" Formation that baffled opponents and spectators alike, magically taking Kentucky into the national spotlight. On the field or in the stands, you simply lost sight of the football once Parilli had it in his magical Houdini hands. Defenders tackled backs not carrying the ball as Parilli miraculously seemed to repossess it and toss it into hands that suddenly appeared from obscurity. In 1949 and 1950, Parilli directed teams that ran up 684 points against 115 opposition points.

The Wildcats held 10 of 22 opponents scoreless, and all but three to 7 points or less. In 1949, Parilli led Kentucky to a 9-3 record, including wins over LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and Florida. In 1950 during Parilli’s junior year, the Wildcats produced the greatest season in school history, including an 11-1 campaign and Southeastern Conference Championship. Parilli’s senior season resulted in an 8-4 record, culminating his illustrious career with NCAA records at time for career passing touchdowns (50), completions (331) and passing yards (4,351).

Babe Parilli was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982 after the National Football Foundation tabulated up their votes. Parilli was selected in the first round as the number 4.overall pick of the 1952 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, and he played professional football for 18 seasons, including four with the Packers , three with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League, one with the Cleveland Browns, one with the Oakland Raiders, seven with the Boston Patriots and two with the New York Jets. NCAAF Jersey 10

Born May 12, 1872, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was Princeton University’s guard from 1892 to 1894, Art Wheeler. Wheeler in college found himself at the pinnacle of early football as the Yale Bulldogs riding a 37 game winning streak were about to test the 10-0 Princeton Tigers that Art was a member of for the season’s finale in 1893. The FootballFoundation.org describes that without question the 1893 national championship would go to the winner of this game. Time after time, the Princeton defense responded to Yale scoring threats as a guard named Arthur "Beef" Wheeler led the charge. Yale's great end, Frank Hinkey, was rendered ineffective and the Elis streak ended with a 6-0 Princeton triumph. Wheeler was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

Born May 5, 1919, Hamtramck, Michigan, was Michigan’s great tackle from 1939 to 1941 Bob Westfall. According to the Footballfoundation.org Bob was the starting fullback in every Michigan game from 1939 through 1941. In his first two seasons he was part of a famous Michigan backfield, Tom Harmon, Forest Evashevski, Paul Kromer and Westfall. Westfall’s career yards in 3 seasons was 1,864 yards, a record for a Michigan fullback that lasted 30 years. Bob Westfall was honored to be selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Born May 16, 1943, in Borger, Texas, was Donny Anderson who was the 1963 to 1965 starting halfback of Texas Tech. Donny’s NFF bio lists that he was known as "The Golden Palomino" as a two-time All-America halfback 1964 and 1965. He had some splash plays almost from the get-go, for as a sophomore at Tech, he intercepted a pass and ran 43 yards against Washington State. As a junior his stat-line included a 90-yard run from scrimmage against Texas Christian and a 68-yard punt against Southern Methodist. The more he played the better he got. In his Senior season Donny was off the charts. That 1965 season Anderson ran a kickoff back 100 yards against Oklahoma State, caught ten passes against Arkansas, and scored 17 touchdowns on the season. The Sporting News named him co-winner (with Jim Grabowski of Illinois) of its Player of the Year Award. His 5111 yards on all-purpose running was a Texas Tech record. This includes his career yardage by rushing, receiving, kick returns, and interception returns. The National Football Foundation selected Donny Anderson for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Donny enjoyed nine seasons at the professional level as a player too. The Pro Football Reference website shares that he spent 6 seasons as a Green Bay Packer winning two Super Bowls and two NFL Championships and three more years as a St Louis Cardinal. During his NFL stint he tallied almost 4700 yards with a 3.9 yards per carry average.

Frederick C. Miller, better known as "Big Fred," wasn't just a football player – he was a pillar of Notre Dame's gridiron success in the early 20th century. Standing at a formidable 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Miller redefined the tackle position, earning his place among the legendary figures who shaped the Fighting Irish's legacy.

His journey began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his raw talent and imposing stature caught the eye of Knute Rockne, the legendary Notre Dame coach. Rockne, known for his keen eye for talent, recognized Miller's potential and recruited him to South Bend in 1926.

Miller didn't disappoint. He quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Irish defense, earning All-American honors in 1928 and 1929. His strength, agility, and intelligence made him a formidable wall against opposing offensive lines. He anchored the "Four Horsemen" era, a period of offensive dominance for Notre Dame, providing the defensive stability that allowed stars like Stuhldreher and Laycock to shine.

Beyond his physical prowess, Miller was known for his leadership and unwavering dedication. He served as team captain in 1929, leading by example both on and off the field. His loyalty to Notre Dame extended beyond his playing career, as he returned to serve as an assistant coach after his graduation in 1929.