Sports History Network

The Pigskin Daily History Dispatch takes listeners on a fascinating journey into the history of tackling dummies in football, a crucial piece of training equipment that has evolved significantly since its inception. Host Darin Hayes welcomes historian Timothy Brown from FootballArchaeology.com, who shares remarkable insights into the origins of tackling dummies, dating back to the early 1890s. Brown illustrates how both Amos Alonzo Stagg of Yale and Arthur Cumnock of Harvard independently designed the first tackling dummies to help players practice safely amidst the growing physicality of the game. Their innovations laid the groundwork for the modern training techniques used today, emphasizing the need for safer practice methods to prevent injuries in football.

Listeners are treated to a vivid exploration of how these early tackling dummies were constructed—some were simply bags filled with rags or logs wrapped in mattresses. Brown discusses the transition from rudimentary training aids to the advanced, lightweight dummies seen on practice fields today. The conversation highlights how the design and functionality of tackling dummies have developed over the decades, making the game safer for players while also improving their tackling techniques. Hayes and Brown also reflect on the cultural significance of these training tools in shaping the game, underscoring the ongoing quest for innovation in football training and safety. This episode not only sheds light on an essential aspect of football history but also engages listeners with anecdotes and reflections that celebrate the sport's evolution over the last century.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Hosted by Dan's wife Allison, the guys take part in some New York Sports Trivia! Check out the cards they used at: https://www.yougottaknowgames.com/product/you-gotta-know-ny-sports-copy/

Hello Old Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear. Contact the show at [email protected] and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HelloOldSports

Exploring the rich tapestry of the New York Giants' history, this episode invites listeners to journey through the evolution of one of the NFL's most storied franchises. The discussion begins with the origins of the Giants' name, tracing back to the baseball team that captured the hearts of New Yorkers long before the football team took the field. Host Darren Hayes delves into the significance of branding and identity in sports, highlighting how Tim Mara's decision to adopt the 'Giants' name in 1925 was a strategic move to leverage the popularity of the baseball team while establishing a unique identity in the burgeoning world of professional football. Through insightful anecdotes and historical context, Hayes paints a vivid picture of the early years of the Giants, their struggles, and their triumphs as they carved out a place in the hearts of fans.

As the conversation progresses, the episode transitions into a detailed exploration of the various stadiums that have served as the Giants' home over the decades. From the Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium, and later to Giants Stadium and MetLife Stadium, each venue tells a story of change, adaptation, and the evolving nature of American football. The host provides fascinating facts about each location, discussing the team's relocation strategies and the impact of these moves on their fan base and overall franchise culture. The narrative unfolds in a dynamic manner, allowing listeners to appreciate not just the geographical shifts, but also the emotional connections fans have with each stadium, underscoring the Giants' enduring legacy in the NFL.

The episode culminates in a reflective discussion about the Giants' centennial season, looking ahead to what the future holds for the franchise. With a tone that inspires nostalgia while embracing the excitement of new beginnings, Darren Hayes invites listeners to engage with the Giants' history in a way that honors the past while eagerly anticipating future accomplishments. This exploration of the New York Football Giants is not just a recounting of dates and events; it is a celebration of football culture, identity, and the enduring spirit of one of the league's most iconic teams.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

A rare NFL occurrence took place during the Thursday Night Football game on December 19th, when viewers witnessed the fair catch free kick, a rule that hasn't been activated since 1976. This unique play occurred just before halftime in a competitive match between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers, ultimately leading to a surprising 60-yard field goal by Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker. The episode delves into the history and mechanics of the fair catch free kick, explaining how it operates and its significance in football. Host Darren Hayes sheds light on the origins of this rule, tracing it back to the 19th century, and clarifies the differences between free kicks and regular kicks in the game. As the episode unfolds, listeners gain insights into the strategic implications of this rare play and the overall context within which it occurred, celebrating the rich history of football.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Gridiron Greats Magazine podcast is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

With Special Guest Army Football Historian Scotty Autin

GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND

Gridiron Greats covers 140+ years of North American football history and memorabilia. It was founded in 2002 and published by Franklin Rose who then turned over to Bob Swick and Swick Enterprises starting with Issue 23.

Editor and publisher, Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965. He has written about football cards and memorabilia since 1990 for several major sports collecting publications including Sports Collectors Digest and had his own column, Turning The Pages.

He self-published Bob Swick’s Football Times in the 1990s; he has been interviewed in Tuff Stuff, the Giants Report, the Packers Report, and the Beckett Football Monthly magazine. He has also been a contributor to the Beckett Annual Football Price Guide. Bob also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.

He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association. Bob brings his expertise to the magazine in the form of his love of all things football-related. His BA in journalism and MS in Economics brings a unique focus to the niche of football memorabilia and history.

We want to thank everyone who takes the time to subscribe to and support Gridiron Greats Magazine. Besides our knowledgeable, generous contributors and most talented illustrator, Jared Kraus, all administrative activities are performed by Bob Swick and his wife, Brenda. Thank you all for your support. We are ever so grateful.

See our Contributors page for a bio on some of our fantastic writers. Without them, this magazine would not exist. We are grateful for their continuing support.

If you would like to be a contributing writer, or subscriber or want to advertise in Gridiron Greats, please contact the Publisher via the information above. Portions of the material presented are the opinion of the contributing writers and not necessarily those of Swick Enterprises, LLC. 

CONTACT US If you are interested in any particular football topic that you would like to either see featured in Gridiron Greats or would like to write about, and if you have a Super Collection you want to be considered for an upcoming publication please feel free to contact Bob via email. 

Gridiron Greats Magazine podcast is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

With Special Guest Army Football Historian Scotty Autin

GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND

Gridiron Greats covers 140+ years of North American football history and memorabilia. It was founded in 2002 and published by Franklin Rose who then turned over to Bob Swick and Swick Enterprises starting with Issue 23.

Editor and publisher, Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965. He has written about football cards and memorabilia since 1990 for several major sports collecting publications including Sports Collectors Digest and had his own column, Turning The Pages.

He self-published Bob Swick’s Football Times in the 1990s; he has been interviewed in Tuff Stuff, the Giants Report, the Packers Report, and the Beckett Football Monthly magazine. He has also been a contributor to the Beckett Annual Football Price Guide. Bob also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.

He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association. Bob brings his expertise to the magazine in the form of his love of all things football-related. His BA in journalism and MS in Economics brings a unique focus to the niche of football memorabilia and history.

We want to thank everyone who takes the time to subscribe to and support Gridiron Greats Magazine. Besides our knowledgeable, generous contributors and most talented illustrator, Jared Kraus, all administrative activities are performed by Bob Swick and his wife, Brenda. Thank you all for your support. We are ever so grateful.

See our Contributors page for a bio on some of our fantastic writers. Without them, this magazine would not exist. We are grateful for their continuing support.

If you would like to be a contributing writer, or subscriber or want to advertise in Gridiron Greats, please contact the Publisher via the information above. Portions of the material presented are the opinion of the contributing writers and not necessarily those of Swick Enterprises, LLC. 

CONTACT US If you are interested in any particular football topic that you would like to either see featured in Gridiron Greats or would like to write about, and if you have a Super Collection you want to be considered for an upcoming publication please feel free to contact Bob via email. 

Watching nationally televised college basketball is extremely common today. But this was the first regular season game televised nationwide. It was 1968 and it featured #1 UCLA vs. #2 Houston. It also featured two future Hall-of-Famers in Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Elvin Hayes.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Mark and Dave for an exclusive episode of Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network as they sit down with legendary Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly, their all-time favorite NFL player.

Bob shares captivating stories from his 14-season career with the Dallas Cowboys, his unique off-season training routines, and the challenges of playing in the early days of the NFL. Discover how Bob balanced football with other jobs, his draft experience, and the influence of iconic coach Tom Landry on his life and faith.

This episode is a treasure trove of NFL history and personal anecdotes from one of the greatest defensive linemen in history. Don't miss this chance to hear firsthand from a true sports legend!

You can read the full blog post here.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Chapters:

(00:00) Bob Lilly played 14 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys from 1961 to 1974

(07:50) Dave Lilly says he was drafted by both Texans and Cowboys

(14:04) We had played at some other, um, you know, other teams

(21:06) You mentioned before about how you could leap over blockers in practice

(26:25) Bob Brown: It was 17 below out there when we went out

The episode presents a detailed narrative on the evolution of TV timeouts in football, led by Darin Hayes and Timothy P. Brown, who examine the critical role these pauses play in the modern viewing experience. The discussion opens with an examination of football's inherent characteristics that make it a television favorite, including its pacing and the strategic breaks that allow viewers to engage with the game without missing the action. Brown provides a historical context, explaining how the adoption of TV timeouts in football mirrored changes in the NBA, where coaches had the option to call timeouts that could be leveraged for commercial breaks. This historical anecdote sets the stage for a broader reflection on how the sport has adapted to television's demands over the decades. The episode encourages listeners to consider the balance between maintaining the integrity of the game and the commercial pressures that dictate viewer experience, ultimately pondering whether the current format still serves the fans or primarily benefits advertisers.

Of course, this story is based on Tim 's Tidbit titled: Birth of TV Timeouts -

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Come join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Go to SportsHistoryNetwork.com/Row1 for access to the full Row One catalog for gallery prints and gift items. Plus, get a 15% discount on all prints on the Row One Pictorem Gallery with coupon code SHN15.

Get a free one-week subscription to Newspapers.com by visiting SportsHistoryNetwork.com/newspapers. And with a paid subscription, you’ll also be helping to support the production of this and other Sports History Network shows. 

We also feature great music by Mike and Gene Monroe along with Jason Neff & great graphics from time to time from the folks at Gridiron-Uniform Database.

Want more Sports History delivered to your ears, come see this podcast and many more at the Sports History Network - The Headquarters of Sports' Yesteryear!

We would like to thank the National Football Foundation, Pro Football Hall of Fame, On this day.com and Pro Football Reference Websites for the information shared with you today.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

The podcast dives into the rich history of the New York Giants as they approach their 100th anniversary in 2024, reflecting on a remarkable era that culminated in their Super Bowl victory in 1986. Host Darren Hays opens the discussion by emphasizing the significance of this milestone for Giants fans, who have witnessed the team's ups and downs over the decades. The narrative explores the team's struggles leading up to the Super Bowl era, particularly noting the long drought since their last championship in 1956. Gary Myers, a noted NFL insider, joins the conversation to provide insights into the pivotal figures who shaped the Giants during this transformative period, including legendary coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick. Myers recounts how the team, built by general manager George Young, finally came together to form a championship-caliber roster, highlighting standout players like Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor.

The episode takes listeners through the 1986 season, detailing the Giants' rocky start with a close loss to the Dallas Cowboys but quickly shifting to a series of impressive victories that built the team's confidence. Hays captures the intensity of the season's games, from narrow wins against division rivals to dominant performances against top teams like the San Francisco 49ers. The hosts highlight how these experiences set the stage for the playoffs, where the Giants faced off against familiar foes, culminating in a decisive Super Bowl showdown against the Denver Broncos. The detailed play-by-play of the Super Bowl illustrates the team's resilience and strategy, showcasing how they overcame adversity to secure their first championship in three decades, with Phil Simms earning the MVP title.

Listeners gain a profound appreciation for the legacy of the 1986 Giants, not only through the lens of their Super Bowl success but also in the context of the franchise's history. The episode serves as a nostalgic reminder of the team's journey, exploring the emotional highs and lows that define the spirit of Giants football. Hays encourages fans to stay tuned for future episodes that will delve deeper into the Giants' storied past, promising a rich tapestry of football history that resonates with both longtime supporters and new fans alike.