Sports History Network

Timothy P. Brown joins us to discuss a significant historical football game that took place on Thanksgiving in 1932, focusing on the remarkable achievements of Colgate University during that season.

The discussion is based on Tim's Tidbit titled: The 1932 Colgate-Brown Thanksgiving Game for the Rose Bowl

The Greatest Team That Wasn't Invited: Colgate's Unscored-Upon 1932 Season

For many, Thanksgiving means turkey and football. But in 1932, it meant a historic, high-stakes showdown that cemented one team's place in college football lore. This was the scene for the Thanksgiving Day game between the undefeated Colgate Red Raiders and the equally unbeaten Brown Bears, a story recently shared by football historian Timothy P. Brown on the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch podcast.

The game pitted two Eastern powerhouses against each other in a deeply rooted rivalry game. Going into the matchup, Coach Andy Kerr’s Colgate squad boasted an immaculate 8-0 record, having dominated their opponents with a staggering 243-0 cumulative score. Brown was also 8-0, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated East Coast battles of the decade. Kerr, a notable disciple of coaching legend Pop Warner (he was even sent to coach Stanford for two years in Warner's place), employed a highly effective, pass-oriented double-wing offense that consistently produced high scores.

The national press built the game up as a Rose Bowl elimination contest, with the winner thought to be the most deserving contender. Colgate, fueled by the desire to cap an already legendary season, needed one specific number to secure another national title: the scoring crown. They needed 21 points against Brown to surpass West Liberty and claim the national scoring title.

In a feat of near-perfect offensive execution, Colgate won the game 21-0. The win not only ensured they finished the year a national scoring leader, but more impressively, it completed the most dominant season in modern college football history.

Colgate’s final record was 9-0, undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Yet, when the invitations were handed out, the famous line was coined: The 1932 Red Raiders were “undefeated, untied, unscored upon, and uninvited.”

The Pacific Coast Conference ultimately chose Pitt to play in the Rose Bowl, a team that subsequently lost to USC 35-0. While the Rose Bowl passed them over, Colgate secured a far more exclusive and permanent title: they remain the last major college football team to finish a season unscored upon. Coach Andy Kerr’s legacy extends beyond the 1932 team; in a four-year stretch, his teams averaged nearly 33 points a game while only allowing two, an incredible combination that defines one of football’s most enduring mysteries.

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

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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 1963, two days after the assassination of JFK, the NFL made the controversial decision to play games. Dallas was in Cleveland but because they represented the city where the President had been shot, they were not welcome.

In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys played their first Thanksgiving day game. Every year since with the exception of 1975 and 1977, they have played on Thanksgiving.

In 1973, #1 Ohio State and #4 Michigan played to a 10-10 tie. Otherwise, both were undefeated and so the automatic bid to the Rose Bowl went to a secret vote.

In 2018, Texas A&M beat LSU 74-72 in the highest scoring football game in history.

And in 1960, Wilt Chamberlain grabbed an NBA record 55 rebounds against Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics.

This is a bonus episode for Nov. 23.

In 1996, Alabama scored the winning points in the final 30 seconds to beat Auburn and win the Iron Bowl.

In 1975, a Middleweight fight between Wilford Scypion and Willie Classen had a tragic end but led to needed changes to boxing.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

With University of Michigan Football Super Collector Jon M. Stevens

GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND

Gridiron Greats covers 150+ 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 1984, Doug Flutie found Gerard Phelan on the final play to win 'The Miracle in Miami.'

In 1991, Michigan's Desmond Howard returned a punt 93 yards for the touchdown and then struck the Heisman pose in the endzone.

In 2007, top-ranked LSU lost for the second time in 2007. The Arkansas Razorbacks topped the Tigers in overtime.

In 1957, NC State's Dick Christie scored every point in the Wolfpack 29-26 win over South Carolina to win the ACC regular season title.

In 2003, the Baltimore Ravens came back from a 17-point deficit behind their third string quarterback.

In 1975, Ohio State scored two TDs in the final 3:30to beat Michigan 21-14 but its what happened in the week leading up to the game that was the story.

In 2014, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech played one of the worst college football games in the history of the game.

In 1950, the Minneapolis Lakers and Fort Wayne Pistons combined for just 37 points. It was the lowest scoring game in NBA history. It was one of the games used to create the 24-second shot clock.

In 1987, Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight was ejected from an exhibition game and then pulled his team off the floor.

In 1949, Bill Veeck sold the Cleveland Indians to pay $2.2 million towards his divorce settlement with his first wife.

In 1981, Southern Cal's Marcus Allen closed out his college career with 219 yards rushing and his 2 TDs in a win over UCLA.

In 1925, Red Grange played his final game with Illinois and then announced he was signing with the Chicago Bears.

And in 1969, Bob Cousy returned to the NBA as a player/coach for the Cincinnati Royals.

Who Invented This Sport? is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Writing of America’s independence from Britain, Barbara Holland wrote, “Our Revolution was born and raised in taverns.” So was true for arguably the most impactful sports revolution of all time. 

 In 1863, a monumental meeting takes place to form a football league bonded and bounded by common rules. On a dank London night, a committee of 12 representatives from seven adult football clubs and three boarding school sides sit down at London’s Freemasons’ Tavern, drink beers, and attempt to classify and codify the laws of football from a hodgepodge of existing sets of rules.

Our guest, Professor Tony Collins, will take us back to the Freemasons' Tavern and on to Boston, where, in 1874, a consequential match takes place--one that will guide our quest to discover who invented American football.

Professor Collins is a professor of sports history at De Montfort University and the author of a number of award-winning books on the social history of sport.. His titles include How Football Began and The Oval World: a global history of Rugby.

Professor Collins' website and his rugby podcast Rugby Reload

WHO INVENTED THIS SPORT? BACKGROUND

Who Invented This Sport? is a sports time machine invented by two lifelong friends who are obsessed with the origins of sports as diverse as basketball and bobsledding and beyond. Each episode, we travel back through time and share with you a particular sport’s sources and evolution. The heroes of these treasure hunts are the sports inventors, innovators, and pioneers. And since history is not only the past but also the present and future, we interview sports experts, who will discuss their sport’s yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The Who Invented This Sport? podcast spans the sports globe and travels through time to report on gems from the fascinating and ingenious world of sports origins history.

HOST BIOS (ROGER HARB AND DAVID DREWS)

Roger Harb and David Drews are the creators and producers of Who Invented This Sport, a podcast that spans the world of sports origins stories. 

Roger and David’s life-long friendship began in college, where one summer they started their first business adventure together–a window washing partnership. Under a scorching Tennessee sun, the two washed windows and further bonded while discussing sports and other important matters. 

Later collaborating on numerous media projects, including documentaries, these two sports enthusiasts dreamed of one day finding a means to share unique, intriguing sports stories with fellow students of sports history. The advent and popularity of podcasts opened the door for Roger and David to create and launch Who Invented This Sport.       

Roger has 30 years experience in radio and television marketing, broadcasting, and production. Over the past 40 years, David has transitioned from being a commercial banker to a high school English teacher to a filmmaker and novelist.  David is the author of the recently released  Iron Tigers–a novel inspired by the team that conquered Dixie and launched Southern football.

 Roger and David are grateful for the opportunity to explore and share a variety of sports origin stories and how each evolved.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

An Open Forum talking about some rare and expensive football cards

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 1971, Michigan scored a late touchdown and then came up with a interception to secure the 10-7 win over Ohio State.

In 1993, Boston College walk-on kicker David Gordon ended the national championship dreams of Notre Dame to give the Eagles the win in the Holy War.

In 1982, the Stanford band stepped on the field a bit too soon.

Also in 1982, SMU and Arkansas played to a 17-17 tie. Mustangs coach Bobby Collins kicked the tying PAT instead of going for 2 with three minutes left.