The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-11-13

It was a larger attendance than that enjoyed in games between Brown and undefeated Princeton, and equalled the crowd that saw Dartmouth play Yale in the big bowl at New Haven.
 The game between the Redskins and the Bears, hard fought throughout, was more than an im- portant intersectional pro football game. It was a sign of the times. The players who do or die for the dear old bankroll are beginning to come into their own.
 The pro game originated along about 1895 with the formation of three teams, the Duquesne A. c. of Pittsburg, Olympics of McKees- port, Pa, and Orange A. c. of New ark, N. J. Factory boys and ex- college men who taught them the game made up the rosters. They played a hard, bruising game, and many of the contests were marked by fist fights among the spectators.
 The game grew slowly and spread westward to Ohio where the Columbus Panhandles, featuring the five famous Nesser brothers, was organized in 1901. This team was followed closely by the Mas sillon Tigers and Canton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs beat the University of Chicago and the renowned Car lisle Indians in 1905 and 1906. From the very beginning, Joe Carr of Columbus, now president of the National Football league, composed of 10 teams, was an active leader. Carr stuck with the game through trying periods of fights and doubts.
 Jim Thorpe was one man who did a great deal to convince pro- motors that there was money to be made. In 1918 and 1919 Thorpe was one of the best names in sports. In those two years, as man. ager of the Bulldogs, he led his team to two National league titles.
 But Jim's wasn't the only name. The pro game in those days was not too scrupulous about turing stars from college. Pro clubs in the middle west then were known as "Eaturday night" teams. Players came from various parts of the country, or from the colleges, on Saturday night, rehearsed signals in a large room in some hotel, and went out the next day to do their stuff. Many members of the team never had played with or against the others.
 Willie Heston, immortal bone- crusher of Yost's point-a-minute team at Michigan, played one game as q pro-with the Canton team. He was paid $500 and expenses and received a broken leg.
 Through the years a number of big names have been associated with the game. In 1920 the Akron pros, under Elgie Tobin, Penn State stars as Chic Harley, Pete Stinch- comb and Tarzan Taylor-ohio State greats-played with a team at Decatur, III. Duke Slater of Iowa starred for years with various teams.
 Fritz Pollard, Browns great negro star of 1915; Russ Bailey, West Virginia's All-America cen- ter, and King, Mountaineer full back, were at Akron. Canton had Bob Higgins, Penn States great end; Feeney, Notre Dame center; Seidel, Pitt guard, and Kempton, Yale quarterback. The Frankford (Philadelphia) Yellowjackets fea- tured Lud Wray, former Penn coach; Lou Little of Columbia, Heinie Miller of Penn, and Johnny Scott of Lafayette.
 In 1922 there were 20 teams in the National Football league from cities in New York, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn sylvania.
 But until the golden days of Red Grange, pro football was an uncer- tain quantity, often running into heavy losses at the gate. It was handled by fly-by-night promoters who often could not be found when the time came for checkup at the payoff window.
 Grange helped to change an un- certain gamble into an almost sure profit. Professional football was put upon a business basis with his advent. Smart methods are said to have cleared the New York Giants $10O,000 in 1881.
 NEXT: Pro Football After Grange.