The true Thanksgiving tradition — not eating turkey and the trimmings or watching the Macy’s Parade or spending nine hours in the security line at DIA — was originated in Detroit. It was supposed to be a Dutch treat.
Lions and Colorado and Bears, oh, my!
G.A. Richards purchased the NFL’s Portsmouth Spartans in 1934, moved them to Detroit and scheduled a game on Thanksgiving Day against the mighty Chicago Bears. The owner also lured former Spartans quarterback Earl “Dutch” Clark back as a player. Born east of Pueblo in Fowler, Clark had coached the Colorado School of Mines the year before.
Clark, who played offense and defense and special teams (74 years before Spencer Larsen), was featured on the cover of the program (10 cents). He was one of the league’s leading rushers as the Lions (unlike this season) had a 9-1 record, just behind the 10-0 Bears.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “a crowd of 26,000 roaring, partisan fans jammed the stadium until hundreds crouched along the white chalk lines of the end zone.”
For the first time, an NFL game was broadcast nationally, and people everywhere delayed their Thanksgiving feast for football.
The Lions scored first, and Clark drop-kicked the extra point. But the Bears were intent on stopping Clark, the runner and the passer, and they won 16-7.
Clark — all-conference at Colorado College in four sports and the first All-American from Colorado — finished the season with 763 yards rushing. The Thanksgiving game became an annual event in Detroit, and in 1937 Clark became a player-head coach at the princely sum of $7,600.
He played that season against heralded rookie Byron “Whiz- zer” White, who had received a $15,000 contract from Pittsburgh and decided to defer his Rhodes scholarship for a year. He was rookie of the year. White returned after a year studying abroad to play for Detroit.
White also was from Colorado. The Fort Collins-born running back became the University of Colorado’s first All-American. He ultimately would be chosen a justice of the Supreme Court.
Clark and White were two extraordinary men and football players. I was honored to meet them.
Colorado College and the University of Denver played the first intercollegiate football game west of the Mississippi River in 1885, but not on Thanksgiving.
There should be an all-time All-Colorado colleges and universities football team to recognize the state’s greats.
This is one man’s opinion:
Quarterback — Clark, CC. Played four positions and also punted, kicked and returned punts. Rushed for 1,349 yards on just 135 carries.
Running back — White, CU. With White rushing for 1,121 yards and scoring 122 points, the 1937 Buffs went to the Cotton Bowl.
Running back — Bobby Anderson, CU. Switched from quarterback three games into his senior season (1969) and wound up with 4,565 yards in career total offense, a conference record.
Wide receiver — Ernie Jennings, AFA. Two-time All-American and Academic All-American.
Wide receiver — Cliff Branch, CU. Best there was. I saw the former Oakland receiver Sunday after the Broncos game. At 60, Branch could still play.
Tight end — Daniel Graham, CU.
Tackle — Brock Strom, AFA. Captain of the 1958 undefeated Falcons, a consensus All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Tackle — Stan Brock, CU. All-American taken by New Orleans in the first round in 1980.
Center — Pete Brock, CU. A third Brock. The older brother of Stan. No relation to Strom.
Guard — Joe Romig, CU. All-American, Rhodes scholar in 1960.
Guard — Alex Drobnitch, DU. The Pioneers’ first All-American. His DU team in 1936 beat Whizzer and the Buffs 7-6. The Pioneers’ final football game was a victory over CSU in 1960 . . . on Thanksgiving Day.
Punter — Mitch Berger, CU; Kicker — Mason Crosby, CU.
Defensive lineman — Thurman “Fum” McGraw, Colorado A&M (CSU). The ex-Marine was McMonster. Drafted No. 1 by the Lions, he would play in Thanksgiving Day games.
Defensive lineman — Chad Hennings, AFA. Unanimous All-American twice.
Defensive lineman — Aaron Smith, University of Northern Colorado. He had 44 sacks and was the most dominant player in school history.
Defensive lineman — Al “Bubba” Baker, CSU. Uncontrolled chaos. Played for the Lions and now owns a barbecue restaurant and smokes turkeys on Thanksgiving.
Linebacker — Alfred Williams, CU. Twice All-American and a force on the national championship team.
Linebacker — Chris Gizzi, AFA. Exceptional (undersized, overachieving) linebacker.
Linebacker — Jordon Dizon, CU. Was CU’s entire defense last year.
Defensive back — Greg Myers, CSU. My favorite player ever at CSU.
Defensive back — Dick Anderson, CU. One of two brother combinations on this team.
Defensive back — Carlton McDonald, AFA. Consensus All-American in 1992.
Defensive back — Jack Christiansen. Raised in an orphanage and believed he was too small to play college football. Was sensational as a defensive back and returner with the Rams and had a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, playing in eight Thanksgiving games with the Lions.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
