Sports History Network

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

It was December of 1924 when Big Jim Thorpe of the NFL’s Rock Island Independents decided to escape the harsh, frigid weather of northern Illinois for a post-season gridiron tour of several southern states. The idea seemed promising. Most of his Rock Island teammates would join Thorpe for a leisurely trip to Texas (and beyond) for a series of games against the locals in each of many cities. It would be both relaxing and an opportunity to meander through several warm locations, with a grand finale in tropical Havana, Cuba. Most important, it would be a great opportunity for Thorpe and the players to earn some easy money by playing the game they loved before thousands of adoring fans eager to sample the unknown world (at the time) of professional football!

Unfortunately, none of those promising and attractive ideals came to fruition, except the tour itself…

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

WHEN FOOTBALL WAS FOOTBALL BACKGROUND

Each episode takes the listener back to the very early days of the National Football League. Author Joe Ziemba will share a forgotten or lost story from one of the NFL’s two oldest teams: The Bears and the Cardinals. Team championships, individual exploits, or long-buried items of interest from the earliest years of the NFL will be dusted off and resurrected for the listener.

Not for the football faint-of-heart since these programs will document when the struggling Bears nearly went out of business or when Cardinals’ players earned $15 a game and were proud of it! It’s NFL history—with a twist!. See Joe's books below.

Cadets, Canons, and Legends: The Football History of Morgan Park Military Academy

When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL

Music for the episode - https://www.purple-planet.com/

In 2007, Tiger Woods won the Buick Invitational for his seventh consecutive PGA Tour win.

In 1958, Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella crashed his car and was left paralyzed.

In 1990, San Francisco crushed Denver in the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history.

In 1975, St. Louis’ Freddie Lewis won the ABA All-Star MVP and was given a horse for his effort.

In 1957, American tennis player Shirley Fry won the Australian Open to win the career singles Grand Slam.

In 1934, the first ever rope tow went into operation at a ski resort.

In 1991, Red Grange died at the age of 87.

This episode introduces an innovative application that enhances one's football knowledge through a daily trivia game focused on historical NFL events. We chat with Morgan Kenyon, the creator of GridironGuru.app, who explains the app's mechanics: it challenges users to arrange facts on a timeline, thereby deepening their understanding of the sport. Kenyon's motivation stems from a desire to create a casual yet engaging platform for fans to connect over football trivia, fostering conversations and camaraderie among users. The discourse further explores the app's potential for future features, including competitive elements that could enhance user engagement. As we navigate the conversation, it becomes evident that the intersection of technology and sports history offers an enriching experience for game enthusiasts.

A compelling conversation unfolds as we engage with Morgan Kenyon, the visionary behind the Gridiron Guru app, which transforms the way fans interact with football history through daily trivia challenges. The episode delves into the motivations that inspired Kenyon to create a platform that not only entertains but also educates football enthusiasts. By presenting users with a series of events to sequence on a timeline, the app offers a unique opportunity for fans to test their knowledge of NFL history in an engaging way, making it a perfect fit for those who wish to showcase their expertise in a brief yet impactful way. Throughout our discussion, we explore the app's features and the rationale behind its design. Kenyon articulates how the trivia format encourages casual interaction among friends, allowing users to connect over their shared love for football. He underscores the app's accessibility, making it possible for anyone to participate without dedicating extensive amounts of time. This emphasis on brevity and engagement is crucial in a world where fans often have limited opportunities to indulge in their passion for the sport. As the conversation progresses, we examine the role of trivia in fostering a sense of community among fans, as individuals can share their scores and challenge one another, thus enhancing their collective experience of football culture. The episode also offers reflections on the historical context of the NFL, with both hosts reminiscing about their own journeys as fans. Kenyon discusses the significance of specific eras, particularly the Super Bowl era, in shaping his understanding and appreciation of football. The dialogue emphasizes how shared knowledge and historical narratives serve to connect fans across generations, reinforcing the idea that football is more than just a game; it is a vital part of personal and communal identity. This episode not only showcases the innovative aspects of the Gridiron Guru app but also highlights the enduring power of football to bring people together, fostering connections that transcend time and space.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

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.

Joined by many of our Sports History Network colleagues, Andrew and Dan discuss the lives and legacies of Ryne Sandberg, Ken Dryden, Davey Johnson, Eddie Giacomin, Bernie Parent, Nick Mangold, Paul Tagliabue, Lenny Wilkens, Michael Ray Richardson, and Lenny Wilkens.

Thanks to Dana and Chuck (Historically Speaking Sports), Bob (Gridiron Greats Podcast and Magazine), and George (PFRA Official Podcast for joining us! And special thanks to our good friend Mike Petty for sharing his memories of Bernie Parent.

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

Thump & Bump was one of the most obscure duos of NBA basketball. It was a short lived era for the Philadelphia 76ers featuring Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn. They never came close to a title, but they were fun to watch.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Rap Beat" by MaverickMyers

"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.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark invites author Jack Bethel to join Yesterday's Sports to talk about many topics in in sports history, but focusing heavily on the California and Los Angeles areas. Jack is author of many books, but the one of particular interest to Mark for this conversation "Decades Across Redondo," where "cheers meets sports history....."

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)

In 2001, Duke erased a 10-point deficit with a minute left at Maryland and then won the game in OT.

In 2024, Wyoming erased an 11-point deficit with a 1:10 left to beat Colorado State in OT.

In 1977, the Bradley Braves scored the first 28-points of the game against New Mexico State but lost. It's the largest lead given up after preventing the other team from scoring.

In 1976, Julius Erving bested David Thompson in the first ever Dunk contest. It took place during halftime of the ABA All-Star game.

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a coin flip against the Chicago Bears prior to the NFL Draft for the right to draft Terry Bradshaw with the first pick.

In 2007, Serena Williams beat World #1 Maria Sharapova to win the Australian Open.

In the middle of a major winter storm, with classes canceled and the wind howling outside, it’s easy to find your mind wandering toward the macabre—perhaps to a certain Edgar Allan Poe story like The Cask of Amontillado. But while most of us associate the name Poe with gothic poetry and raven-themed football teams, there is a far more "rough and tumble" legacy attached to the family name.

On a recent episode of the Pig Pen podcast, Darin Hayes sat down with Timothy Brown of Football Archaeology to discuss a man who was a second cousin twice removed from the famous poet: the legendary Johnny Poe.

Johnnie Poe was the third of six brothers who played for Princeton University between 1882 and 1901. In an era where the Ivy League was the epicenter of the sport, the Poes were football royalty. Johnny himself was a standout during the 1891 and 1892 seasons, consistently ranking as one of the team's top scorers.

However, Johnnie Poe wasn't your typical Ivy League student. He wasn't destined for the quiet life of a district attorney or a businessman like his brothers. He was a man who marched to the beat of a much louder, more dangerous drum.

After dropping out of Princeton following his sophomore year, Johnnie’s life read like an adventure novel. He spent time:

1. Coaching: Leading the teams at the University of Virginia and Navy.
2. Laboring: Mining for gold in the Yukon and working as a cowboy in New Mexico.
3. Soldiering: Seeking action wherever he could find it.

Johnnie’s thirst for combat was legendary. He joined the Maryland militia for the Spanish-American War (but saw no action), joined the Army to fight in the Philippines (still no action), and even joined the Marines during the Panamanian Revolution. He finally "found his calling" fighting in the Honduran Army, where he finally saw the direct combat he craved.

When World War I broke out, Johnnie didn't wait for the United States to enter the fray. He traveled to Europe and joined the British Army. Unsatisfied with being an artilleryman behind the lines, he transferred to the Black Watch, the famous Scottish Highlander regiment.

In 1915, during a fierce battle near Ypres in Flanders, Johnnie Poe was killed in action. He was shot in the stomach, and due to the chaotic nature of the conflict, his body was never recovered. He remains "out there" somewhere in the fields of France or Belgium—a fittingly mysterious end for a relative of Edgar Allan Poe.

Johnnie Poe’s impact on Princeton football didn’t end with his death. Even before the U.S. officially joined WWI, Princeton established the John Poe Award for the team's top player. Today, after being combined with another legend’s name, it is known as the Poe-Kazmaier Trophy.

It’s a remarkable testament to a man who was respected by everyone from common soldiers to future presidents (he once spent an hour talking football on the practice field with then-Princeton President Woodrow Wilson).

Whether you find him brave, reckless, or a bit of both, Johnny Poe remains one of the most fascinating figures in the intersection of sports and military history.

For more deep dives into the forgotten stories of the gridiron, visit FootballArchaeology.com or find Timothy Brown’s books on Amazon.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

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.

In 1996, Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Dave Schultz was murdered by John DuPont on the Foxcatcher Farm in Pennsylvania.

In 1913, Jim Thorpe was stripped of his 1912 Olympic Gold Medals for accepting $25/week to play baseball in 1910 and 1911.

In 1986, the Chicago Bears beat New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

In 1993, Cheryl Miller scored 105 points in a women's high school basketball game on the same night that her brother Reggie had his best night as a high school baller.

And in 2003, the Terry Tate - Office Linebacker spot debuted during Super Bowl XXXVII.

For college football fans, the early 2000s in Los Angeles weren't just about a team—it was a cultural phenomenon. Recently on Pigskin Dispatch, I had the pleasure of sitting down with award-winning author Monte Burke to discuss his latest book, Men of Troy: The Epic Afternoons, Wild Nights and Enduring Legacy of Pete Carroll's USC Trojans.

If you lived through that era, you remember the energy. But as Monte and I discussed, the story behind the dynasty is even more fascinating than the highlights we saw on TV.

Before Pete Carroll arrived, USC was a storied program that had drifted into two decades of national irrelevance. When Carroll was hired, the reaction from boosters and the LA media was almost universally negative. He had been fired twice in the NFL and hadn’t coached in college for 15 years.

"People went berserk," Monte noted during our chat. "They wondered why they hired a guy on his third strike."

But Carroll brought something unique: an unorthodox, psychology-driven approach. Influenced by the "Summer of Love" and a study of Zen-like focus, he turned the Trojans into a "players-first" program where the primary rule was simply to have fun.

One of the most captivating parts of Monte’s research is the "Hollywood" atmosphere that surrounded the team. With no NFL teams in LA at the time, USC became the city's pro team.

Practices were completely open, leading to surreal scenes where legends like Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, and Arnold Schwarzenegger would mingle with players on the sidelines. Monte shared a brilliant anecdote where a student approached quarterback Matt Leinart for an autograph while ignoring Will Ferrell, who was sitting right next to him. That was the level of stardom these "Men of Troy" achieved.

We spent some time revisiting the 2006 National Championship game against Texas—often cited as the greatest game ever played. As Monte describes it, USC was "six inches away" from winning three consecutive national titles, a feat never accomplished in the modern era.

The book dives deep into the human side of that loss, from Reggie Bush’s ill-fated lateral to the "Bush Push" and the missed fourth down by Lendale White. Speaking with the players years later, Monte found that these moments still haunt and define many of them today.

The rise of Pete Carroll didn't just help USC; it lifted the entire conference. The dominance of the Trojans forced rivals like Stanford and Oregon to "get their act together," leading to the hiring of Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly. Conversely, Monte argues that when the NCAA sanctions hit and USC "sunk," it acted as an anchor that eventually dragged down the relevance of the entire PAC-12 conference.

Whether you’re a die-hard Trojan or a fan of football history, Men of Troy is a must-read. It’s a story of redemption, ego, celebrity, and the razor-thin margin between immortality and "what could have been."

Listen to the full interview with Monte Burke on the Pigskin Dispatch Podcast and grab your copy of Men of Troy at your local bookstore or on Amazon!

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

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.