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Pro Football in the 1970s is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

The 1972 Miami Dolphins established a standard that has not been equaled since. They are the NFL’s only perfect team of the league’s modern era. They finished that 1972 season with an unblemished 17-0 record. There is a lot to say about that team and their accomplishments, but I recently asked the followers of my Facebook page, The NFL in the 1970s, if they could put their thinking caps on and answer a question based solely on conjecture and their personal opinions......

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

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

In 1902, the first Rose Bowl, or what would become known as The Rose Bowl was played. Michigan beat Stanford 49-0.

In 1979, Charlie White's 'Phantom Touchdown' helped USC beat Michigan 17-10 in the Rose Bowl.

In 1991, a questionable 'block in the back' call brought back Rocket Ismael's 90-yard punt return that would have won the game for Notre Dame. Instead Colorado won 10-9 and was named co-champion.

In 2005, Iowa beat LSU on the final play of the game to win the Citrus Bowl.

In 1971, Woody Hayes made several questionable calls prior to his Ohio State team playing Stanford in the Rose Bowl. It cost them a shot to win the channel.

This is a replay of the Jan. 1, 2025 edition.

In 1954, Alabama's Tommy Lewis came off the bench to tackle Rice running back Dickie Maegle.

In 1985, the drivers of the Boomer Sooner Schooner came onto the field a bit early and got bogged down. A 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty was called and it cost Oklahoma points in their Orange Bowl game against Washington.

In 2007, Boise State beat Oklahoma in a wild finish to the Fiesta Bowl.

In 2002, New England's Doug Flutie successfully pulled off a drop kick for a point. It was the first drop kick in an NFL game in 60 years.

In 2012, Detroit's Matt Stafford and Green Bay's Matt Flynn combined for 1000 yards passing to set an NFL record in a shootout in Green Bay.

In 1967, the Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 to win the NFL Championship. It was the coldest game in NFL history and became known as 'The Ice Bowl.'

In 1988, the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a dense fog at Soldier Field.

In 1972, the plane carrying Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente to Nicaragua crashed, killing all on board.

In 1935, Notre Dame and Northwestern ended their basketball game in a 20-20 tie. It was the result of a scoring error. It's the only tie game in college basketball history.

Darin Hayes welcomed listeners back to the "Pig Pen" at Pigskin Dispatch, the official portal for football history, to set the stage for the final week of the National Football League season. Joined by co-host Ed Kleese, the episode focused on the tradition of their weekly "big bowl predictions" and a look back at a truly bizarre NFL season. After a quick check-in on the weather (Darin is facing a blizzard in the Great Lakes; Ed is enjoying an overcast but warm location), the hosts dove into the meat of Week 17's results.

Ed opened the discussion on Week 17 by calling the entire 2024 NFL season "weird." He argued that while fans claim they want parity, this year features too many "flawed" teams that could potentially win the Super Bowl—perhaps 10 to 12 teams—which feels "off" compared to dominant dynasties of past eras (like the 70s Steelers, Dolphins, and Raiders).

Darin countered, arguing that the unpredictability creates "spice," keeps more fan bases engaged, and confuses oddsmakers. Both hosts agreed that teams like the Eagles appear "fraudulent" this year, but the open field makes every playoff game matter.

After 17 weeks of predictions, Darin and Ed have arrived at a spectacular and unexpected dead heat, ensuring that Week 18 will serve as the ultimate tiebreaker.

Darin Hayes

6 Points

78 Points

Successfully pegged the Seahawks victory over the Panthers (2 pts) and correctly predicted the low-scoring nature of the Eagles/Bills game (2 pts). He also gained points for the Texans and 49ers wins.

Ed Kleese

5 Points

78 Points

Also secured a win on the Seahawks game (2 pts) and earned 2 points for correctly picking the Browns win over the Steelers. Ed acknowledged he was wrong about the Rams rolling the Falcons and his "Christmas sweep" prediction.

The Score: Darin 78, Ed 78. The hosts are perfectly tied entering the final week!

With everything on the line, the hosts offered their picks for the critical games in Week 18, setting up a head-to-head battle to claim bragging rights for the regular season.

This matchup features two teams out of the playoff hunt, but both analysts agreed the game holds significant individual narratives.

The Storylines:

• Myles Garrett’s Record Chase:Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is seeking one final sack to potentially break the single-season record currently held by T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan. Darin believes the Browns will be actively playing to help Garrett achieve this milestone.
• Joe Burrow's Future:Darin brought up media speculation that Joe Burrow may be growing dissatisfied with the Bengals organization, adding a layer of uncertainty to his performance in a seemingly meaningless game. Ed, however, strongly dismissed this, arguing that Burrow is under contract and elite quarterbacks rarely get traded.

The Prediction:

• Darin's Pick:Bengals Win(with a caveat that Myles Garrett gets his record sack).
• Ed's Stance:Agrees Garrett likely gets the record, but doesn't see Burrow leaving Cincinnati.

This game, while not guaranteeing a division title for the Texans, allows them to finish their strong regular season with momentum.

The Storylines:

• Texans Finishing Strong:Both analysts agreed that the Texans are playing excellent football and will look to put an exclamation point on their season.
• Playoff Implications:While a division win would require a long-shot scenario (Titans beating the Jaguars), the Texans were expected to play hard regardless.

The Prediction:

• Darin & Ed's Pick:Texans Wineasily, potentially blowing out the Colts.

A classic NFC North rivalry provides the backdrop for a game with significant playoff seeding implications, particularly for the Bears.

The Storylines:

• Rivalry and Revenge:Darin expects the Lions to be "vengeful" and take out their frustrations on their arch-rivals, the Bears.
• NFC Seeding:Ed argued that the Bears have a major incentive to win: securing the two-seed to guarantee a home game against the Packers, which the Bears would prefer over facing the Rams on the road in the playoffs. Despite the incentive, Ed still believes the outcome is inevitable.

The Prediction:

• Darin & Ed's Pick:Lions Win.

In what was deemed the "last pick of the regular season," both analysts aligned on a crucial AFC North battle with major playoff implications.

The Storylines:

• Playoff Push & Motivation:Darin embraced a slight "conspiracy theory," suggesting the NFL might want the Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers in the playoffs for the ratings boost.
• Injury and Rest:The status of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (and other key players) was a major factor, with the assumption being that Baltimore would rest starters or play conservatively given their secure playoff position.
• Run Defense:Darin highlighted the Steelers’ improving run defense and the memory of getting "run over" by the Ravens in previous matchups.

The Prediction:

• Darin & Ed's Pick:Steelers Win.
• Darin's Specific Addendum:The Steelers defense will hold Ravens star running back Derrick Henry to 80 yards or less.

With several head-to-head agreements, the final results of Week 18 will determine who enters the postseason competition with the lead in the analysts' ongoing prediction contest.

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.

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

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

Monday Night Football (Part 2) - Mark and Dave Relive The Early Days of Monday Night Football

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)

From 1949 until 1965, the NBA employed the concept of the Territorial Draft Pick, which allowed team to automatically take a player that played their university basketball within 50 miles of the NBA team’s arena. It allowed college superstars to play locally where their fans could see them play in the NBA. It made sense at the time. Join us as we take a look back.

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]

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

With Football Library Collector and Football Author Ben Carpenter

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.

In 1968, LA Laker center Wilt Chamberlain gave HS Junior Bill Walton a little encouragement.

In 1978, the NHL swallowed up four WHA teams.

In 1990, Orlando's Scott Skiles dished out 30 assists to set a new NBA record.

In 1988, Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders capped the greatest season in collegiate football with a 5 TD, 222-yard performance against Wyoming and win in the Holiday Bowl.

In 1907, a commission tasked with 'discovering' the origins of baseball declared Abner Doubleday to be the inventor of the game.

In 1975, Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods was born.

While the modern era is seeing a slow return of Ivy League teams considering postseason play—a novelty perhaps best illustrated by the news that some Ivy teams might secure bowl slots in 2025—it’s easy to forget that nearly a century ago, one of the ancient institutions received perhaps the most absurd bowl invitation in history. The subject? The 1936 Rose Bowl, and the unsuspecting victim was none other than the Harvard Crimson.

Thanks to the work of historians like Timothy P. Brown of FootballArchaeology.com, we can pull back the curtain on this classic college football prank, a story that perfectly captures the spirit of football antiquity. Tim wrote about this instance in a recent Tidbit post titled: Harvard's 1936 Rose Bowl Invitation

To understand the prank, you must first understand the bowl landscape of 1936.

The Rose Bowl, then as now, was king, but the selection process was dramatically different. The Rose Bowl Committee had a standing arrangement to host the champion of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), which that year was Stanford. The PCC champion’s athletic director was then given the responsibility to select their opponent, typically an elite team from the East or Midwest.

In 1936, the field of eligible opponents was surprisingly thin. The top teams were LSU, SMU, and TCU, but two of the era's traditional powers, Minnesota and Princeton, were barred from postseason play by their conference and league agreements, respectively. This unusual vacuum might have made an invitation seem slightly less ludicrous to some, but not by much.

The Harvard Crimson finished the 1935 season (the team that would play in the 1936 Rose Bowl) with a middling 3-6 record—hardly the résumé of a national contender.

Despite this abysmal tally, Harvard’s Athletic Director, William Bingham, received a telegram from Alfred Masters, the athletic director at Stanford. The message was unmistakable: Harvard was invited to play in the Rose Bowl.

Bingham, likely stunned, didn't panic. He understood the traditions of the era. He promptly telegraphed his response back to Stanford, a model of polite, New England refusal that reads like a masterpiece of bureaucratic formality:

The twist in this tale of antiquity arrived moments later when the real Alfred Masters received Bingham’s formal rejection. Masters was completely bewildered, as he had never sent an invitation to the 3-6 Crimson. The entire sequence of events was a meticulously planned, anonymous hoax.

The prankster, whose identity remains unknown to this day, had done more than just fool Harvard. The individual had also sent a similar telegraph to the Stanford student newspaper, falsely signing it as the editor of Harvard's newspaper, presumably to lend credence and ensure the story (and the embarrassment) spread.

While the Crimson escaped any further embarrassment—Masters ultimately extended the official invitation to SMU—the incident serves as a hilarious, forgotten chapter in college football lore.

The prank, however, was not unique. Similar bowl season shenanigans plagued college athletics for decades. As late as the 1950s, a high school band in Casopolis, Michigan, received a fake invitation to march in the Rose Bowl Parade, leading the entire community to hold frantic fundraisers before the principal discovered the cruel joke.

The 1936 Harvard Rose Bowl Hoax stands as a reminder that football history isn't just about Heisman winners and championships; sometimes, it’s about a good, old-fashioned, anonymous bowl season prank.

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.