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Tag: Steve Van Buren

  • The Game That Philadelphia Forgot at Griffith Stadium – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Credit: WikiCommons

    Philadelphia’s organized sports — dating as far back as our own Civil War — have frequently been intertwined with American history.

    Our first professional ballpark (Recreation Field) was an outpost for Union Cavalry in the 1860s.

    On March 11th of 2020 , the Sixers beat the Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center 124–106, including a 30-point, 14-rebound performance by Joel Embiid just hours before Philly joined the rest of the world in a pandemic shutdown that would bring Philadelphia sports to a halt for the first time since those same 1860s.

    And on the day that an event propelled our nation into the Second World War eighty-four years ago ,  it was no different.

    On December 7th, 1941,  the Eagles were in Washington for a Divisional Game at Griffith Stadium in front of over 27,000 fans. Washington was 5–5 coming into the game — the Eagles were 2–7. 

    On this day,  it actually wasn’t the sequence of football events themselves during the last regular season game of 1941 that was so memorable. In fact,  it’s what happened off the field that made this game so forgettable. During the first quarter,  the stadium announcer began paging official Washington personnel to return to their offices. An ominous feeling spread across the stands. Pearl Harbor had been attacked , and America’s involvement in World War II would soon follow.

    Credit: WikiCommons

    World War II was a historic event for both our Eagles and for our nation. After winning seven games in both 1944 and 1945, the Eagles were ready to make a run for the Championship in 1947. After beating the Steelers in the playoffs, the Eagles rallied against the Chicago Cardinals but came up just short, losing 28–21. The following year — in a Philadelphia nor’easter — the Eagles would beat those Chicago Cardinals 7–0 to win their first NFL Championship. They would repeat in Los Angeles the following year, in 1949.

    That night, after the 20–14 win for the home team,  Washington players marched in front of the Japanese Embassy in DC. America would remember December 7th, 1941, forever. 

    But not for a forgotten Eagles, Washington Game.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Leaving An Eagles Mark – One Week At A Time – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    The 4–0 Eagles have become a dangerous team. Their objective is now to become a playoff team. Every great franchise in the NFL is defined by two very important characteristics; leaving a mark on the game and being unstoppable. The Eagles — are achieving both.

    Even with Saquon Barkley struggling to find any seam to run through and AJ Brown quoting scripture while going an entire game with only two receptions — when Brown, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and Devonta Smith are on the field the Eagles are literally unstoppable — even posting a perfect 18–0 record together.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Seventy-five years ago — the Eagles and All-Pro running back Steve Van Buren were an unstoppable force. It didn’t matter what the defense did — Van Buren still found a way tp punish defenses. The result were two NFL championships and three NFL Championship appearances. The 1960’s Green Bay Packers had the Packer’s Sweep, the ’85 bears had the 46 Defense, Bill Walsh’s 49ers had the West Coast offense, and these Eagles? Well — they have the Tush Push.

    It’s only a matter of time before you see that patented tush-push. Formulated and perfected with the aid of a South Philadelphia visit from a Scottish Rugby Coach Richie Gray — created a nearly unstoppable mark on the game over the past two seasons. This Eagles team can run it, fake it, and run it again. It attracts so much attention in fact — that no one hardly notices when Saquon Barkley takes a handoff from said bunched formation and walks into the end zone.

    And while the NFL and national media debate the legality of the play that seems unstoppable — it’s ironic that this roster full of talent may be remembered among other things for a glorified quarterback sneak. Now the debate after two impressive Eagles’ wins against Tampa Bay and Kansas City is Philadephia leaving early on the Tush Push? 

    Complete with deep talent on the depth chart complimenting a roster perfectly assembled by Howie Roseman — the Eagles have everything in front of them. Especially when you need less than one yard. It’s coming right at you — whether you think that you can stop it or not. 

    Best to come up with an answer, NFL teams. Instead of complaining about the rules. 

    And after the Broncos Game? Make it 19–0.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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