Thanksgiving Day, 1924. The recently-established tradition of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team hosting the Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions on the afternoon of the national autumnal holiday continues.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is sent to cover the Pitt-Penn State “Keystone Classic” of 1924; in so doing, he discovers a throughline of the football-on-Thanksgiving tradition going back to 1621 (okay, actually, that’s going back to 1869) and reminds us that high-level football games on Thanksgiving are nearly as old as the official Thanksgiving holiday itself.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network.

Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) script & story by Os Davis.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) co-stars, in order of appearance, Caedmon Holland, Forrest Hartl and Wayne Brett.

Additional direction by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver.

The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.

Other tracks in this episode include

• “Jazz Club” by Kriss (available through fair-use agreement via FreeMusicArchive.org);

• “Litany of the Street” by Silverman Sound Studios;

• “Bimini Bay” (1921) by the Benson Orchestra of Chicago; and

• “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

Mentioned in this episode:

Sports History Network Theme Song

This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

The final episode of the podcast explores the impact that the National Football League original team the Dayton Triangles and its members had on sports and the local community.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Carl Storck sold the Dayton Triangles in 1930 but stayed in the National Football League as an executive. Eventually, he succeeded the late Joe Carr as NFL president, becoming the third, and last, head of the league before the commissioner era. This episode documents the two-year period when the National Football League was headquartered in Dayton, Ohio.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

The Dayton Triangles, last founding members of the National Football League, struggle to survive as a road team in the late 1920s.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Facing irrelevance in 1927, Dayton Triangles owner Carl Storck and business manager Mike Redelle reinvent the National Football League original team as a hometown squad. Season highlights include an upset win over defending NFL champions the Frankford Yellow Jackets and an epic game against the New York Yankees, led by the legendary Red Grange. By the end of the 1927 season, Dayton is the last remaining NFL original franchise.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

After concluding that the National Football League original team the Dayton Triangles could no longer make money on home games, owner/coach Carl Storck and his business manager Mike Redelle turn the Triangles into a road team in 1925. In 1926, Storck and Redelle reconsider that strategy and float a "trial balloon" to rekindle interest in the team.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

As the 1924 National Football League season approaches, Dayton Triangles owner/coach/manager Carl Storck hopes to restore the team to NFL glory after a disastrous 1923 campaign. The team must overcome several challenges before the season even begins but open with two wins. Then, the Triangles must face another dose of adversity, with struggles both on the field and at the box office.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NETWORK SPONSORS

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Following the death of F. B. MacNab, who had been the Dayton Triangles' most ardent financial supporter, Carl Storck must assume ownership of the team's NFL franchise to keep the team going. The 1923 season sees the Triangles struggle to replace retired quarterback Al Mahrt, as numerous teams in the new league struggle to survive financially.

LINKS

Dayton Triangles History on the Sports History Network

Dayton Triangles Main Podcast page

Host's Website - Bruce Smith