Sports History Network

When Football Was Football

Sports EN ↓ 112 episodes

Each episode of “When Football Was Football” will take the listener back to the very early days of the National Football League. Your host, 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 p...

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Sports History Network

Episodes

Phil Handler: Worst Coach In NFL History May Have Been One of the Best! 04.07.2022 17:48

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY As you scroll through the list of NFL head coaches and their overall records throughout history, you’ll find his name last. Dead last. But if you check into his brilliant resume and his coaching accomplishmen...

When The NFL Lost It's Greatest Tackle: Retired Cardinals' Numbers 20.06.2022 17:32

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY In the long, long history of the Arizona Cardinals, it is interesting to note that in over 120 years, only five team uniform numbers have been retired. But these guys deserved it… In this episode of “When Foo...

No Potatoes For Fat Men! George Halas and the 1946 Chicago Bears 06.06.2022 18:22

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY In 1946, the Chicago Bears won still another championship in the National Football League under head coach and owner George Halas. Yet, this was not an ordinary year for both Halas and the Bears. Not only did...

When George Halas Went to War; What Happend to the Chicago Bears? 23.05.2022 17:58

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY George Halas, the founder and also coach of the Chicago Bears for many decades, is remembered for many reasons. He was an exceptional leader on the field who continually kept his club in contention for NFL ho...

From NFL Legends to Canadian Coaches 09.05.2022 15:52

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Back in 1920, center, George Trafton of the Decatur Staleys was so despised, that the fans of the Rock Island Independents nearly caused a riot trying to crucify him after one game. The reason? Trafton had me...

Horween Brothers: Their Lasting NFL Impact 25.04.2022 14:23

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Our program today will focus on a pair of brothers who were nationally known for their stardom on the fields of the Ivy League, but who also demonstrated exceptional ability on the professional level with the...

Where Is He? The Disappearance of Avatus Stone 11.04.2022 16:46

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY This episode of “When Football Was Football” is indeed a special one. Although it is hard to believe, “When Football Was Football” emerged nearly two years ago on the Sports History Network. As such, the prog...

He's Not A Mascot! The Legend of Billy Cross 28.03.2022 15:07

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Billy Cross had heard it all before—that he was too short, too light, and not tough enough for football. Yet he persisted in continually proving his doubters wrong all the way through high school, college, an...

Doug Atkins: Strongest Man In Football 14.03.2022 14:20

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY He was an imposing figure, whether tracking down opposing quarterbacks or selling caskets. At 6-8 and approximately 280 pounds, with a high jumper’s athleticism, it’s not difficult to imagine what it was like...

Guy Chamberlin: The Mysterious Disappearance of the NFL's Winningest Coach 28.02.2022 20:04

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY When his coaching career ended almost 95 years ago, he was so successful that he remains today as the NFL’s winningest coach of all time. He won four NFL titles in six years of coaching. In those four champio...

The Men Behind The Best Football Nicknames 14.02.2022 18:15

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY In professional sports, we have experienced a wide spectrum of clearly memorable nicknames. For example, in baseball, we instantly recognize nicknames like the Babe, Mick, Yogi, and Moose. Moose? Of course, t...

Another Look at the 1947 NFL Championship Game 31.01.2022 16:55

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY As we approach the 2022 Super Bowl, one old and familiar name will be missing from the participants: the Cardinals. Again. After a promising start to the 2021 season that sputtered and then ground to a halt i...

Little Big Man: Joey Sternaman of the Chicago Bears 17.01.2022 15:56

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY It is now common in the National Football League to have quarterbacks who are bigger in size than linemen were in days gone by. Consider guys like Big Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton who both stand 6-5 and...

Go West Young Man: The Cardinals First Extended Road Trip 03.01.2022 16:14

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY In the early days of the National Football League, it was not uncommon for pro teams to take on non-league teams from anywhere or at any time. If a local club could offer a decent financial proposal, it could...

Why Pat Harder Belongs In The Hall of Fame 20.12.2021 13:53

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY When an incredible football player is consistently overlooked for inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we often hear several reasons for this absence…things like: “He was OK, but he never led the leagu...

Christmas Eve at the Guardian (Presented by Row One Sports) - Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer 14.12.2021 4:29

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is part of the  Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSOR Row One  - the vintage shop for sports history fans! Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer A Different way to hear sports history. I am Orville Mulligan and yes the career journey I took was as a Sports Writer. My story will fill the listener’s ears with my journey...

Marla Recalls A Football Game (Presented by Row One Sports) - Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer 09.12.2021 4:16

NFL Travel in the 1940s 06.12.2021 16:03

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY But travel has been a way of life for sports teams since organized leagues were established primarily in the 19th century. Major league baseball teams in the early 20th century were camped around the east coa...

Orville Impresses Marla (Presented by Row One Sports) - Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer 05.12.2021 3:40

Bears vs. Cardinals: NFL's Oldest Rivalry 22.11.2021 16:18

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY They would argue over ineligible players, the height of the grass on a field, suspected spies watching their practices, and even the quality of post-game meals hosted by the home team. The battles raged for f...

Chicago Bears' Ed Sprinkle: The Meanest Man In Football! 08.11.2021 18:08

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! Plaay Classic - sports simulation board games (use code SHN for 10% off your first order) EPISODE SUMMARY He was known for his clothesline tackles, his less than courteous activity underneath the pile, and for his unrelentin...

Plaay Classic (Official SHN Sponsor) - Interview With The Founder (and His Son) - Keith and Sam Avallone - SHN Showcase 26.10.2021 21:48

The Sports History Network is a proud partner of  Plaay Classic  - a sports simulation board game company. WIN A FREE PLAAY CLASSIC BOARD GAME This podcast is sponsored by PLAAY Classic Sports Simulation Board Games! Spelled with TWO "A's" P-L-A-A-Y...  Realistic board game re-creations of professional football, hockey, baseball, NASCAR, golf and more--they cover nine sports in all,...

Packers, Cardinals Begin Rivalry 25.10.2021 14:19

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! Plaay Classic - Sports Simulation Board Games (use code SHN for 10% off your first purchase) EPISODE SUMMARY Of course, the teams no longer play each other every season due to the expansion of the NFL over the years, but the...

The Longest Losing Streak in NFL History 11.10.2021 17:13

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY When Jacksonville recently dropped its 19th straight game, it marked just the fifth time in history that a club experienced that regrettable distinction. In fact, since the Super Bowl began in 1967, it was on...

Lenny Sachs: Basketball Hall of Famer's Forgotten NFL Record 27.09.2021 14:40

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! Thrive Fantasy - daily fantasy player props. Get a 100% instant match up to $100 using the promo code: SHN EPISODE SUMMARY Back in the very early days of the National Football League, many of the players were multi-sport ath...