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Tag: Franklin Field

  • Philly’s 1968 Reception For Santa – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.

    Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.

    If you thought that the sound of increasing discontent rising from Lincoln Financial Field during Eagles games this season was a Philly first, then you may just be young enough not to have lived through the 1968 Eagles season. Eight years after winning the NFL Championship at Franklin Field — the Eagles were enduring one of their worst campaigns ever with an 0–11 start.

    The final game of that miserable campaign (on December 15th) would occur less than 24 hours after a blizzard in the City. When the regular Santa didn’t show up for the halftime Christmas pageant — a young Nick Olivo dressed as Santa was picked from the stands. As he walked out at halftime — Olivo was serenaded with boos and pelted with snowballs from the snow that had accumulated in the seats from the night before. Things would get even worse for the 2–11 Eagles — they would lose that game at home to former Philadelphia wide receiver Bud Grant’s Vikings 24–17.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Another Chapter in Philly College Football History – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Another Chapter in Philly College Football History – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    PHOTO: William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images

    Our Football Roots Run Deep.
    It Started with the College Game.

    If you’d been a die-hard football fan in Philly in the early 20th century — attending games at Franklin Field — you would have almost certainly not expected to spend Sunday’s routing for an NFL Franchise.

    It would be 1924 before Philadelphia actually had an NFL Team and another eight years before the Eagles.

    Philly still has the oldest stadium in operation today: Franklin Field.

    Dating back to April 1895, Franklin Field first opened as a location for 5,000 fans to see the Penn Relays. No college football stadium in America has seen more.

    On Friday night — in a college football matchup that was first played one hundred and forty-five years ago in 1879 and then renewed again after 1893 — Yale played the University of Penn. Yale has the lead in the series 51–37–1 and won the game 31–10 while stifling Penn’s offense. Quarterback Aiden Sayin left the game with an injury in the first quarter, giving way to Liam O’Brien and freshman Karson Siqueiros-Lasky.

    Penn's Jared Richardson gets the Quakers on the board with a 18-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
    Penn's Jared Richardson gets the Quakers on the board with a 18-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. PHOTO: William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images

    For Garnett Valley High School football standout and Glen Mills, PA native Shane Reynolds — playing football for the Naval Academy isn’t just a chance to play — it’s a chance to serve; until this week — the Navy and Army were both ranked for the first time since 1960 and undefeated in football — a feat that hasn’t been done since 1945. While Army sat idol after a 45–28 win last week against East Carolina — #24 Navy was throttled by #12 Notre Dame — and saw Philly native Shane Reynolds gain only six yards of offense.

    If you were a young football fan in Philly, you may have witnessed the 1899 Army-Navy Game at Franklin Field.

    The City that’s hosted the most meetings of the last regular-season college football games each year?

    Yup, it’s Philadelphia.
    Ninety, to be exact.

    PHOTO: William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Disposition – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Disposition – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    Do Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Antics Alone Disqualify Him From Success With the Eagles?

    Sixty years ago, in 1964— a plane flew over Franklin Field during an Eagles Game with a banner fluttering behind it. This wasn’t some random Philadelphia advertising campaign or a flag flopping a positive message for the Philly team in the daytime breeze. This was the clear-cut message funded by the fans that read, “Joe Must Go.”

    The Eagles were far removed from the team that won an NFL Championship on the same Franklin Field six years earlier — and spirited Head Coach Joe Kuharich was on the hot seat. Pacing up and down the sideline with his blue suit, tie, and hat, flailing his arms, and looking for the water cooler for the occasional swig — Kuharich became famous for his animated sideline antics before finally marching in the other direction.

    When your team is undefeated in Philly, you get a little slack. When your team ekes out a win against one of the worst AFC teams to move to one game above .500 after looking anemic over the last ten months with one of the most talented offenses in the NFL — you don’t. Last week, Nick Sirianni walked behind the Eagles sideline and once again began screaming at fans as the seconds ticked away in a 20–16 win over the Cleveland Browns.

    In Nick Sirianni’s fourth season as Head Coach — we’ve seen the passion and fire he brings to the Eagles sideline.

    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    In his second year, Sirianni’s 9–1 Eagles pulled off a comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts on the way to Super Bowl LVII. With seconds left in the game — Sirianni walked behind the sideline and started screaming at some fans behind the bench area. He evidentially didn’t get the message that this wasn’t how to handle yourself.

    In 1976 — an unruly fan at Veterans Stadium screamed at Eagles Head Coach Dick Vermeil as he was running out of the tunnel. Attempting to get into the stands after the fan — Vermeil was ironically restrained by former Eagles great Chuck Bednarik. After four seasons as Eagles Head Coach — Joe Kuharich was finally fired in 1968. His most significant fault — winning just enough to keep the Eagles out of the running for the top draft pick that year. He was a running back from USC named O.J. Simpson.

    Nick Sirianni better put the headset back on, stay on the sideline, and keep winning.
    A lot of winning.

    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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