Thanks for posting this video. This was a gem of a find! I have a copy of the 1968 movie Paper Lion where George Plimpton is played by Alan Alda (who was best known for his long-time role as 'Hawkeye' from the TV show M*A*S*H) , however this was far better to watch than that movie because 1) George Plimpton appears in it himself and 2) instead of trying out for the bottom dwelling Detroit Lions (they won 35.7% of their games in 1968), George actually got to train with the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts along with talking to some of the greatest players in Colts history if not NFL history (Johnny Unitas, Ted 'the Mad Stork' Hendricks, Mike 'Mad Dog' Curtis, Charles 'Bubba' Smith - need I say more?). I never knew this footage existed but am very surprised and glad it does. If you have any more treasures like this, please upload them to UA-cam. Cheers!
I watched this particularly to see Mike Curtis. It was interesting to hear his interaction with Plimpton before the Lions game. It seemed to reveal not only Curtis' commitment to his teammates but also his own insecurity about potentially letting them down. Even though he may have actually been thinking "Look. Your (Plimpton's) little inconsequential b.s. publicity stunt is just going to be over in a moment, but this is serious for us real players who will still be here busting our butts long after you're gone," nevertheless, he did seem to still be making a genuine attempt to allay Plimpton's fears and let him know that everything was going to be alright. To Plimpton's credit, I never read his book, but at least in this video, he seemed to be pretty serious and committed to doing his best in his effort to do well and also not let the real players down.
@@tvgator1 I know someone who grew up with Curtis' son. My friend only knew Curtis as a real estate developer who dabbled in football in his early life. I had to explain to him Curtis was a marginal HOFer and sent him YT videos of his playing days. What struck me is that he was, like you said, all in, all the time. From what my friend saw, he was all in in commercial real estate. I guess football faded to something he did in the past.
I lived in Maryland back in the day I remember training camp being so long .Most of the teams went to college campuses and the dorms didn't have air conditioning the teams didn't have great food or the best medical staffs .I was lucky got to go see the Redskins up in Carlisle Pennsylvania scrimmage the Eagles and then they went down to where the Colts were and did the same .Six preseason games back then ,the injuries piled up plus the union had to fight just to get preseason pay .
Unfortunately, I only remember Johnny U during his last season which he spent in San Diego. But my 90 year old father rates him as hands down the greatest.
Most of these Legends are all gone now, and that makes me sad. It was a different time, a time we can never get back. A wonderful time to grow up in.................
I am 100% sure that if any football player, even a Colt player, tried to cheap shot George Plimpton, he would have to answer to Mike Curtis either on or off the field. Much respect to George, he was 41 years old when he did this.
This is an excerpt from a special where George Plimpton attended a tryout with the Baltimore Colts in 1971. Former stars featured include John Unitas, Earl Morrall, Ray May, Mike Curtis, Bubba Smith,Tom Matte and Ted Hendricks. The Colts were Super Bowl Champions in 1970. This was hard knocks long before HBO came up with that idea.
I remember seeing this on television back in the 70's, so it was a treat to see it again 45 years later. I've come to realize how much attention to detail is put breaking down the plays on offense and defense. Also the hard work these players put in preparing for the season and securing a spot on the team. Professional Football is no joke 🏈.
This was back when NFL training camp was more like boot camp. For eight weeks players were in lock-down mode with curfews and bed checks every night except for perhaps Saturdays. Plus, there were two-a-day practices for the first two weeks (with lots of hitting), team meetings every night after dinner, and so forth. It was all very regimented and afforded the players precious little free time save for Sundays when they had a day off. Thanks for posting this. Always good to go back in time and see my favorite NFL team, the Baltimore Colts.
The human bowling ball Don Nottingham was one of my favorite players as a teenager. It was amazing that he made the team even though he was last player, I believe, drafted in the entire NFL that year by the World Champion Baltimore Colts 🏈.
The title was the year before, 1970. In 1971, they lost to the Dolphins in the AFC title game. I remember watching this when it was on TV. I loved the Colts growing up.
@@antoniodelrio1292 lucky for us! He won 3 superbowls! In Oakland!!! I was kid watching him in the stands! He did a great job for the BALTIMORE COLTS!!!!
@@barronvonpitbull4544 I was a Colt through and through but who couldn't love watching the Raiders in those days! I wanted to block like Jim Otto (?) the center and catch like F. Belinikoff(sp).
Tom Matte was not a novice at quarterback ! He was the quarterback at Ohio State . Come on George I cannot believe they did not put your plays on the video ?
True, but Ohio State quarterbacks under Woody Hays threw very little back then. When Matte had to step in as the quarterback for the Colts in 1965, he quickly developed a sore arm in practice from all of the throwing.
Paper Lion. Somewhere in the background a 9 year old me I am probably standing under a goal post trying to field field goals with 20 other older kids. Johnny would only be around for one more training camp with the Colts.
I went to westminster as a teenager to this camp site which is westminster university right? I spent a week in the dorms and learned from pros such as randy white and numerous college coaches.what a great time it was.
They didn't pump iron back then and if they had, they'd be alot stronger, bigger, faster. Hard to believe so little attention was paid to strength training. I'm surprised some one hadn't put 2 and 2 together amd created a clandestine training regimen for all the players. They would have enjoyed a long term competitive advantage had they done so and kept it under wraps because back then there was little turn over to where the secret could get out.
I watch a lot of older games, 70's & 60's that are on YT, and even though what you say is true... the game was played more soundly than it is today. Maybe thats a result of the speed increase?? Watching the older games... the refs are never involved, flags are hardly ever thrown. I wish the play could become more sound and the refs get outta the game today!! Thanx for da comment!!
@@timottes334 They didn't strike me as world class, finely tuned athletic machines like they are today. I wonder what the average 40 was for the 1971 Colts vs the 2023 Colts. Ron McDole of the Red Skins, known as the Dancing Bear could barely get 225lbs up on a bench press. Today an NFL safety can put up 315 for 25 reps or more. Today's players seem to be light years ahead of those who played 50 years ago when it comes to strength, agility, speed, toughness, endurance etc. I could be wrong but let's face it, the game is no longer what it once was. It's evolved.
@@quantumpotential7639 With respect : They are/were world class athletes. The avg 40? IDK. I would imagine that they are faster on avg today, as the athletes can make a living playing football... even the least of them. At this time... a good portion of the players had to hustle in the off season and could not just train... as they all can today! I dont get your hyperfocus on weightlifting, as if it equates to... a good football player. I dont think that Muhammad Ali lifted as boxers do today. Is he still world class? The stat that would tell the tale given the perspective that you have... would be the injury rate of the players in the NFL. Have you seen Tom Brady's body? Does he lift in the intense manner you suggest makes one a world class athlete! I dont think so... I think the same could be said about Peyton Manning and many others if we took time to actually study the assertions that yer making. My assertion is that the game on the field isn't as good as it used to be... like in 1971. It is a great game still, and will always be that by its nature, but I maintain that it is sloppier in general, but thats my opinion. and I think a lot of people hold the same opinion. I'd rather face any LB today than... Butkus, Nitschke, Curtis, Hendricks, Lambert, Shinnick etc... or Db's like Tatum, Blount, Night Train Lane, Dick Le Beau etc... or D linemen like Bubba Smith, Joe Greene, Alex Karas, Merlin Olson, Alan Page, Deacon Jones etc... We could do the same for offense.... John Unitas, Gale Sayers, OJ, Ray Berry, John Mackey, Mike Ditka, Fred Biletnikof, Dave Casper etc... I think you have a newer is better bias... The breaking of the records of the players from earlier era's happens so often because the game changes to make offense much easier, not because of weightlifting or endurance training lol!! If D's could play as they did in the 60's and most of the 70's... well... you know how it'd be!! Relatively... if a db of today could hit a receiver like a db could until the late 70's and 80's... no amt of speed and weightlifting would give that wr the edge. His opponent...,again relative to him, both athletes of their day... would be his equal. It's an unequal game on the field today. Could Tom Brady have played 23 years if he could be hit like Unitas was hit? Of course not!! Could receiving records be broke if receivers could be hit like Ray Berry was? Of course not! The evolved game isn't a better game. I still love it, but it isn't better because the players aren't better... FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!
If the best 40 was 4.6 in 1971 & I know it was better than that because Ive seen film of players of that era being touted as running 4.3's... so lets say the avg 40 for skill position players - wr's, rb's, te's maybe cb's & safeties, too - was 4.6 or 4.7... do you actually think that you can tell the difference with your naked eye between 4.3 and 4.7 or 4.8? No you can't!! We all get fooled by watching all of these NFL Films WHICH ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN THE HIGHLIGHTS. EVEN HIGHLIGHTS THAT SEEM UP TO SPEED ARE ACTUALLY SLOWED DOWN SOME & IVE SEEN STEVE SABOL ADMIT THIS ON FILM!! So, it isn't just the super slow highlights that are slowed from highlights back then... a lot of them were slowed slightly to add dramatic effect & this makes the players seem significantly slower back then... when they weren't... When you watch real speed games & highlights you cannot tell the difference in speed. You are right in that better training & as I pointed out, the ability to make football a year round occupation even for the lowest rung players... has made for faster athletes at positions where speed may not have been too crucial then... like DT... or DE.
Could you imagine today's sports writers going into an NFL CAMP and putting on the pads and actually practicing with NFL PLAYERS. Skip Bayless, Jim Rome and the rest of the crap talkers. George was actually from England 🇬🇧. I always loved PLIMP.
Yeah Jim Rhome should do a tackling drill with Jim Everett let's see how that works out.Rhome would be saying Chrissie while they jump on him in a pile
@@carinduncan7594 I remember that , these writers seem to think they can treat pro athletes anyway they want and when snaps back at them they start crying 😢. I love your old school NFL videos.
@@sd31263 I stand corrected sir. I really don't know where I got that information , I spent a lot of time OVERSEAS and it seemed George had the British accent so I guess I assumed. Thanks for the correction.
@@sd31263 R.I.P GEORGE PLIMPTON. GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY. A SPORTS WRITER SPORTS WRITER , ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS. IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE TO PUT THE PADS ON AND PRACTICE WITH THE LIONS AND COLTS , THAT WAS DEFENITLY BRINGING HOME THE NFL EXPERIENCE TO READERS AND LISTENER'S. I THOUGHT IT WAS AWSOME THAT SPORTS WRITER FROM ENGLAND WOULD SHOW SUCH INTREST IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL AMAZED ME. AGIAN THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE TRUE STORY.
Thanks for posting this video. This was a gem of a find! I have a copy of the 1968 movie Paper Lion where George Plimpton is played by Alan Alda (who was best known for his long-time role as 'Hawkeye' from the TV show M*A*S*H) , however this was far better to watch than that movie because 1) George Plimpton appears in it himself and 2) instead of trying out for the bottom dwelling Detroit Lions (they won 35.7% of their games in 1968), George actually got to train with the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts along with talking to some of the greatest players in Colts history if not NFL history (Johnny Unitas, Ted 'the Mad Stork' Hendricks, Mike 'Mad Dog' Curtis, Charles 'Bubba' Smith - need I say more?). I never knew this footage existed but am very surprised and glad it does. If you have any more treasures like this, please upload them to UA-cam. Cheers!
THE MAD STORK , BUBBA SMITH , BILL CURRY , JOHN UNITAS , EARL MORRELL , TOM MATTE , BILL CURRY AND MIKE MAD DOG CURTIS. PRETTY COOL.
This might sound silly..But I like how simple thing's were back then...In football anyway.
I watched this particularly to see Mike Curtis. It was interesting to hear his interaction with Plimpton before the Lions game. It seemed to reveal not only Curtis' commitment to his teammates but also his own insecurity about potentially letting them down. Even though he may have actually been thinking "Look. Your (Plimpton's) little inconsequential b.s. publicity stunt is just going to be over in a moment, but this is serious for us real players who will still be here busting our butts long after you're gone," nevertheless, he did seem to still be making a genuine attempt to allay Plimpton's fears and let him know that everything was going to be alright. To Plimpton's credit, I never read his book, but at least in this video, he seemed to be pretty serious and committed to doing his best in his effort to do well and also not let the real players down.
Curtis was a pitbull; hard nosed, crotchety, but the best teammate a player could ever have. His attitude was all in, all the time.
@@tvgator1 I know someone who grew up with Curtis' son. My friend only knew Curtis as a real estate developer who dabbled in football in his early life. I had to explain to him Curtis was a marginal HOFer and sent him YT videos of his playing days.
What struck me is that he was, like you said, all in, all the time. From what my friend saw, he was all in in commercial real estate. I guess football faded to something he did in the past.
Same here
I lived in Maryland back in the day I remember training camp being so long .Most of the teams went to college campuses and the dorms didn't have air conditioning the teams didn't have great food or the best medical staffs .I was lucky got to go see the Redskins up in Carlisle Pennsylvania scrimmage the Eagles and then they went down to where the Colts were and did the same .Six preseason games back then ,the injuries piled up plus the union had to fight just to get preseason pay .
Unitas was such a leader and really enjoyed watching him play .
Unfortunately, I only remember Johnny U during his last season which he spent in San Diego. But my 90 year old father rates him as hands down the greatest.
Most of these Legends are all gone now, and that makes me sad. It was a different time, a time we can never get back. A wonderful time to grow up in.................
I am 100% sure that if any football player, even a Colt player, tried to cheap shot George Plimpton, he would have to answer to Mike Curtis either on or off the field. Much respect to George, he was 41 years old when he did this.
Everyone looked like they were 55 years old.
This is one of the greatest things I've ever seen in my life!
a great time capsule... amazing how many guys rocked sideburns in the 70s
This is an excerpt from a special where George Plimpton attended a tryout with the Baltimore Colts in 1971. Former stars featured include John Unitas, Earl Morrall, Ray May, Mike Curtis, Bubba Smith,Tom Matte and Ted Hendricks.
The Colts were Super Bowl Champions in 1970. This was hard knocks long before HBO came up with that idea.
I remember seeing this on television back in the 70's, so it was a treat to see it again 45 years later. I've come to realize how much attention to detail is put breaking down the plays on offense and defense. Also the hard work these players put in preparing for the season and securing a spot on the team. Professional Football is no joke 🏈.
The most difficult sport ...bar none...pro football...thats why nothing comes close to pro footballs popularity !
This was back when NFL training camp was more like boot camp. For eight weeks players were in lock-down mode with curfews and bed checks every night except for perhaps Saturdays. Plus, there were two-a-day practices for the first two weeks (with lots of hitting), team meetings every night after dinner, and so forth. It was all very regimented and afforded the players precious little free time save for Sundays when they had a day off.
Thanks for posting this. Always good to go back in time and see my favorite NFL team, the Baltimore Colts.
The human bowling ball Don Nottingham was one of my favorite players as a teenager. It was amazing that he made the team even though he was last player, I believe, drafted in the entire NFL that year by the World Champion Baltimore Colts 🏈.
When players were men.not like today game.
WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT BEING A MAN??
The original Hard Knocks. Lol
My favorite team as a youth!
Game was at Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor Mi.
Paper lion was a good book
The Colts really loved McCafferty ! They played well for him !
They won the SuperBowl that year over Dallas. I read Plimptons book" PaperLion" in 68..
The title was the year before, 1970. In 1971, they lost to the Dolphins in the AFC title game. I remember watching this when it was on TV. I loved the Colts growing up.
PLIMP HAD MORE GUTS THEN MOST OF THESE PRE MODONA'S YOU HAVE TODAY.
@@dennissaunders5247 WHAT A RETARDED COMMENT!!
I’m reading the book again now for the third time, first read it when I was in high school in the 70’s.
@JerryWhitesell I've read Instant Replay by Jerry Kramer about 100 times. Lombardi's last Packer team in '67.
Cigarette break at 10!
Look how young Ted Hendricks is! Cool!
Wished they had held on to Stork.
@@antoniodelrio1292 lucky for us! He won 3 superbowls! In Oakland!!! I was kid watching him in the stands! He did a great job for the BALTIMORE COLTS!!!!
@@barronvonpitbull4544 I was a Colt through and through but who couldn't love watching the Raiders in those days! I wanted to block like Jim Otto (?) the center and catch like F. Belinikoff(sp).
Now known as McDaniel College, No One Trains there.
Tom Matte was not a novice at quarterback ! He was the quarterback at Ohio State . Come on George I cannot believe they did not put your plays on the video ?
True, but Ohio State quarterbacks under Woody Hays threw very little back then. When Matte had to step in as the quarterback for the Colts in 1965, he quickly developed a sore arm in practice from all of the throwing.
Paper Lion. Somewhere in the background a 9 year old me I am probably standing under a goal post trying to field field goals with 20 other older kids. Johnny would only be around for one more training camp with the Colts.
Coach McCafferty had a great group of athletes…..and he was “ the easy rider “……
Don Nottingham with his missing teeth.
...and JOHN MACKEY as well
Better than hard knocks
Went to training camp every year. Lived in Westminster Maryland
I went to westminster as a teenager to this camp site which is westminster university right? I spent a week in the dorms and learned from pros such as randy white and numerous college coaches.what a great time it was.
I see the late George Young, former NY Giant GM, in the background @ :30...
They didn't pump iron back then and if they had, they'd be alot stronger, bigger, faster. Hard to believe so little attention was paid to strength training. I'm surprised some one hadn't put 2 and 2 together amd created a clandestine training regimen for all the players. They would have enjoyed a long term competitive advantage had they done so and kept it under wraps because back then there was little turn over to where the secret could get out.
I watch a lot of older games, 70's & 60's that are on YT, and even though what you say is true... the game was played more soundly than it is today.
Maybe thats a result of the speed increase??
Watching the older games... the refs are never involved, flags are hardly ever thrown.
I wish the play could become more sound and the refs get outta the game today!!
Thanx for da comment!!
@@timottes334 They didn't strike me as world class, finely tuned athletic machines like they are today. I wonder what the average 40 was for the 1971 Colts vs the 2023 Colts. Ron McDole of the Red Skins, known as the Dancing Bear could barely get 225lbs up on a bench press. Today an NFL safety can put up 315 for 25 reps or more. Today's players seem to be light years ahead of those who played 50 years ago when it comes to strength, agility, speed, toughness, endurance etc. I could be wrong but let's face it, the game is no longer what it once was. It's evolved.
@@quantumpotential7639 With respect :
They are/were world class athletes.
The avg 40? IDK. I would imagine that they are faster on avg today, as the athletes can make a living playing football... even the least of them.
At this time... a good portion of the players had to hustle in the off season and could not just train... as they all can today!
I dont get your hyperfocus on weightlifting, as if it equates to... a good football player.
I dont think that Muhammad Ali lifted as boxers do today. Is he still world class?
The stat that would tell the tale given the perspective that you have... would be the injury rate of the players in the NFL.
Have you seen Tom Brady's body? Does he lift in the intense manner you suggest makes one a world class athlete! I dont think so...
I think the same could be said about Peyton Manning and many others if we took time to actually study the assertions that yer making.
My assertion is that the game on the field isn't as good as it used to be... like in 1971.
It is a great game still, and will always be that by its nature, but I maintain that it is sloppier in general, but thats my opinion. and I think a lot of people hold the same opinion.
I'd rather face any LB today than... Butkus, Nitschke, Curtis, Hendricks, Lambert, Shinnick etc... or Db's like Tatum, Blount, Night Train Lane, Dick Le Beau etc... or D linemen like Bubba Smith, Joe Greene, Alex Karas, Merlin Olson, Alan Page, Deacon Jones etc... We could do the same for offense.... John Unitas, Gale Sayers, OJ, Ray Berry, John Mackey, Mike Ditka, Fred Biletnikof, Dave Casper etc...
I think you have a newer is better bias...
The breaking of the records of the players from earlier era's happens so often because the game changes to make offense much easier, not because of weightlifting or endurance training lol!!
If D's could play as they did in the 60's and most of the 70's... well... you know how it'd be!!
Relatively... if a db of today could hit a receiver like a db could until the late 70's and 80's... no amt of speed and weightlifting would give that wr the edge. His opponent...,again relative to him, both athletes of their day... would be his equal.
It's an unequal game on the field today. Could Tom Brady have played 23 years if he could be hit like Unitas was hit? Of course not!!
Could receiving records be broke if receivers could be hit like Ray Berry was? Of course not!
The evolved game isn't a better game. I still love it, but it isn't better because the players aren't better... FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!
If the best 40 was 4.6 in 1971 & I know it was better than that because Ive seen film of players of that era being touted as running 4.3's... so lets say the avg 40 for skill position players - wr's, rb's, te's maybe cb's & safeties, too - was 4.6 or 4.7... do you actually think that you can tell the difference with your naked eye between 4.3 and 4.7 or 4.8?
No you can't!!
We all get fooled by watching all of these NFL Films WHICH ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN THE HIGHLIGHTS. EVEN HIGHLIGHTS THAT SEEM UP TO SPEED ARE ACTUALLY SLOWED DOWN SOME & IVE SEEN STEVE SABOL ADMIT THIS ON FILM!!
So, it isn't just the super slow highlights that are slowed from highlights back then... a lot of them were slowed slightly to add dramatic effect & this makes the players seem significantly slower back then... when they weren't...
When you watch real speed games & highlights you cannot tell the difference in speed.
You are right in that better training & as I pointed out, the ability to make football a year round occupation even for the lowest rung players... has made for faster athletes at positions where speed may not have been too crucial then... like DT... or DE.
I've heard of Nottingham; played for the Dolphins.
Nicknamed The Human Bowling Ball... in Baltimore.
Both Colts, Then Dolphins
Could you imagine today's sports writers going into an NFL CAMP and putting on the pads and actually practicing with NFL PLAYERS. Skip Bayless, Jim Rome and the rest of the crap talkers. George was actually from England 🇬🇧. I always loved PLIMP.
Yeah Jim Rhome should do a tackling drill with Jim Everett let's see how that works out.Rhome would be saying Chrissie while they jump on him in a pile
@@carinduncan7594 I remember that , these writers seem to think they can treat pro athletes anyway they want and when snaps back at them they start crying 😢. I love your old school NFL videos.
George Plimpton was born in NYC and died in NYC. He was not English.
@@sd31263 I stand corrected sir. I really don't know where I got that information , I spent a lot of time OVERSEAS and it seemed George had the British accent so I guess I assumed. Thanks for the correction.
@@sd31263 R.I.P GEORGE PLIMPTON.
GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
A SPORTS WRITER SPORTS WRITER , ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS. IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE TO PUT THE PADS ON AND PRACTICE WITH THE LIONS AND COLTS , THAT WAS DEFENITLY BRINGING HOME THE NFL EXPERIENCE TO READERS AND LISTENER'S. I THOUGHT IT WAS AWSOME THAT SPORTS WRITER FROM ENGLAND WOULD SHOW SUCH INTREST IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL AMAZED ME. AGIAN THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE TRUE STORY.
Awesome
I always liked Mike Curtis.
Mad dog
@@santacruz986 Really. Just ask that fan he flattened for stealing a football!
Looks like Bobby Boyd some 10 minutes into this video clip.
@2:38 Red Miller?
Was Red Miller coaching Fred Miller. lol!
D - Line, that is.
Like Unitas had to even say a word!!!👍