College AllStar game vs pros (1 Viewer)

[soonerhef]

I remember an allstar game that was played between college allstars (or NFL rookies prior to their first season) vs the NFL champs. It seems like this game was discontinued in the early 70's.

Does anyone remember details about this game or have any links to more info about it?

Thanks for anything you guys can come up with

 

[Kleck.]

I've only read about it and I cannot say I remember any NFL player liking the idea or caring much for it.

College All-Stars vs NFL Champs. I believe it ended before the NFL/AFL merger.

 

[JohnDoe]

Found a book about the game. Book

Brief history (emphasis on brief) BRIEF history

Page with results (and an explanation of why the series was discontinued) Results

 

[simsarge]

Not calling honda, but there was a thread on this a while ago. IIRRC, there was some good info init too.

 

[Meatwad]

Not calling honda, but  there was a thread on this a while ago. IIRRC, there was some good info init too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We've discussed how the best college team would do against a Pro team a few times, and this always comes up.

 

[TC]

I remember it well. The All-Stars rosters were chosen through public vote and always played in Chicago.

Because televised NCAA games were not nearly as common, the All-Star game was popular or semi-popular for many years. In the 40s, it became a chance to see the rookies-to-be against the league's best team. Even though the NFL team won handily, it had two attractions - the kickoff of the (we then called them) exhibition season and it was a chance to see some of the most popular players., too.

The game was always held in Chicago's Soldier Field and benefited a local charity/hospital via the newpaper. It was always held one week prior to the Hall Of Fame game. The game lacked many rookie stars at the end of the run, due to player contract restrictions.

Damn. I feel old, today.

Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, in 1934 came up with the idea of a pre-season game between the NFL champions and a team of college all-stars to benefit the newspaper's charity fund. All of the games were played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The first meeting, on Aug. 31, 1934, ended in a scoreless tie. In the early years, the college players did pretty well against the pros. The NFL champions dominated in later years, however, losing only once after 1955.

In 1976, the game was suspended and finally called off because of a heavy rainstorm late in the third quarter, with the Pittsburgh Steelers holding a 24-0 lead.

That was the last game of the series. There were two main reasons for the demise. First, pro football salaries had reached a much higher level, many college players who were unwilling to take part in the game for fear of injury. Second, fan interest had declined substantially because of the NFL's dominance.