Hail Mary Heroes and Gridiron Legends: Why October 23 is a Touchdown in Football History!
Get ready to celebrate a colossal day in American football history! October 23 is packed with iconic moments, from the birth of enduring Hall of Famers to the surprising genesis of one of the game’s biggest stars. Did you know this date marks the birthday of legendary coach and innovator John Heisman and Pro Bowl tackle Winston Hill? Plus, we dive into the career start of a Heisman Trophy winner who was deemed “too small” for the college game, only to transform a program and launch the “Flutie Effect.” Discover the records, rivalries, and incredible stories that make this day an essential part of the gridiron timeline!
October 23 Football History Headlines
October 23, 1903 – Montgomery, Alabama – The 8th installment of the famed Iron Bowl took place as the Alabama Crimson Tide knocked off the Auburn Tigers 18-6. The victory helped head Coach W.B. Blount’s Alabama team achieve a 3-4 record for the season, while Auburn, coached by Billy Bates, finished 4-3 according to sports-reference.com’s records.
October 23, 1921 – Hagemeister Park, Green Bay, Wisconsin – Green Bay Packers played in their very first NFL game against the Minneapolis Marines. The website Packershistory.net enlightens us with just how dramatic an ending that first Green Bay NFL game had. With time running out in the fourth quarter, the Marines had the ball and a 6-0 lead over the Packers. Then, in one of the moments that teams on the bottom side of the score dream of, defensive end Dave Hayes of the Pack recovered a fumble at the Minneapolis 35-yard line! Halfback Buff Wagner made a spectacular catch of a Curly Lambeau pass to advance the ball to the 14 to keep the comeback alive. Then, with little time remaining in the contest, running back Art Schmaehl eventually plunged over from the 1, and Lambeau’s extra point proved to be the game winner in the 7-6 come-from-behind victory. The story gets more interesting as years later, historian Jack Rudolph, a colleague of Packers co-founder George Whitney Calhoun, wrote that it was rumored. Some believed the Packers were admitted to the loosely organized league, formed in a Canton automobile showroom, on a conditional basis. If they hadn’t beaten the Minneapolis Marines, they would have been dropped from what was then the American Professional Football Association. Remember that most teams in that era, including the Packers, essentially scheduled their league games from week to week. Talk about your must-win games!
October 23, 2000 – Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey – The “Monday Night Miracle” took place on ABC’s Monday Night Football! The Miami Dolphins were not the most polite of guests to the New York Jets, as they had outscored their hosts 30-7 by the end of the third quarter. The New York Jets would not lie down quietly in their house, though, as they pulled together an improbable comeback with 4 touchdowns and a field goal in the fourth quarter, and tied the game twice in the final stanza. The Green and White kept on scrapping and eventually defeated the Miami Dolphins 40-37 in overtime on a John Hall 40-yard field goal.
October 23, 2004 – South Bend, Indiana – 16th College Football Holy War between the only two Roman Catholic Universities in the U.S. playing Division 1 football, Boston College and Notre Dame. The Eagles and the Irish battled throughout the game as it came down to a play in the final minute. According to an ESPN.com account of the game, with 54 ticks of the clock remaining, BC quarterback Paul Peterson dropped back and then fired a 30-yard touchdown strike to Tony Gonzalez to give Boston College a 24-23 come-from-behind victory over the Irish. Notre Dame had been undefeated and ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation before the loss to their unranked opponent. It was not the first time Boston College had the better of the Golden Domers. In fact, it was the Eagles’ fourth consecutive victory over the Fighting Irish!
October 23 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Here are some football legends born on October 23.
- John Heisman
- Bruiser Kinard
- Winston Hill
- Tom Brahaney
- Doug Flutie
Conclusion
From the lasting legacy of John Heisman to the improbable rise of a man who won the award named after him, Doug Flutie and his game-changing effect on college football, October 23rd is far more than just another Tuesday on the schedule. It is a powerful reminder that size, expectations, and draft status mean little when faced with heart and determination. These milestone birthdays and historical events provide a snapshot of the gridiron’s rich history, celebrating the players whose unique talents and resilience continue to inspire fans across every level of the game.
