Professional Football Researchers Association Forum
PFRA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the history of professional football. Formed in 1979, PFRA members include many of the game's foremost historians and writers.
JameisLoseston wrote:Would LOVE to see those. I wonder if they corroborate the figures cited in the article you posted, because those sound inaugural-ballot HOF worthy (especially the 7 TD game).
Long live the Triangles. Bet Al and Norb will be watching TNF together somewhere out there tonight, pulling for the old side.
Yep, they are mostly responsible for that article. They met with the author to share their findings. Their names are mentioned in it. Here's another:
Unfortunately, I only have what they sent me on my old computer - I don't think it was among the files I transferred over because I can't find it right now.
Why, yes, I would happily support a player who had 500 total yards in a game and 7 TDs in another. Most guys in that era didn't get that in a season. That brings some Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson vibes... along with Saxie's apparent propensity for running circles up and down the field, as stated in that article. I do wonder about level of competition, though; were those pretty much like today's Alabama vs. Florida A&M-type games, or was matchmaking reasonably consistent in pre-NFL football?
On another note, is Ed Danowski in the HOVG yet? He seems to belong in the same tier as Dunn and McBride, but he has the advantage of complete stats. I'd put him ahead of someone like Ace Gutowsky, who only had one or two big years, but there's really just a huge backlog of worthy early contenders.
JameisLoseston wrote:Why, yes, I would happily support a player who had 500 total yards in a game and 7 TDs in another. Most guys in that era didn't get that in a season. That brings some Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson vibes... along with Saxie's apparent propensity for running circles up and down the field, as stated in that article
+1
JameisLoseston wrote:I do wonder about level of competition, though; were those pretty much like today's Alabama vs. Florida A&M-type games, or was matchmaking reasonably consistent in pre-NFL football?
This is a fair point. It was more like the latter. The top teams would have teams on their schedule they could beat by 70 or 80. Bob Gill's approach is to throw those games out and only look at the ones against top competition:
Given the issues with the matchups, something I like to look at is the degree to which a player is "recruited". Massillon was known for the old tradition of signing ringers for big games and they brought Sacksteder in for the championship game against Canton in 1915. After seeing what Sacksteder did against them, Detroit recruited him in late 1916 and he had a nice season for them in 1917.
This was my first year of voting and I have a question about nominating for next year.
Is it common for guys who come close one year to be up for a vote the next? For example, are Earl Faison or Bert Jones likely to be on the ballot next year or another year or is it usually just a one-time nomination?
GameBeforeTheMoney wrote:This was my first year of voting and I have a question about nominating for next year.
Is it common for guys who come close one year to be up for a vote the next? For example, are Earl Faison or Bert Jones likely to be on the ballot next year or another year or is it usually just a one-time nomination?
They need to be re-nominated to be considered next year.
Lots of love for Bill Stanfill, a key member of three consecutive SB teams ... postseason success definitely has its perks as he was selected over other worthy defensive ends like Andrie, Gregory, Hardman, Bacon, Baker and Gastineau. A crowded field indeed. Congrats to Bill ...
With Francis off the board, Bavaro may get his chance next year, though others are deserving like Kramer, Chester, Odoms, Giles, Jordan and now Jackson and Novachek.
Given the issues with the matchups, something I like to look at is the degree to which a player is "recruited". Massillon was known for the old tradition of signing ringers for big games and they brought Sacksteder in for the championship game against Canton in 1915. After seeing what Sacksteder did against them, Detroit recruited him in late 1916 and he had a nice season for them in 1917.
That reminds me of a question I've had for a long time. If a low-end FCS team like FAMU hired a ringer to play QB for one week, say a "JAG" NFL journeyman backup like... Josh Johnson, would they be able to compete with the Alabama of the world? If not, then what if the ringer was someone like Aaron Rodgers or Lamar Jackson?
