Sports History Network

In 1919, the Spanish Flu wreaked havoc during the Stanley Cup finals and caused it to finish in a draw between Montreal and Seattle.

In 1987, Indiana beat Syracuse to win the National Championship

In 1981, Indiana beat North Carolina to win the National Championship

In 1940, Indiana beat Kansas to win the National Championship

In 1991, Duke ended UNLV's bid to go undefeated, beating the Runnin' Rebels in the National Semifinals.

In 2001, Michael Phelps set his first world record in the 200 meter butterfly

The discussion delves into the intriguing proposition that the 24th pick in the NFL draft may, paradoxically, represent one of the most pivotal selections available. As we are a mere 24 days from the highly anticipated 2026 NFL Draft, the speakers reflect upon the historical significance of this draft position, which has been a gateway to some of the most illustrious names in professional football. From the illustrious Ed Reed, renowned for his ball-hawking prowess, to the legendary Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback whose career has been nothing short of remarkable, pick number 24 has consistently yielded franchise-defining players. The speakers emphasize the remarkable success rate of this selection, contrasting it with the historically lackluster performance associated with other draft positions, such as the 25th pick. This episode serves as a compelling exploration of the potential that the 24th pick holds in shaping the future of NFL franchises, urging listeners to appreciate the rich tapestry of talent that has emerged from this singular spot on the draft board.

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

Contact us directly at [email protected]

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

Fans know the 1979 NCAA Championship Game as a classic showdown between Indiana State and Michigan State, and the first chapter in the Bird/Magic rivalry. Fewer know the fully story of ISU's cinderella run to the championship game, and of how close Larry Bird came to ending his legendary career before it even started.

Just in time for the Final Four, author Keith O'Brien joins us to discuss his new book, "Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird". It tells the story of how a young man from French Lick led a team from Terra Haute to the summit of college basketball.

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

In 1982, the North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Georgetown Hoyas 63-62.

In 1976, the Indiana Hoosiers beat the Michigan Wolverines to win the the National Championship and finish the year a perfect 32-0. The Hoosiers are the last team to go through the season and win the title undefeated. Also Bobby Knight became the first to win a championship as a player and head coach.

In 1981, it was the beginning of the end for the AIAW Championship. Louisiana Tech beat Tennessee 79-59.

In 1987, Jeff Sluman and Sandy Lyle were locked in a sudden death playoff at the Players Championship. Sluman was lining up a potential tournament winning putt when a guy jumped into the water surrounding the 17th green. Sluman missed the putt and Lyle won on the next hole.

In 2014, Laura Diaz had her second ace in two days at the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California. It was just the second time in LPGA history that a golfer had aced two holes during the same tournament.

In 1981, American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonson crossed the finish line at the inaugural London Marathon to win as a pair in 2 hours 11 minutes and 48 seconds.

The 25th pick in the NFL Draft has been identified as a historically significant yet underwhelming selection, often regarded as the league's best-kept secret. Throughout the annals of football history, this particular draft slot has yielded players who have contributed to championship teams, such as Santonio Holmes and Ted Washington, yet there remains a glaring absence of Hall of Fame inductees from this position since the AFL-NFL merger. In this podcast episode, we delve into the intricacies of this draft slot and explore the legendary players who were selected at number 25, while contemplating whether the curse of this pick may soon be broken. We will discuss both the notable successes and the profound disappointments associated with this selection, providing a comprehensive analysis of its historical context. Join us as we navigate the legacy of the 25th pick and examine the potential future stars who may emerge from this challenging position in the upcoming draft.

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

Contact us directly at [email protected]

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

In this episode, we focus on Jack Lavelle, one of the first people hired by an NFL team to specifically be a scout. He started with Notre Dame, then went to the Green Bay Packers and finally the New York Giants.

Football Learning Academy Website:

To learn more about the FLA, go to: https://www.football-learning-academy.com

Social Media:

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootballLearn1

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Music By:

Jeff Nixon, Safety for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-82.

In this episode, we focus on Steve Belichick, scout and coach at the United States Naval Academy, and father of Bill Belichick.

Football Learning Academy Website:

To learn more about the FLA, go to: https://www.football-learning-academy.com

Social Media:

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootballLearn1

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footballlearningacademy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@footballlearningacademy

Music By:

Jeff Nixon, Safety for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-82.

In 1950, Detroit Red Wing Gordie Howe crashed head first into the boards and nearly died.

In 1950, CCNY became the first and forever only team to win both the NIT and the NCAA Tournament in the same season.

In 1990, Michael Jordan had his best night as a pro and it is statistically the greatest game by any NBA player.

In 1992, Duke's Christian Laettner was a perfect 10 for 10 from the field and 10 for 10 from the free throw line and hit the game winning shot to beat Kentucky to advance to the Final Four.

In 1984, the Colts moved out of Baltimore under cover of darkness.

In this episode, we focus on trailblazer Mike Giddings Sr., who was the first director of pro scouting in NFL history and the founder of ProScout, Inc..

Football Learning Academy Website:

To learn more about the FLA, go to: https://www.football-learning-academy.com

Social Media:

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootballLearn1

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footballlearningacademy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@footballlearningacademy

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join us to learn about The Official Football Learning Academy Podcast by listening to this trailer episode.

THE OFFICIAL FOOTBALL LEARNING ACADEMY PODCAST BACKGROUND

Each week, the official Football Learning Academy podcast will take you deep into the history of this great game. Through interviews with players, coaches, or administrators in the NFL, as well as interviews with Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors, authors, and historians, you will learn about how the game evolved and important moments that shaped the sport into what it is today. You will also get first-hand accounts from the people who have made history in pro football.

HOST - KEN CRIPPEN BIO

Ken Crippen was in a leadership position within the Professional Football Researchers Association for 15 years and is now the founder and lead instructor at the Football Learning Academy. He has been researching and writing about pro football history for over 30 years and has been a sought-after interview for publications like the Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone magazine, and a sought-after guest on podcasts and radio shows, namely The History Channel, ESPN Radio, and Fox Sports Radio.

He has written two books, been the managing editor of two other books, and a contributor to yet two more books. He has also written hundreds of articles on pro football history, has won the Dick Connor Writing Award for Feature Writing (which is now called the Lesley Visser Enterprise News/Features Award) from the Pro Football Writers of America, as well as the Professional Football Researchers Association’s Ralph Hay Award for lifetime achievement in pro football research.

Music By:

Jeff Nixon, Safety for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-82.

In 1990, Pascual Perez showed up 8 days late for training camp for the New York Yankees. He was rushed out to the mound for a photo op workout. That workout would lead to problems a month later.

In 1939, Oregon beat Ohio State to win the first NCAA Tournament.

In 1978, Jack 'Goose' Givens scored 41 exploiting a soft Duke 2-3 zone as Kentucky beat the Blue Devils to win the NCAA Championship.

In 2023, Iowa's Caitlin Clark put together the only 40 point triple double in the NCAA Women's Tournament. She finished with 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds as Iowa advanced to the Final Four for the first time in 30 years.

In 2000, in the year of the Tiger, Hal Sutton knocked him off at the Players Championship. His phrase, 'be the right club today' became iconic and is a good mantra for all of us.

In 2006, the NFL owners voted unanimously to brand the official Wilson football used in games, ‘The Duke’ after former New York Giants owner Wellington Mara.

Mentioned in this episode:

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