"this man Red Grange of Illinois is three or four men rolled into one . . . Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, Al Jolson, Paavo Nurmi* and Man o'War."
So said columnist Damno Runyon after witnessing what is regarded as the greatest single-game accomplishment of any running back in football on October 18, 1924. That was the day Harold "Red" Grange sped into college football history as the Galloping Ghost.
Playing as a junior that day with the Fighting Illini of Illinois against Michigan he first zig-zagged 95 yards for a touchdown on the kickoff. Five minutes later he ran 67 yards for another. Later in the first quarter he bolted 56 and 44 yards for two more.
That's when the coach took him out, mercifully, with the score Grange 27, Michigan 0.
In the third period he ran 11 yards for his fifth TD, then he passed (in those days you played boths sides) for 20 yards.
His stats for the day: 212 yards rushing, 64 yards passing (6-for-6), and 126 on kickoff returns for a titanic total of 402 yards.
Taken from an article appearing in The Washington Times, October 17, 2005.
*Finnish long-distance track star of the 1920s.
1 comment:
Post a Comment