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The Birth of Professional Football: A Pivotal Gathering in Canton, Ohio · Sports History Network

• 0:57
  On
• 0:57
  September
• 0:57
  17,
• 0:58
  1914,
• 0:59
  men
• 0:59
  crammed
• 1:00
  into
• 1:00
  a
• 1:00
  car
• 1:00
  auto
• 1:01
  showroom
• 1:01
  in
• 1:02
  Canton,
• 1:02
  Ohio,
• 1:03
  and
• 1:03
  changed
• 1:03
  the
• 1:04
  sports
• 1:04
  world
• 1:04
  forever.
• 1:05
  There
• 1:05
  weren't
• 1:05
  enough
• 1:06
  chairs
• 1:06
  for
• 1:06
  everybody
• 1:06
  to
• 1:07
  sit,
• 1:07
  and
• 1:07
  there
• 1:07
  was
• 1:07
  cigar
• 1:08
  smoke
• 1:08
  as
• 1:08
  thick
• 1:08
  as
• 1:08
  the
• 1:09
  eye
• 1:09
  can
• 1:09
  see.
• 1:09
  And
• 1:10
  they
• 1:10
  sat
• 1:10
  on
• 1:10
  running
• 1:11
  boards
• 1:11
  and
• 1:11
  drank
• 1:12
  beer
• 1:12
  out
• 1:12
  of
• 1:12
  buckets.
• 1:13
  It
• 1:13
  was
• 1:13
  Prohibition,
• 1:14
  but
• 1:14
  they
• 1:14
  didn't
• 1:15
  care.
• 1:15
  None
• 1:15
  of
• 1:15
  them
• 1:15
  knew
• 1:16
  it.
• 1:16
  But
• 1:16
  they
• 1:16
  were
• 1:16
  about
• 1:17
  to
• 1:17
  change
• 1:17
  the
• 1:17
  way
• 1:17
  we
• 1:18
  thought
• 1:18
  about
• 1:18
  football
• 1:19
  and
• 1:19
  turn
• 1:19
  what
• 1:20
  would
• 1:20
  become
• 1:20
  the
• 1:20
  National
• 1:21
  Football
• 1:21
  league
• 1:21
  into
• 1:22
  a
• 1:22
  $200
• 1:22
  billion
• 1:23
  a
• 1:23
  year
• 1:24
  business.
• 1:24
  This
• 1:25
  is
• 1:25
  a
• 1:25
  story
• 1:25
  of
• 1:25
  how
• 1:26
  professional
• 1:26
  football
• 1:27
  was
• 1:27
  organized
• 1:28
  and
• 1:28
  born.
• 1:29
  In
• 1:29
  a
• 1:29
  showroom
• 1:30
  next
• 1:30
  to
• 1:30
  Hubmobiles
• 1:31
  and
• 1:31
  Jordan
• 1:32
  touring
• 1:32
  cars.
• 1:33
  This
• 1:33
  is
• 1:33
  where
• 1:34
  it
• 1:34
  all
• 1:34
  began.
• 1:35
  In
• 1:35
  1920,
• 1:35
  American
• 1:36
  football
• 1:36
  was
• 1:36
  not
• 1:37
  professional.
• 1:37
  It
• 1:38
  belonged
• 1:38
  to
• 1:38
  the
• 1:38
  colleges.
• 1:39
  Yale,
• 1:40
  Harvard,
• 1:40
  Princeton,
• 1:41
  Notre
• 1:41
  Dame.
• 1:41
  These
• 1:42
  were
• 1:42
  the
• 1:42
  names
• 1:42
  that
• 1:42
  filled
• 1:43
  the
• 1:43
  sports
• 1:43
  pages.
• 1:44
  College
• 1:44
  games
• 1:45
  drew
• 1:45
  50,000
• 1:46
  to
• 1:46
  sometimes
• 1:47
  80,000
• 1:47
  fans
• 1:48
  on
• 1:48
  a
• 1:48
  Saturday
• 1:48
  afternoon.
• 1:49
  The
• 1:49
  professional
• 1:50
  game
• 1:50
  was.
• 1:50
  Well,
• 1:51
  it
• 1:51
  was
• 1:51
  a
• 1:51
  disorganized
• 1:52
  afterthought.
• 1:53
  A
• 1:53
  circuit
• 1:54
  of
• 1:54
  town
• 1:54
  teams,
• 1:55
  factory
• 1:55
  clubs
• 1:55
  and
• 1:56
  sandlot
• 1:56
  squads
• 1:56
  scattered
• 1:57
  across
• 1:57
  Ohio,
• 1:58
  Illinois,
• 1:58
  Indiana
• 1:59
  and
• 1:59
  western
• 1:59
  New
• 2:00
  York,
• 2:00
  playing
• 2:00
  in
• 2:00
  front
• 2:01
  of
• 2:01
  crowds
• 2:01
  that
• 2:01
  sometimes
• 2:02
  numbered
• 2:02
  maybe
• 2:03
  in
• 2:03
  the
• 2:03
  hundreds.
• 2:04
  And
• 2:04
  the
• 2:04
  professional
• 2:04
  game
• 2:05
  had
• 2:05
  three
• 2:06
  problems,
• 2:06
  each
• 2:07
  feeding
• 2:07
  the
• 2:07
  others
• 2:07
  like
• 2:08
  a
• 2:08
  fever.
• 2:08
  First,
• 2:09
  they
• 2:09
  were
• 2:09
  spiraling
• 2:10
  salaries.
• 2:11
  With
• 2:11
  no
• 2:11
  league
• 2:12
  to
• 2:12
  enforce
• 2:12
  contracts,
• 2:13
  players
• 2:13
  jumped
• 2:14
  from
• 2:14
  team
• 2:14
  to
• 2:14
  team,
• 2:15
  chasing
• 2:15
  the
• 2:15
  highest
• 2:16
  offer,
• 2:16
  sometimes
• 2:17
  switching
• 2:17
  allegiances
• 2:18
  between
• 2:18
  Saturday
• 2:19
  and
• 2:19
  Sunday.
• 2:20
  A
• 2:20
  star
• 2:20
  halfback
• 2:21
  might
• 2:21
  play
• 2:21
  for
• 2:21
  Massillon
• 2:22
  one
• 2:22
  week
• 2:22
  and
• 2:22
  Akron
• 2:23
  the
• 2:23
  next,
• 2:23
  wearing
• 2:24
  a
• 2:24
  different
• 2:24
  jersey
• 2:25
  each
• 2:25
  time.
• 2:25
  Second,
• 2:26
  there
• 2:26
  was
• 2:26
  a
• 2:26
  college
• 2:27
  poaching
• 2:27
  scandals
• 2:28
  that
• 2:28
  were
• 2:28
  going
• 2:29
  on.
• 2:29
  There
• 2:30
  was
• 2:30
  so
• 2:30
  many
• 2:30
  times
• 2:31
  where
• 2:31
  the
• 2:31
  professional
• 2:31
  teams
• 2:32
  would
• 2:32
  pay
• 2:33
  players
• 2:33
  under
• 2:33
  assumed
• 2:34
  names
• 2:34
  that
• 2:34
  were
• 2:35
  collegians.
• 2:36
  They
• 2:36
  were
• 2:36
  trying
• 2:36
  to
• 2:37
  make
• 2:37
  an
• 2:37
  extra
• 2:37
  buck
• 2:37
  just
• 2:38
  to
• 2:38
  get
• 2:38
  through
• 2:38
  school.
• 2:39
  Newt
• 2:39
  rocking
• 2:39
  himself
• 2:40
  later,
• 2:40
  the
• 2:40
  legendary
• 2:41
  Notre
• 2:41
  Dame
• 2:41
  coach
• 2:42
  reportedly
• 2:42
  played
• 2:42
  for
• 2:43
  multiple
• 2:43
  professional
• 2:44
  teams
• 2:44
  under
• 2:44
  fake
• 2:45
  names
• 2:45
  while
• 2:45
  still
• 2:45
  a
• 2:45
  student.
• 2:46
  The
• 2:46
  college's
• 2:47
  fake
• 2:47
  fumed
• 2:48
  but
• 2:48
  could
• 2:48
  not
• 2:48
  stop
• 2:49
  it.
• 2:50
  Third,
• 2:50
  there
• 2:50
  was
• 2:50
  no
• 2:50
  order.
• 2:51
  No
• 2:51
  fixed
• 2:52
  schedules,
• 2:52
  no
• 2:52
  standings,
• 2:53
  no
• 2:53
  championship,
• 2:54
  no
• 2:54
  rules
• 2:54
  that
• 2:55
  bound
• 2:55
  anyone
• 2:55
  to
• 2:56
  anything.
• 2:56
  Season
• 2:57
  started
• 2:57
  when
• 2:57
  a
• 2:58
  team
• 2:58
  felt
• 2:58
  like
• 2:58
  starting,
• 2:59
  ended
• 2:59
  when
• 2:59
  it
• 3:00
  ran
• 3:00
  out
• 3:00
  of
• 3:00
  opponents
• 3:00
  or
• 3:01
  money,
• 3:01
  and
• 3:01
  championships
• 3:02
  were
• 3:02
  claimed
• 3:03
  by
• 3:03
  whoever
• 3:03
  shouted
• 3:04
  the
• 3:04
  loudest.
• 3:04
  Something
• 3:05
  had
• 3:05
  to
• 3:05
  give,
• 3:06
  and
• 3:06
  the
• 3:06
  man
• 3:06
  that
• 3:06
  did
• 3:07
  it
• 3:07
  was
• 3:07
  an
• 3:07
  automobile
• 3:08
  showroom
• 3:09
  owner,
• 3:09
  a
• 3:09
  man
• 3:10
  named
• 3:10
  Ralph
• 3:11
  Hay.
• 3:11
  Ralph
• 3:12
  Edward
• 3:12
  Hay
• 3:12
  was
• 3:12
  not
• 3:13
  a
• 3:13
  football
• 3:13
  visionary.
• 3:14
  He
• 3:14
  was
• 3:14
  a
• 3:14
  businessman
• 3:15
  from
• 3:15
  Canton,
• 3:15
  Ohio,
• 3:16
  who
• 3:16
  had
• 3:16
  purchased
• 3:17
  the
• 3:17
  Canton
• 3:17
  Bulldogs
• 3:18
  in
• 3:18
  1918
• 3:18
  at
• 3:18
  the
• 3:19
  age
• 3:19
  of
• 3:19
  27,
• 3:20
  a
• 3:20
  team
• 3:20
  that
• 3:21
  had
• 3:21
  once
• 3:21
  been
• 3:21
  the
• 3:21
  pride
• 3:22
  of
• 3:22
  the
• 3:22
  Ohio
• 3:22
  League.
• 3:23
  He
• 3:23
  had
• 3:23
  saw
• 3:24
  what
• 3:24
  was
• 3:24
  happening.
• 3:24
  The
• 3:25
  salary
• 3:25
  wars
• 3:25
  were
• 3:26
  bleeding
• 3:26
  owners
• 3:26
  dry.
• 3:27
  The
• 3:27
  college
• 3:27
  scandals
• 3:28
  threatened
• 3:28
  to
• 3:28
  poison
• 3:29
  the
• 3:29
  sport
• 3:29
  entirely.
• 3:30
  If
• 3:30
  professional
• 3:31
  football
• 3:31
  was
• 3:31
  going
• 3:31
  to
• 3:31
  survive,
• 3:32
  someone
• 3:33
  had
• 3:33
  to
• 3:33
  bring
• 3:33
  Order
• 3:34
  to
• 3:34
  the
• 3:34
  chaos.
• 3:36
  On
• 3:36
  August
• 3:36
  20,
• 3:37
  1920,
• 3:37
  Hay
• 3:38
  invited
• 3:38
  the
• 3:38
  owners
• 3:38
  of
• 3:39
  three
• 3:39
  other
• 3:39
  Ohio
• 3:40
  teams
• 3:40
  to
• 3:40
  his
• 3:40
  office.
• 3:41
  The
• 3:41
  Akram
• 3:41
  Pros,
• 3:42
  the
• 3:42
  Cleveland
• 3:42
  Tigers,
• 3:42
  and
• 3:43
  the
• 3:43
  Dayton
• 3:43
  Triangles.
• 3:44
  Four
• 3:44
  men,
• 3:45
  four
• 3:45
  teams.
• 3:45
  One
• 3:46
  afternoon,
• 3:46
  they
• 3:47
  hammered
• 3:47
  out
• 3:47
  three
• 3:48
  principles
• 3:48
  that
• 3:49
  would
• 3:49
  change
• 3:49
  the
• 3:49
  sports
• 3:50
  forever.
• 3:50
  First
• 3:51
  was
• 3:51
  no
• 3:51
  signing
• 3:52
  of
• 3:52
  college
• 3:52
  players
• 3:53
  until
• 3:53
  after
• 3:54
  graduation.
• 3:55
  Secondly,
• 3:56
  no
• 3:56
  bidding
• 3:57
  on
• 3:57
  players
• 3:57
  that
• 3:58
  were
• 3:58
  playing
• 3:58
  for
• 3:58
  another
• 3:59
  team.
• 3:59
  Third,
• 4:00
  maybe
• 4:00
  a
• 4:01
  salary
• 4:01
  cap.
• 4:02
  There
• 4:02
  would
• 4:02
  be
• 4:02
  a
• 4:02
  maximum
• 4:03
  for
• 4:03
  what
• 4:03
  players
• 4:04
  could
• 4:04
  be
• 4:04
  paid
• 4:05
  by
• 4:05
  teams
• 4:05
  to
• 4:06
  try
• 4:06
  to
• 4:06
  keep
• 4:06
  the
• 4:06
  playing
• 4:07
  field
• 4:07
  a
• 4:07
  little
• 4:07
  bit
• 4:08
  even
• 4:08
  for
• 4:09
  all
• 4:09
  of
• 4:09
  the
• 4:09
  franchises.
• 4:11
  They
• 4:11
  called
• 4:11
  themselves
• 4:11
  the
• 4:12
  American
• 4:12
  Professional
• 4:13
  Football
• 4:13
  Conference,
• 4:13
  and
• 4:14
  they
• 4:14
  agreed.
• 4:15
  One
• 4:15
  more
• 4:15
  thing.
• 4:16
  This
• 4:16
  had
• 4:16
  to
• 4:16
  be
• 4:17
  bigger
• 4:17
  than
• 4:17
  Ohio.
• 4:18
  Hay
• 4:18
  was
• 4:18
  tasked
• 4:19
  with
• 4:19
  reaching
• 4:19
  out
• 4:19
  to
• 4:20
  every
• 4:20
  other
• 4:20
  major
• 4:20
  professional
• 4:21
  team
• 4:21
  in
• 4:21
  the
• 4:21
  country,
• 4:22
  and
• 4:22
  he
• 4:22
  did.
• 4:23
  Letters
• 4:23
  went
• 4:23
  out
• 4:23
  to
• 4:24
  Hammond,
• 4:24
  Muncie,
• 4:25
  Rock
• 4:25
  Island,
• 4:25
  Decatur,
• 4:26
  Racine,
• 4:26
  Rochester,
• 4:27
  Buffalo,
• 4:28
  Detroit.
• 4:29
  Eleven
• 4:29
  teams
• 4:29
  were
• 4:30
  invited,
• 4:30
  and
• 4:31
  all
• 4:31
  of
• 4:31
  them
• 4:32
  said
• 4:32
  yes.
• 4:33
  A
• 4:33
  second
• 4:33
  meeting
• 4:33
  was
• 4:34
  set.
• 4:34
  September
• 4:35
  17,
• 4:35
  1920.
• 4:36
  Same
• 4:37
  city,
• 4:37
  same
• 4:38
  building.
• 4:38
  But
• 4:38
  this
• 4:38
  time,
• 4:39
  Hay's
• 4:39
  office
• 4:40
  would
• 4:40
  not
• 4:40
  be
• 4:40
  big
• 4:40
  enough
• 4:41
  for
• 4:41
  what
• 4:41
  was
• 4:41
  about
• 4:42
  to
• 4:42
  happen.
• 4:43
  Fifteen
• 4:43
  men
• 4:44
  arrived
• 4:44
  by
• 4:44
  rail
• 4:45
  and
• 4:45
  bus
• 4:45
  that
• 4:45
  Friday
• 4:46
  evening,
• 4:46
  more
• 4:47
  than
• 4:47
  Hay
• 4:47
  expected.
• 4:48
  His
• 4:48
  second
• 4:48
  floor
• 4:49
  office
• 4:49
  in
• 4:49
  the
• 4:49
  Odd
• 4:49
  Fellows
• 4:50
  building
• 4:50
  could
• 4:50
  not
• 4:50
  hold
• 4:51
  them.
• 4:51
  So
• 4:51
  they
• 4:51
  moved
• 4:52
  down
• 4:52
  to
• 4:52
  the
• 4:52
  ground
• 4:53
  floor
• 4:53
  into
• 4:53
  the
• 4:53
  automobile
• 4:54
  showroom.
• 4:55
  The
• 4:55
  room
• 4:55
  was
• 4:55
  large
• 4:56
  enough
• 4:56
  for
• 4:56
  four
• 4:56
  cars,
• 4:57
  automobiles
• 4:58
  and
• 4:58
  Jordans,
• 4:58
  the
• 4:59
  pride
• 4:59
  of
• 4:59
  Hayes
• 5:00
  dealership
• 5:00
  Chairs
• 5:01
  were
• 5:01
  few
• 5:01
  and.
• 5:02
  And
• 5:02
  George
• 5:02
  Hallis,
• 5:02
  the
• 5:03
  young
• 5:03
  player
• 5:03
  coach
• 5:03
  of
• 5:03
  the
• 5:03
  Decatur
• 5:04
  Stalers,
• 5:05
  sat
• 5:05
  on
• 5:05
  a
• 5:06
  running
• 5:06
  board.
• 5:06
  Others
• 5:07
  perched
• 5:07
  on
• 5:07
  fenders,
• 5:08
  leaned
• 5:08
  on
• 5:08
  hoods
• 5:09
  or
• 5:09
  stood
• 5:09
  in
• 5:09
  the
• 5:10
  smoke.
• 5:10
  Halas
• 5:11
  later
• 5:11
  wrote
• 5:11
  in
• 5:11
  his
• 5:12
  autobiography,
• 5:13
  quote.
• 5:13
  The
• 5:14
  showroom,
• 5:14
  big
• 5:14
  enough
• 5:15
  for
• 5:15
  four
• 5:15
  cars,
• 5:15
  occupied
• 5:16
  the
• 5:16
  ground
• 5:16
  floor
• 5:17
  of
• 5:17
  three
• 5:17
  story
• 5:18
  old
• 5:18
  brick
• 5:19
  Odd
• 5:19
  Fellows
• 5:20
  building.
• 5:20
  Chairs
• 5:21
  were
• 5:21
  few,
• 5:21
  and
• 5:22
  I
• 5:22
  sat
• 5:22
  on
• 5:22
  a
• 5:22
  running
• 5:23
  board.
• 5:23
  End
• 5:23
  quote.
• 5:24
  Hey,
• 5:24
  place
• 5:24
  buckets
• 5:25
  of
• 5:25
  beer
• 5:25
  on
• 5:25
  the
• 5:25
  floor.
• 5:26
  Cigars
• 5:26
  were
• 5:26
  lit,
• 5:27
  and
• 5:27
  the
• 5:27
  minutes
• 5:27
  were
• 5:27
  taken
• 5:28
  on
• 5:28
  a
• 5:28
  typewriter
• 5:29
  somewhere
• 5:29
  in
• 5:29
  a
• 5:29
  haze.
• 5:30
  And
• 5:30
  over
• 5:30
  the
• 5:31
  course
• 5:31
  of
• 5:31
  that
• 5:31
  evening,
• 5:32
  those
• 5:32
  14
• 5:33
  men
• 5:33
  did
• 5:33
  the
• 5:34
  following.
• 5:34
  They
• 5:35
  renamed
• 5:35
  their
• 5:36
  organization
• 5:36
  the
• 5:36
  American
• 5:37
  Professional
• 5:37
  Football
• 5:38
  association.
• 5:39
  They
• 5:39
  set
• 5:39
  a
• 5:40
  100
• 5:40
  membership
• 5:41
  fee
• 5:41
  per
• 5:41
  team.
• 5:42
  In
• 5:42
  a
• 5:42
  detail
• 5:43
  that
• 5:43
  would
• 5:43
  later
• 5:43
  become
• 5:44
  legend.
• 5:44
  Hallis
• 5:45
  later
• 5:45
  confessed,
• 5:46
  I
• 5:46
  can
• 5:46
  testify
• 5:47
  that
• 5:47
  no
• 5:48
  money
• 5:48
  exchanged
• 5:48
  hands.
• 5:49
  The
• 5:50
  fee
• 5:50
  was
• 5:50
  theater,
• 5:51
  in
• 5:51
  an
• 5:51
  attempt
• 5:52
  to
• 5:52
  project
• 5:52
  legitimacy.
• 5:54
  And
• 5:54
  then
• 5:54
  they
• 5:54
  made
• 5:54
  the
• 5:54
  most
• 5:55
  inspired
• 5:55
  publicity
• 5:56
  move
• 5:56
  in
• 5:56
  the
• 5:56
  history
• 5:56
  of
• 5:57
  professional
• 5:57
  sports.
• 5:58
  They
• 5:58
  elected
• 5:59
  a
• 5:59
  president,
• 5:59
  and
• 6:00
  his
• 6:00
  name
• 6:01
  was
• 6:01
  Jim
• 6:01
  Thorpe.
• 6:03
  No
• 6:03
  American
• 6:04
  athlete
• 6:04
  had
• 6:05
  ever
• 6:05
  been
• 6:05
  so
• 6:06
  famous
• 6:06
  as
• 6:07
  Jim
• 6:07
  Thorpe
• 6:07
  was.
• 6:08
  He
• 6:08
  was
• 6:09
  a
• 6:09
  budding
• 6:09
  superstar,
• 6:10
  a
• 6:11
  star
• 6:11
  at
• 6:11
  Carlisle
• 6:12
  in
• 6:12
  football
• 6:12
  and
• 6:13
  baseball.
• 6:13
  He
• 6:13
  went
• 6:14
  to
• 6:14
  the
• 6:14
  1912
• 6:15
  Olympics
• 6:15
  and
• 6:15
  won
• 6:16
  gold
• 6:16
  medals
• 6:17
  where
• 6:17
  the
• 6:17
  King
• 6:17
  of
• 6:18
  Sweden
• 6:18
  said
• 6:18
  that
• 6:18
  he
• 6:18
  was
• 6:19
  the
• 6:19
  greatest
• 6:19
  athlete
• 6:20
  in
• 6:20
  the
• 6:20
  world.
• 6:21
  And
• 6:21
  he
• 6:21
  was
• 6:21
  probably
• 6:21
  right.
• 6:22
  He
• 6:22
  had
• 6:22
  led
• 6:22
  the
• 6:22
  Carlisle
• 6:23
  Indian
• 6:23
  school
• 6:23
  to
• 6:24
  one
• 6:24
  of
• 6:24
  the
• 6:24
  greatest
• 6:24
  upsets
• 6:25
  in
• 6:25
  college
• 6:25
  football
• 6:25
  history.
• 6:26
  In
• 6:26
  his
• 6:26
  playing
• 6:26
  days,
• 6:27
  he
• 6:27
  had
• 6:27
  played
• 6:28
  major
• 6:28
  league
• 6:28
  baseball
• 6:29
  for
• 6:29
  the
• 6:29
  New
• 6:29
  York
• 6:29
  Giants
• 6:30
  and
• 6:30
  his
• 6:30
  name
• 6:30
  was
• 6:30
  on
• 6:31
  the
• 6:31
  marquee.
• 6:32
  It
• 6:32
  really
• 6:32
  meant
• 6:32
  something.
• 6:33
  So
• 6:33
  when
• 6:34
  the
• 6:34
  owners
• 6:34
  of
• 6:34
  the
• 6:34
  APFA
• 6:35
  looked
• 6:35
  around
• 6:35
  that
• 6:36
  smoky
• 6:36
  showroom
• 6:37
  and
• 6:37
  asked
• 6:37
  who
• 6:37
  should
• 6:38
  lead
• 6:38
  their
• 6:38
  fledgling
• 6:39
  league,
• 6:39
  the
• 6:39
  answer
• 6:40
  was
• 6:40
  obvious.
• 6:41
  Thorpe
• 6:41
  was
• 6:41
  elected
• 6:42
  unanimously.
• 6:43
  Here's
• 6:43
  the
• 6:43
  paradox,
• 6:44
  and
• 6:44
  it's
• 6:45
  a
• 6:45
  perfect
• 6:45
  parable
• 6:45
  for
• 6:46
  what
• 6:46
  professional
• 6:46
  football
• 6:47
  was
• 6:47
  in
• 6:47
  1920.
• 6:48
  Jim
• 6:49
  Thorpe
• 6:49
  was
• 6:49
  the
• 6:50
  face
• 6:50
  of
• 6:50
  the
• 6:50
  league,
• 6:50
  and
• 6:51
  yet
• 6:51
  he
• 6:51
  barely
• 6:52
  played
• 6:52
  in
• 6:52
  it.
• 6:52
  He
• 6:53
  was
• 6:53
  a
• 6:53
  president
• 6:53
  name
• 6:54
  only,
• 6:54
  a
• 6:54
  ceremonial
• 6:55
  figure
• 6:55
  whose
• 6:56
  job
• 6:56
  was
• 6:56
  to
• 6:56
  make
• 6:56
  the
• 6:56
  APFA
• 6:57
  look
• 6:57
  respectable.
• 6:59
  The
• 6:59
  real
• 6:59
  organizing
• 7:00
  work
• 7:00
  fell
• 7:00
  to
• 7:00
  men
• 7:01
  like
• 7:01
  Ralph
• 7:01
  Hay,
• 7:01
  Joe
• 7:02
  Carr,
• 7:02
  the
• 7:02
  Columbus
• 7:03
  Panhandles,
• 7:03
  and
• 7:04
  George
• 7:04
  Hallis,
• 7:05
  who
• 7:05
  understood
• 7:05
  that
• 7:06
  the
• 7:06
  survival
• 7:06
  of
• 7:06
  pro
• 7:07
  football
• 7:07
  depended
• 7:08
  not
• 7:08
  on
• 7:08
  star
• 7:08
  power
• 7:09
  but
• 7:09
  on
• 7:09
  structure
• 7:10
  of
• 7:10
  a
• 7:11
  league.
• 7:12
  Thorpe
• 7:12
  would
• 7:12
  suit
• 7:12
  up
• 7:13
  for
• 7:13
  a
• 7:13
  few
• 7:13
  games
• 7:13
  with
• 7:13
  Canton
• 7:14
  Bulldogs
• 7:14
  that
• 7:14
  season,
• 7:15
  but
• 7:15
  his
• 7:15
  presidency
• 7:16
  was
• 7:16
  a
• 7:17
  symbol.
• 7:17
  And
• 7:18
  symbols
• 7:18
  matter.
• 7:19
  Especially
• 7:19
  when
• 7:19
  you're
• 7:20
  trying
• 7:20
  to
• 7:20
  convince
• 7:20
  a
• 7:20
  skeptical
• 7:21
  public
• 7:22
  that
• 7:23
  your
• 7:23
  sport
• 7:23
  is
• 7:23
  not
• 7:23
  just
• 7:24
  a
• 7:24
  collection
• 7:24
  of
• 7:25
  mercenaries
• 7:25
  playing
• 7:26
  under
• 7:26
  fake
• 7:26
  names.
• 7:27
  The
• 7:27
  APFA
• 7:28
  now
• 7:28
  had
• 7:29
  a
• 7:29
  name,
• 7:29
  a
• 7:30
  president
• 7:30
  and
• 7:31
  a
• 7:31
  hundred
• 7:31
  dollar
• 7:31
  fee
• 7:31
  that
• 7:32
  nobody
• 7:32
  had
• 7:32
  paid.
• 7:33
  What
• 7:33
  it
• 7:33
  did
• 7:33
  not
• 7:34
  have
• 7:34
  was
• 7:34
  a
• 7:34
  schedule,
• 7:35
  a
• 7:35
  championship,
• 7:36
  or
• 7:36
  any
• 7:37
  real
• 7:37
  idea
• 7:38
  what
• 7:38
  it
• 7:38
  just
• 7:39
  had
• 7:39
  created.
• 7:40
  The
• 7:41
  1920
• 7:41
  APFA
• 7:42
  season
• 7:43
  was,
• 7:43
  to
• 7:43
  put
• 7:43
  it
• 7:44
  mildly,
• 7:45
  unstructured.
• 7:46
  Each
• 7:46
  team
• 7:46
  arranged
• 7:47
  its
• 7:47
  own
• 7:47
  schedule.
• 7:48
  Some
• 7:48
  played
• 7:49
  13
• 7:49
  games,
• 7:49
  others
• 7:50
  played
• 7:50
  one.
• 7:50
  The
• 7:51
  Muncie
• 7:51
  Flyers
• 7:51
  played
• 7:52
  exactly
• 7:52
  a
• 7:52
  single
• 7:53
  league
• 7:53
  contest,
• 7:54
  a
• 7:54
  45
• 7:55
  to
• 7:55
  nothing
• 7:55
  loss
• 7:56
  to
• 7:56
  Rock
• 7:56
  island
• 7:56
  on
• 7:57
  October
• 7:57
  3rd.
• 7:57
  They
• 7:58
  never
• 7:58
  played
• 7:58
  another
• 7:58
  APFA
• 7:59
  game
• 7:59
  and
• 8:00
  they
• 8:00
  folded
• 8:00
  at
• 8:00
  the
• 8:01
  end
• 8:01
  of
• 8:01
  the
• 8:01
  season.
• 8:02
  This
• 8:02
  was
• 8:02
  the
• 8:02
  reality
• 8:03
  of
• 8:03
  the
• 8:03
  first
• 8:03
  professional
• 8:04
  football
• 8:04
  league.
• 8:05
  Survival
• 8:06
  was
• 8:06
  not
• 8:06
  guaranteed.
• 8:07
  This
• 8:08
  was
• 8:08
  the
• 8:08
  reality
• 8:08
  of
• 8:09
  professional
• 8:09
  football.
• 8:10
  As
• 8:10
  a
• 8:10
  matter
• 8:10
  of
• 8:10
  fact,
• 8:11
  of
• 8:11
  those
• 8:11
  14
• 8:12
  teams
• 8:12
  that
• 8:12
  met
• 8:13
  in
• 8:13
  1920,
• 8:14
  only
• 8:14
  two
• 8:15
  of
• 8:15
  them
• 8:15
  survive
• 8:16
  in
• 8:16
  any
• 8:16
  form
• 8:17
  today.
• 8:18
  The
• 8:18
  Racine
• 8:19
  Cardinals,
• 8:19
  named
• 8:19
  after
• 8:19
  the
• 8:20
  Chicago
• 8:20
  street
• 8:21
  and
• 8:21
  and
• 8:21
  not
• 8:21
  the
• 8:22
  Wisconsin
• 8:22
  city,
• 8:23
  became
• 8:23
  the
• 8:23
  Chicago
• 8:24
  Cardinals.
• 8:25
  Later
• 8:25
  the
• 8:25
  St.
• 8:26
  Louis
• 8:26
  Cardinals,
• 8:26
  the
• 8:27
  Phoenix
• 8:27
  Cardinals
• 8:27
  and
• 8:27
  today
• 8:28
  are
• 8:28
  the
• 8:28
  Arizona
• 8:29
  Cardinals,
• 8:29
  the
• 8:29
  oldest
• 8:30
  continuously
• 8:31
  operating
• 8:31
  franchise
• 8:31
  in
• 8:32
  professional
• 8:32
  football.
• 8:33
  Then
• 8:34
  there
• 8:34
  were
• 8:34
  the
• 8:34
  Decatur
• 8:35
  Stales,
• 8:35
  you
• 8:35
  know
• 8:35
  that
• 8:36
  George
• 8:36
  Hallis
• 8:37
  team.
• 8:37
  They,
• 8:37
  they
• 8:38
  were
• 8:38
  a
• 8:38
  team
• 8:39
  sponsored
• 8:39
  by
• 8:39
  A.E.
• 8:40
  Staley,
• 8:41
  a
• 8:41
  factory
• 8:42
  team
• 8:42
  for
• 8:42
  his
• 8:42
  starch
• 8:43
  company.
• 8:44
  And
• 8:44
  you
• 8:44
  know
• 8:45
  they
• 8:45
  went,
• 8:47
  they
• 8:47
  were
• 8:48
  founded
• 8:48
  in
• 8:48
  Decatur,
• 8:49
  Illinois,
• 8:50
  later
• 8:50
  moved
• 8:50
  to
• 8:50
  Chicago.
• 8:51
  The
• 8:52
  franchise
• 8:52
  given
• 8:53
  fully
• 8:53
  over
• 8:53
  to
• 8:54
  Halas
• 8:54
  who
• 8:55
  later
• 8:55
  turned
• 8:55
  them
• 8:55
  into
• 8:56
  Chicago
• 8:56
  Bears.
• 8:57
  Just
• 8:57
  a
• 8:57
  few
• 8:58
  years
• 8:58
  later.
• 8:59
  The
• 8:59
  first
• 8:59
  Official
• 8:59
  game
• 9:00
  between
• 9:00
  two
• 9:00
  APFA
• 9:01
  teams
• 9:01
  was
• 9:01
  played
• 9:02
  in
• 9:02
  October
• 9:02
  3,
• 9:03
  1920
• 9:03
  at
• 9:03
  Triangle
• 9:04
  park
• 9:04
  in
• 9:04
  Dayton,
• 9:05
  Ohio.
• 9:05
  The
• 9:05
  Dayton
• 9:06
  Triangles
• 9:06
  defeated
• 9:06
  The
• 9:07
  Columbus
• 9:07
  panhandles
• 9:08
  14
• 9:08
  to
• 9:09
  nothing.
• 9:09
  And
• 9:09
  Lou
• 9:10
  Partlow
• 9:10
  of
• 9:11
  Dayton
• 9:11
  scored
• 9:11
  the
• 9:11
  first
• 9:12
  touchdown.
• 9:12
  In
• 9:12
  league
• 9:13
  history,
• 9:14
  a
• 9:14
  crowd
• 9:14
  of
• 9:14
  roughly
• 9:14
  4,000
• 9:15
  watched
• 9:15
  the
• 9:15
  game.
• 9:16
  No
• 9:16
  one
• 9:16
  recorded
• 9:17
  the
• 9:17
  exact
• 9:17
  number,
• 9:18
  and
• 9:18
  no
• 9:19
  one
• 9:19
  really
• 9:19
  knew
• 9:19
  that
• 9:19
  it
• 9:20
  would
• 9:20
  matter.
• 9:20
  The
• 9:21
  championship
• 9:21
  race
• 9:21
  was
• 9:22
  just
• 9:22
  as
• 9:22
  chaotic
• 9:22
  as
• 9:22
  a
• 9:23
  schedule.
• 9:23
  No
• 9:23
  standings
• 9:24
  were
• 9:24
  officially
• 9:25
  kept,
• 9:25
  and
• 9:26
  by
• 9:26
  December
• 9:26
  most
• 9:26
  teams
• 9:27
  had
• 9:27
  given
• 9:27
  up
• 9:27
  hope
• 9:28
  of
• 9:28
  a
• 9:28
  title.
• 9:28
  Some
• 9:29
  had
• 9:29
  already
• 9:29
  dissolved,
• 9:30
  but
• 9:30
  four
• 9:30
  teams
• 9:31
  remained
• 9:31
  in
• 9:31
  contention.
• 9:32
  Akron,
• 9:33
  Buffalo,
• 9:34
  Canton
• 9:34
  Indicator.
• 9:35
  A
• 9:35
  series
• 9:36
  of
• 9:36
  late
• 9:36
  games
• 9:36
  among
• 9:37
  them
• 9:37
  settled
• 9:38
  nothing
• 9:38
  definitively
• 9:39
  except
• 9:40
  that
• 9:40
  the
• 9:40
  Akron
• 9:40
  Pros
• 9:41
  had
• 9:41
  finished
• 9:41
  undefeated
• 9:42
  with
• 9:43
  eight
• 9:43
  wins,
• 9:43
  zero
• 9:43
  losses
• 9:44
  and
• 9:44
  three
• 9:44
  ties.
• 9:45
  They
• 9:45
  had
• 9:46
  only
• 9:46
  allowed
• 9:46
  seven
• 9:46
  points
• 9:47
  the
• 9:47
  entire
• 9:48
  season.
• 9:49
  Seven.
• 9:50
  And
• 9:50
  on
• 9:50
  the
• 9:50
  roster
• 9:51
  was
• 9:51
  a
• 9:51
  man
• 9:51
  named
• 9:51
  Fritz
• 9:52
  Pollard,
• 9:52
  a
• 9:52
  5
• 9:52
  foot
• 9:53
  9,
• 9:53
  165
• 9:54
  pound
• 9:54
  Dynamo
• 9:55
  halfback
• 9:55
  out
• 9:55
  of
• 9:56
  Brown
• 9:56
  University
• 9:56
  who
• 9:57
  had
• 9:57
  been
• 9:57
  named
• 9:57
  an
• 9:58
  All
• 9:58
  American
• 9:58
  in
• 9:59
  college
• 9:59
  and
• 9:59
  a
• 10:00
  first
• 10:00
  team
• 10:00
  all
• 10:00
  Pro
• 10:00
  in
• 10:01
  his
• 10:01
  inaugural
• 10:01
  season.
• 10:02
  Pollard
• 10:03
  and
• 10:03
  Bobby
• 10:03
  Marshall
• 10:04
  of
• 10:04
  the
• 10:04
  Rock
• 10:04
  Island
• 10:04
  Independence
• 10:05
  were
• 10:05
  the
• 10:05
  first
• 10:06
  two
• 10:06
  black
• 10:06
  players
• 10:06
  in
• 10:07
  what
• 10:07
  would
• 10:07
  become
• 10:07
  the
• 10:08
  NFL.
• 10:08
  And
• 10:08
  Paula
• 10:09
  would
• 10:09
  go
• 10:09
  on
• 10:09
  to
• 10:10
  become
• 10:10
  the
• 10:10
  league's
• 10:10
  first
• 10:11
  Blackhead
• 10:11
  coach
• 10:11
  in
• 10:12
  1921.
• 10:13
  In
• 10:13
  a
• 10:13
  sport
• 10:13
  that
• 10:14
  would
• 10:14
  later
• 10:14
  exclude
• 10:15
  black
• 10:15
  players
• 10:15
  entirely,
• 10:16
  from
• 10:16
  1934
• 10:17
  to
• 10:17
  1946,
• 10:18
  the
• 10:18
  first
• 10:19
  season
• 10:19
  was
• 10:19
  quietly,
• 10:20
  imperfectly
• 10:22
  integrated.
• 10:23
  At
• 10:23
  a
• 10:23
  league
• 10:24
  meeting
• 10:24
  on
• 10:24
  April
• 10:24
  30,
• 10:25
  1921,
• 10:25
  the
• 10:26
  owners
• 10:26
  voted
• 10:27
  to
• 10:27
  award
• 10:27
  their
• 10:28
  championship
• 10:29
  to
• 10:29
  Akron.
• 10:30
  The
• 10:30
  trophy,
• 10:31
  the
• 10:31
  Brunswick
• 10:31
  Ball
• 10:32
  Calendar
• 10:32
  cup,
• 10:32
  was
• 10:33
  presented
• 10:33
  at
• 10:33
  a
• 10:33
  meeting
• 10:33
  and
• 10:34
  it
• 10:34
  was
• 10:34
  the
• 10:34
  only
• 10:35
  year
• 10:35
  the
• 10:35
  trophy
• 10:36
  was
• 10:36
  ever
• 10:36
  used.
• 10:37
  Decades
• 10:37
  later,
• 10:37
  it
• 10:38
  went
• 10:38
  missing
• 10:38
  and
• 10:39
  really
• 10:39
  hasn't
• 10:40
  never
• 10:40
  been
• 10:40
  found.
• 10:42
  When
• 10:42
  those
• 10:43
  14
• 10:43
  men
• 10:43
  walked
• 10:44
  through
• 10:44
  Ralph
• 10:44
  Hayes
• 10:44
  showroom
• 10:45
  on
• 10:45
  September
• 10:46
  9,
• 10:46
  1920,
• 10:47
  they
• 10:47
  didn't
• 10:47
  realize
• 10:48
  what
• 10:48
  they
• 10:48
  had
• 10:48
  created.
• 10:48
  They
• 10:49
  thought
• 10:49
  they
• 10:49
  had
• 10:49
  formed
• 10:50
  a
• 10:50
  professional
• 10:50
  association,
• 10:51
  a
• 10:52
  loose
• 10:52
  agreement
• 10:52
  of
• 10:53
  to
• 10:53
  stop
• 10:53
  poaching
• 10:54
  players
• 10:54
  and
• 10:54
  bring
• 10:54
  some
• 10:54
  order
• 10:55
  to
• 10:55
  scheduling.
• 10:55
  They
• 10:56
  had
• 10:56
  no
• 10:56
  idea
• 10:56
  that
• 10:57
  they
• 10:57
  just
• 10:57
  planted
• 10:57
  a
• 10:58
  seed
• 10:58
  of
• 10:58
  one
• 10:58
  of
• 10:59
  the
• 10:59
  most
• 10:59
  powerful
• 10:59
  sports
• 11:00
  leagues
• 11:00
  in
• 11:00
  American
• 11:01
  history.
• 11:02
  The
• 11:02
  numbers
• 11:03
  make
• 11:03
  the
• 11:03
  point
• 11:03
  more
• 11:04
  dramatically
• 11:04
  than
• 11:04
  any
• 11:05
  narration
• 11:05
  could.
• 11:06
  In
• 11:06
  1920,
• 11:07
  the
• 11:07
  Akron
• 11:07
  Pros
• 11:08
  won
• 11:08
  the
• 11:08
  championship
• 11:08
  in
• 11:08
  front
• 11:09
  of
• 11:09
  a
• 11:09
  few
• 11:09
  thousand
• 11:09
  fans
• 11:10
  playing
• 11:10
  a
• 11:11
  league
• 11:11
  that
• 11:11
  didn't
• 11:11
  even
• 11:11
  keep
• 11:12
  the
• 11:12
  official
• 11:12
  standings.
• 11:13
  A
• 11:13
  century
• 11:14
  later,
• 11:14
  the
• 11:14
  super
• 11:15
  bowl
• 11:15
  is
• 11:15
  watched
• 11:15
  by
• 11:16
  more
• 11:16
  than
• 11:16
  120
• 11:17
  million
• 11:17
  people
• 11:17
  annually
• 11:18
  and
• 11:18
  the
• 11:19
  NFL
• 11:19
  generates
• 11:19
  more
• 11:20
  than
• 11:20
  $20
• 11:20
  billion
• 11:21
  in
• 11:22
  annual
• 11:22
  revenue.
• 11:24
  But
• 11:24
  the
• 11:25
  deeper
• 11:25
  legacy
• 11:26
  goes
• 11:26
  far
• 11:27
  beyond
• 11:27
  that.
• 11:28
  It's
• 11:28
  structural.
• 11:29
  Every
• 11:29
  principle
• 11:30
  those
• 11:30
  men
• 11:30
  debated
• 11:31
  in
• 11:31
  that
• 11:31
  showroom.
• 11:32
  Salary,
• 11:32
  rules,
• 11:33
  player
• 11:33
  contracts,
• 11:34
  and
• 11:34
  keeping
• 11:35
  kids
• 11:35
  in
• 11:35
  college
• 11:36
  playing
• 11:36
  football,
• 11:37
  those
• 11:37
  are
• 11:37
  practiced
• 11:38
  today.
• 11:39
  And
• 11:39
  the
• 11:39
  laws
• 11:39
  were
• 11:40
  expanded
• 11:41
  and
• 11:41
  rules
• 11:41
  were
• 11:42
  more
• 11:42
  defined
• 11:43
  as
• 11:43
  things
• 11:43
  went
• 11:44
  on.
• 11:44
  And
• 11:44
  that's
• 11:45
  what
• 11:45
  makes
• 11:45
  it
• 11:45
  special,
• 11:46
  that
• 11:46
  definitive
• 11:46
  line
• 11:47
  between
• 11:47
  college
• 11:48
  football
• 11:49
  and
• 11:49
  pro
• 11:49
  football,
• 11:50
  where
• 11:51
  both
• 11:51
  of
• 11:51
  those
• 11:52
  sports
• 11:52
  thrive
• 11:53
  but
• 11:53
  the
• 11:54
  NFL
• 11:55
  really
• 11:55
  exceeded
• 11:56
  after
• 11:56
  1958.
• 11:57
  Make
• 11:58
  sure
• 11:58
  you
• 11:58
  check
• 11:58
  out
• 11:58
  that
• 12:00
  piece
• 12:00
  we
• 12:00
  did
• 12:00
  last
• 12:01
  week
• 12:01
  on
• 12:01
  the
• 12:01
  1958
• 12:02
  championship
• 12:03
  game.
• 12:03
  And
• 12:03
  that
• 12:03
  will
• 12:03
  bring
• 12:04
  a
• 12:04
  little
• 12:04
  bit
• 12:04
  more
• 12:04
  clarity
• 12:04
  along
• 12:05
  with
• 12:05
  some
• 12:05
  other
• 12:05
  ones
• 12:06
  that
• 12:06
  we'll
• 12:06
  have
• 12:06
  coming
• 12:06
  up
• 12:06
  here.
• 12:07
  They
• 12:08
  were
• 12:08
  making
• 12:08
  it
• 12:08
  up
• 12:09
  as
• 12:09
  they
• 12:09
  went,
• 12:10
  but
• 12:10
  what
• 12:10
  they
• 12:10
  did
• 12:11
  was
• 12:11
  really
• 12:12
  set
• 12:12
  the
• 12:12
  playing
• 12:13
  field
• 12:13
  level
• 12:14
  to
• 12:15
  make
• 12:15
  growth
• 12:15
  happen
• 12:16
  in
• 12:16
  a
• 12:16
  sport
• 12:17
  that
• 12:17
  would
• 12:17
  be
• 12:17
  attracted
• 12:18
  to
• 12:18
  millions
• 12:19
  around
• 12:19
  the
• 12:19
  world.
• 12:20
  The
• 12:20
  American
• 12:21
  Professional
• 12:21
  Football
• 12:21
  Station
• 12:22
  association
• 12:23
  changed
• 12:23
  its
• 12:23
  name
• 12:24
  in
• 12:24
  1922
• 12:25
  to
• 12:25
  the
• 12:25
  National
• 12:25
  Football
• 12:26
  League.
• 12:27
  The
• 12:27
  presidency
• 12:27
  of
• 12:28
  Jim
• 12:28
  Thorpe,
• 12:28
  well,
• 12:29
  that
• 12:29
  was
• 12:29
  handed
• 12:29
  over
• 12:30
  to
• 12:30
  a
• 12:30
  man
• 12:31
  named
• 12:31
  Joe
• 12:31
  Carr
• 12:32
  that
• 12:32
  we
• 12:32
  talked
• 12:32
  about
• 12:33
  of
• 12:33
  the
• 12:33
  Columbus
• 12:33
  Panhandles
• 12:34
  that
• 12:34
  organized
• 12:35
  that
• 12:35
  team.
• 12:35
  And
• 12:35
  he
• 12:36
  really
• 12:36
  put
• 12:36
  structure
• 12:37
  and
• 12:37
  organizational
• 12:38
  skills
• 12:39
  into
• 12:39
  play
• 12:40
  into
• 12:40
  the
• 12:40
  National
• 12:40
  Football
• 12:41
  League,
• 12:41
  setting
• 12:42
  rules,
• 12:42
  setting
• 12:43
  that
• 12:43
  hard
• 12:43
  line
• 12:43
  when
• 12:44
  it
• 12:44
  had
• 12:44
  to
• 12:44
  be,
• 12:44
  and
• 12:45
  making
• 12:45
  schedules
• 12:46
  and
• 12:46
  player
• 12:47
  contracts
• 12:47
  be
• 12:48
  official.
• 12:49
  Ralph
• 12:50
  Hay
• 12:50
  never
• 12:50
  made
• 12:50
  it
• 12:51
  to
• 12:51
  the
• 12:51
  hall
• 12:51
  of
• 12:51
  Fame,
• 12:51
  at
• 12:52
  least
• 12:52
  not
• 12:52
  yet.
• 12:53
  And
• 12:53
  neither
• 12:54
  did
• 12:54
  most
• 12:54
  of
• 12:54
  the
• 12:54
  men
• 12:55
  in
• 12:55
  that
• 12:55
  room.
• 12:55
  But
• 12:55
  every
• 12:55
  Sunday
• 12:56
  in
• 12:56
  autumn,
• 12:56
  when
• 12:57
  70,000
• 12:57
  people
• 12:58
  fill
• 12:58
  a
• 12:58
  stadium
• 12:58
  and
• 12:58
  millions
• 12:59
  more
• 12:59
  watch
• 12:59
  from
• 12:59
  their
• 13:00
  living
• 13:00
  rooms,
• 13:00
  they're
• 13:01
  living
• 13:01
  inside
• 13:01
  a
• 13:02
  house
• 13:02
  that
• 13:02
  14
• 13:02
  men
• 13:03
  built
• 13:04
  between
• 13:04
  a
• 13:04
  hut
• 13:05
  mobile
• 13:05
  and
• 13:06
  a
• 13:06
  Buick
• 13:07
  in
• 13:07
  a
• 13:07
  dealership
• 13:08
  in
• 13:08
  Canton,
• 13:09
  Ohio.
• 13:11
  Next
• 13:11
  time
• 13:11
  on
• 13:11
  the
• 13:11
  Gridiron
• 13:12
  timeline,
• 13:12
  we
• 13:12
  Travel
• 13:13
  back
• 13:13
  to
• 13:13
  1925
• 13:15
  and
• 13:15
  the
• 13:15
  Pottsville
• 13:16
  Maroons
• 13:16
  and
• 13:17
  Red
• 13:17
  Grange.
• 13:17
  A
• 13:18
  galloping
• 13:18
  goes
• 13:18
  to
• 13:18
  Illinois,
• 13:19
  who
• 13:19
  turned
• 13:19
  professional
• 13:20
  football
• 13:20
  into
• 13:21
  an
• 13:22
  experience
• 13:22
  that
• 13:23
  fans
• 13:23
  really
• 13:24
  wanted
• 13:24
  to
• 13:24
  encapsulate
• 13:25
  and
• 13:25
  witness.
• 13:26
  You
• 13:26
  know,
• 13:27
  Red
• 13:27
  Grange
• 13:27
  has
• 13:28
  had
• 13:28
  some
• 13:29
  great
• 13:29
  moments
• 13:29
  and
• 13:29
  brought
• 13:30
  some
• 13:30
  thrills
• 13:31
  to
• 13:31
  the
• 13:31
  college
• 13:31
  game,
• 13:32
  but
• 13:32
  what
• 13:32
  he
• 13:32
  did
• 13:32
  for
• 13:33
  the
• 13:33
  professional
• 13:34
  game,
• 13:34
  even
• 13:34
  though
• 13:34
  he
• 13:34
  wasn't
• 13:35
  starring
• 13:36
  at
• 13:36
  too
• 13:36
  many
• 13:37
  places,
• 13:37
  that
• 13:38
  1925
• 13:38
  season
• 13:39
  was
• 13:39
  special
• 13:40
  and
• 13:40
  really
• 13:41
  brought
• 13:41
  the
• 13:41
  NFL
• 13:41
  into
• 13:42
  its
• 13:42
  own.
• 13:42
  So
• 13:42
  make
• 13:43
  sure
• 13:43
  you
• 13:43
  check
• 13:43
  that
• 13:43
  out
• 13:43
  next
• 13:44
  week.
• 13:44
  We'll
• 13:44
  have
• 13:44
  some
• 13:44
  shorts
• 13:45
  on
• 13:46
  and
• 13:46
  Visit
• 13:47
  our
• 13:47
  timeline
• 13:47
  pigskindispatch.com
• 13:49
  Till
• 13:49
  next
• 13:49
  time,
• 13:49
  everybody.
• 13:50
  Have
• 13:50
  a
• 13:50
  great
• 13:50
  gridiron
• 13:51
  day.
• 13:52
  That's
• 13:53
  all
• 13:53
  the
• 13:53
  football
• 13:53
  history
• 13:54
  we
• 13:54
  have
• 13:54
  today,
• 13:54
  folks.
• 13:55
  Join
• 13:55
  us
• 13:55
  back
• 13:55
  tomorrow
• 13:56
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• 13:56
  more
• 13:56
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• 13:57
  your
• 13:57
  football
• 13:57
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• 13:59
  We
• 13:59
  invite
• 14:00
  you
• 14:00
  to
• 14:00
  check
• 14:00
  out
• 14:00
  our
• 14:01
  website,
• 14:01
  pigskindispatch.com
• 14:03
  not
• 14:03
  only
• 14:03
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• 14:04
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• 14:04
  the
• 14:04
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• 14:04
  football
• 14:05
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• 14:05
  but
• 14:06
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• 14:06
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• 14:06
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• 14:07
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• 14:07
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• 14:07
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• 14:08
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• 14:08
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• 14:08
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• 14:09
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• 14:09
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• 14:09
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• 14:10
  the
• 14:10
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• 14:10
  as
• 14:10
  well
• 14:11
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• 14:11
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• 14:11
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• 14:12
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• 14:12
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• 14:12
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• 14:13
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• 14:13
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• 14:13
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• 14:15
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• 14:16
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• 14:16
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• 14:23
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• 14:24
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• 14:24
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• 14:24
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• 14:24
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• 14:25
  Special
• 14:26
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• 14:26
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• 14:26
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• 14:26
  talents
• 14:27
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• 14:27
  Mike
• 14:27
  and
• 14:27
  Gene
• 14:28
  Monroe
• 14:28
  as
• 14:28
  well
• 14:29
  as
• 14:29
  Jason
• 14:29
  Neff
• 14:30
  for
• 14:30
  letting
• 14:30
  us
• 14:30
  use
• 14:30
  their
• 14:31
  music
• 14:31
  during
• 14:31
  our
• 14:31
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• 14:33
  This
• 14:33
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• 14:34
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• 14:34
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• 14:34
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• 14:34
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• 14:34
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• 14:35
  History
• 14:35
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• 14:36
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• 14:36
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• 14:36
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• 14:37
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• 14:37
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• 14:37
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• 14:37
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• 14:38
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• 14:38
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• 14:38
  You
• 14:39
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• 14:39
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• 14:39
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