The Portsmouth Spartans' inaugural game in the National Football League, which took place on September 14, 1930, serves as a focal point of our discussion today. In that historic match, the Spartans triumphed over the Newark Tornadoes with a score of 13-6, setting the stage for their subsequent development into a notable franchise. We delve into the remarkable narratives surrounding this team, including their challenges and eventual transformation into the Detroit Lions. Additionally, we explore the significance of September 14th in various football milestones, including Dwight Clark's commencement of a record-setting reception streak in 1980 and Jamal Lewis establishing an NFL rushing record in 2003. Join us as we reflect upon these pivotal moments and honor the legends who shaped the game we cherish today.
Football History recapped one day at a time..In this episode of the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch Podcast we will feature the legend of the Portsmouth Spartans and remember some record games by famous players that have a connection for September 14 and much more.
We also feature great music by Mike and Gene Monroe along with Jason Neff. Come join us at https://pigskindispatch.com/ to see even more Positive football news!
To purchase your very own Pigskin Dispatch gear and support the podcast please visit our Pigskin Dispatch merch store
Transcripts
Speaker A:
Hi.
Speaker A:
You're in the right place for some great football history today on this podcast.
Speaker A:
Today we're going to feature the Portsmouth Spartans, Dwight Clark's long streak, a couple of rushing records and many legends of the game coming up in just a moment.
Speaker A:
Pigskindispatch.com is a proud affiliate of the Sports History Network, the headquarters of sports yesteryear.
Speaker A:
This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of American football events throughout history on a day to day basis.
Speaker A:
This is your host, Darrin Hayes, and we're broadcasting from the Pig Pen in Western Pennsylvania, bringing you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.
Speaker A:
So with Mike and Gene Munro as well as Jason Neff supplying us with the tunes, let's go no huddle through today's football history headlines.
Speaker A:
Hello once again my football friends and welcome to the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch podcast.
Speaker A:
I'm your host, darrin hayes from pigskindispatch.com and in this episode we have some great football stories and tidbits on the legendary people from the Pigskin past to discuss for the football day of September 14th.
Speaker A:
We hope that these entertain you, bring back great football memories or two, and maybe even let you in on something you didn't know about before.
Speaker A:
Broaden your horizons, if you will.
Speaker A:
Ok, enough with all this talk in the huddle.
Speaker A:
Let's get out there and snap off the first historic event.
Speaker A:
Ready?
Speaker A:
Break.
Speaker A:
I'd like to tell you our Pigskin Dispatch feature football tale for September 14th.
Speaker A:
And it happened in:
Speaker A:
The Portsmouth Spartans played their very first NFL game on that date, and the Spartans defeated the Newark Tornadoes in their very first game by the final score of 13 6.
Speaker A:
e Portsmouth Eleven ended the:
Speaker A:
vident two years later in the:
Speaker A:
They ended with the Spartans and the Chicago Bears finishing with identical records at six wins, one loss and four ties.
Speaker A:
And previously, since:
Speaker A:
,:
Speaker A:
And it had some big, huge twists and turns that made it quite a remarkable story.
Speaker A:
Even besides the fact that the game was going to be played to determine the NFL champion.
Speaker A:
The first odd occurrence was that the Spartans star Earl Dutch Clark was unable to play in the game because he had to work.
Speaker A:
While that may sound crazy to us today, the fact was that professional players of that era didn't make enough money to make a living all year long.
Speaker A:
Most had to take off season jobs just to make ends meet, even to superstars like Dutch Clark, who worked as the head basketball coach at Colorado College and his hoops team had a game that day on December 18th and Dutch simply couldn't get off work to make the football game in Chicago.
Speaker A:
Second crazy thing that happened that was due to a freak late fall blizzard in Chicago, so the game had to be moved inside the Chicago stadium.
Speaker A:
Because Wrigley was covered with deep snow and frozen with a dangerous sub zero temperatures, the playing field had to be modified to play inside, so the game was played on a field only 80 yards long and some 30 yards narrower than the normal width the teams played on all season outdoors.
Speaker A:
The last item that took place surrounding the game happened on the contest's only touchdown.
Speaker A:
Chicago Bear Bronco Nagursky threw a scoring jump pass to Red Grange, but the Spartans argued that Nagurski did not meet the requirement of a legal forward pass in those days of being 5 yards or more behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker A:
The play stood and the Bears ended up winning the NFL title by the score of 9 0.
Speaker A:
ise would become the Lions in:
Speaker A:
This was a hefty sum at the time, but Portsmouth, after all, had just recently played in somewhat impromptu first NFL championship game against the Chicago Bears.
Speaker A:
Shorthanded Other Star Player the Motor City was a risky place to put a team at this point, as three previous professional football franchises had failed there.
Speaker A:
But Richards knew the city needed a winner and took the chance.
Speaker A:
ons team won the NFL title in:
Speaker A:
th this football franchise in:
Speaker A:
The Turkey Day game in the Motor City was a huge success.
The Lions eventually were purchased by the descendants of Henry Ford and are owned to the family this day.
Speaker A:
And there's still Thanksgiving football in Detroit every year, and they owe it all to a team called the Spartans from Portsmouth, Ohio.
Speaker A:
We're hoping you're enjoying this daily podcast and enjoying pigskindispatch.com for daily news and information on football history.
Speaker A:
And if you are, please click the subscribe button to this podcast and also check out some of the other great podcasts from my friends on the Sports History Network When Football Was Football by Joe Zimba, Pigskin Pass by Joe Sigorsky, the Football History dude with Arne Chapman, Yesterday's Sports with Mark Morthay, Football Is Family with Jeremy McFarland and the Football Addict with John Goodley.
Speaker A:
,:
Speaker A:
s on that day by the score of:
Speaker A:
e Niners a few years later in:
Speaker A:
Then a few years after that,:
Speaker A:
,:
Speaker A:
Now it's time to remember those great legends of the game on their birthdays, most of them being hall of Famers.
Speaker A:
Get right at it.
Speaker A:
,:
Speaker A:
,:
Speaker A:
This brave man left pro football on his own accord to become a pilot for the United States and flew One of America's B24 Liberator bomber planes over the skies of Europe during World War II.
Speaker A:
He logged over 9,000 hours in the air fighting the Nazis and he later volunteered to go to the Pacific theater to fly against the Japanese pilots flying the B29 Superfortress.
Speaker A:
,:
Speaker A:
The two planes ended up quieting and killing all on board both planes.
Speaker A:
lege Football hall of fame in:
Speaker A:
On September 14 he was a former safety and halfback from rice.
Speaker A:
Dickey's outstanding:
Speaker A:
Mogul was part of one of the most famous plays in NCAA football history.
Speaker A:
With Rice up by one over Alabama and the Owls backed up at their own five yard line, Mogul took a pitch on a sweep play and broke loose down the sideline.
Speaker A:
The Crimson Tide were chasing after him, but no one could catch him except for Tommy Lewis of the Crimson Tide came off the sideline without a helmet and tackled Dickey.
Speaker A:
The officials seeing the whole thing transpire awarded rice with a 95 yard touchdown.
Speaker A:
Dickey mogul ended up in the game the Cotton bowl with 265 yards rushing as Rice won the game 28.
Speaker A:
6.
Speaker A:
Ed Sullivan invited both Lewis and Mogul on this program later to discuss the play.
Speaker A:
s Cowboys, and as a rookie in:
Speaker A:
After picking off six passes.
Speaker A:
lege Football hall of fame in:
Speaker A:
th was born in the year:
Speaker A:
Davis had the honors of being an All American twice and was the first NCAA Division 1A running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
Speaker A:
Troy set multiple school records for the Iowa State Cyclones and they were highlighted by his career rushing yards of 4,382 and 36 touchdowns, among other records for the school.
Speaker A:
He played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Edmonton Eskimos and the Toronto Argonauts.
Speaker A:
win the coveted Great cup in:
Speaker A:
That's all the football history we have today, folks.
Speaker A:
Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history.
Speaker A:
We invite you to check out our website pigskindispatch.com not only to see the daily football history, but to experience positive football with our many articles on the good people of the game as well as our own football conference Comics triple marks comics.
Speaker A:
Pigskindispatch.com is also on social media outlets, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and don't forget the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel to get all of your positive football news and history.
Speaker A:
Special thanks to the talents of Mike and Gene Monroe as well as Jason Neff for letting us use their music during our podcast.
Speaker A:
This podcast is part of the Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport.
