Awesome video, good sir. The 1937 Fordham team was probably the best the school ever had. Unblemished except for a tie against #1 Pitt, and that was Pitt's only blemish. #3 in the final AP poll.. Would love to see you make a video on the "Smorgasbord at the Summit", the 1934 game between Pitt and Minnesota where Minnesota rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to win 13-7 and would end up winning the national title because of it. The winning TD was a 17-yard pass on 4th and 4. "That Minnesota aerial marked the Gophers the best in the land. They had beaten the finest to do it."
Yeah, nicknames have gone the way of the single wing. The most recent nicknames I can think of off the top of my head are Craig "Iron Head" Hayward, Elbert "Ickey" Woods, and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. (Did any of those guys even make it into the 90s?) Maybe coach Don "Wink" Martindale could count. The most recent team nicknames I can think of are the Steel Curtain (70s Steelers), the Doomsday Defense (70s Cowboys), the Purple People Eaters (70s Vikings), and the Air Coryell (70s/80s Chargers). Oh, and the Greatest Show on Turf (90s Rams). Did the '85 Bears defense even have a nickname? And all those are pros. I can't think of _any_ college team nicknames later than this vid's Seven Blocks of Granite.
As a Hurricanes fan I loved the nickname of our 3 LBs from the early 90s, the Bermuda Triangle. But you're right, few and far between these days. Might have individual nicknames but not many for a whole unit anymore. If a unit does have a name it's usually only known to that team's fan and not nearly as well known as say the Purple People Eaters or something along those lines. The Blackshirts are pretty well known and about the only unit that's coming to mind.
Loved the Barney Miller reference! That's the first thing I thought of when you said that name...which I will not even attempt to spell! LOL! Yep, nicknames seem to have been replaced by that annoying first initial thing...today, you'd have a nickname like "JJon" or some other equally unimaginative handle. Less than a week now till the Huskers take the field again, hoping we kick some serious butt this year! GBR!
I never noticed that, but I think you're right: We don't hear sports nicknames as often as we used to. I think sportsmen and sportswomen use them *among themselves,* especially in team sports, as often as they used to, many or most starting in childhood; but *the media* aren't as eager to propagate them as they used to be. Why that is I can only guess. Maybe reporters, announcers, etc. these days think it looks or sounds less professional of them, or degrading to the referent. Of course certain nicknames that were once of a common type, calling attention to one's ethnicity, national or regional origin, or race are very discouraged now, inasmuch as they can be taken as insulting not only to the direct referent but to others of the same ethnicity, etc. Similarly those that called attention to certain physical characteristics that might've resulted from injury or been a defect of birth. But those would account for only a minority of "missing" nicknames.
I can hardly blame that Fordham U. administrator who reviled big-time college sports. It's a fluke that big-time spectator sports became associated with institutions of higher learning in the USA, and I don't think it's true in any other countries. However, I doubt I'd have the heart to pull the plug on a program such as Fordham had at the time. Then again, college in general is a racket in the USA, as I told my students many times. And the big racket contains smaller rackets: textbooks and service contractors. There should be far fewer students, they should be much cheaper, and deflated in general.
i have heard of fordham's seven blocks of granite for vince lombardi was 1 of them
Awesome video, good sir. The 1937 Fordham team was probably the best the school ever had. Unblemished except for a tie against #1 Pitt, and that was Pitt's only blemish. #3 in the final AP poll..
Would love to see you make a video on the "Smorgasbord at the Summit", the 1934 game between Pitt and Minnesota where Minnesota rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to win 13-7 and would end up winning the national title because of it. The winning TD was a 17-yard pass on 4th and 4. "That Minnesota aerial marked the Gophers the best in the land. They had beaten the finest to do it."
Thank you for the idea, I'll put it on the list. (It's a pretty long list... hahahaah)
Yeah, nicknames have gone the way of the single wing. The most recent nicknames I can think of off the top of my head are Craig "Iron Head" Hayward, Elbert "Ickey" Woods, and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. (Did any of those guys even make it into the 90s?) Maybe coach Don "Wink" Martindale could count.
The most recent team nicknames I can think of are the Steel Curtain (70s Steelers), the Doomsday Defense (70s Cowboys), the Purple People Eaters (70s Vikings), and the Air Coryell (70s/80s Chargers). Oh, and the Greatest Show on Turf (90s Rams). Did the '85 Bears defense even have a nickname?
And all those are pros. I can't think of _any_ college team nicknames later than this vid's Seven Blocks of Granite.
The Dirty Birds, the Cardiac Cats, take us to the early 00s.
As a Hurricanes fan I loved the nickname of our 3 LBs from the early 90s, the Bermuda Triangle. But you're right, few and far between these days. Might have individual nicknames but not many for a whole unit anymore. If a unit does have a name it's usually only known to that team's fan and not nearly as well known as say the Purple People Eaters or something along those lines. The Blackshirts are pretty well known and about the only unit that's coming to mind.
Loved the Barney Miller reference! That's the first thing I thought of when you said that name...which I will not even attempt to spell! LOL! Yep, nicknames seem to have been replaced by that annoying first initial thing...today, you'd have a nickname like "JJon" or some other equally unimaginative handle. Less than a week now till the Huskers take the field again, hoping we kick some serious butt this year! GBR!
Wahoo McDaniel
Another tackle by who? WAHOO
Your podcasts are awesome!
Thank you!
A great modern nickname, Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd.
I never noticed that, but I think you're right: We don't hear sports nicknames as often as we used to. I think sportsmen and sportswomen use them *among themselves,* especially in team sports, as often as they used to, many or most starting in childhood; but *the media* aren't as eager to propagate them as they used to be. Why that is I can only guess. Maybe reporters, announcers, etc. these days think it looks or sounds less professional of them, or degrading to the referent. Of course certain nicknames that were once of a common type, calling attention to one's ethnicity, national or regional origin, or race are very discouraged now, inasmuch as they can be taken as insulting not only to the direct referent but to others of the same ethnicity, etc. Similarly those that called attention to certain physical characteristics that might've resulted from injury or been a defect of birth. But those would account for only a minority of "missing" nicknames.
University of Louisiana Ragin Cajuns😮
William Slug McNish Glassboro State College
The nickname that first comes to mind is Sam "Bam" Cunningham.
To most college football fans, losing a game 7-6 must seem almost like a comedy. To us Iowa fans, such an outcome is in play on a weekly basis.
I have no idea how you guys live through that all the time.
If you have suggestions for profiles you'd like to see, such as players, coaches, or teams, Please leave them in the comments!
Badgers. Do some Badgers.
Michael IHOP McNish Bryant U guard. Famous for serving up countless pancake blocks.
I can hardly blame that Fordham U. administrator who reviled big-time college sports. It's a fluke that big-time spectator sports became associated with institutions of higher learning in the USA, and I don't think it's true in any other countries. However, I doubt I'd have the heart to pull the plug on a program such as Fordham had at the time.
Then again, college in general is a racket in the USA, as I told my students many times. And the big racket contains smaller rackets: textbooks and service contractors. There should be far fewer students, they should be much cheaper, and deflated in general.