Knowing relatively little about the early years of the
National Football League, and to satisfy my historical interest, I've
decided to re-create and replay one of the NFL's early seasons (1932)
using
Second and Ten, the professional and college football simulation by
Roogames. On occasion, I may take the reins as offensive coach if a
particular team or matchup interests me, but for the most part I'll just
enjoy "watching" the season unfold...
The way it was...
4The 1932 season was the 13th regular
season of the National Football League. Even though the
Boston Braves joined the NFL before the season, with the loss of the
Providence Steam Rollers, Cleveland Indians and Frankford Yellow
Jackets, league membershiop dropped to eight teams, the lowest in NFL
history.
4The Portsmouth
Spartans and the Chicago
Bears finished the season tied for first place at 6-1 (in 1932
ties did not count as they do today) and for the
first time, the NFL arranged for a playoff game to determine the NFL
champion. Extremely cold weather forced the game to be moved
from Wrigley Field to the indoor Chicago Stadium. The makeshift football
field in the stadium was only 80 yards long with undersized endzones.
The planners were forced to move the goal posts to the goal line because
there wasn't enough space to put them at the back of the endzone, as was
standard in college and professional ball. Apparently this change was
favored since keeping the goal posts at the goal line was one of the
several changes the league made to the rules starting in 1933.
4Following the 1932 season, the NFL
would be split into two divisions, the champions of which would meet in
a championship game.
4The season opened on
Sept. 18 with the Green Bay Packers meeting the
Chicago Cardinals at City Stadium in Green Bay, Wis., and
featured some players and stars we never saw play, but have only heard
stories about: Chicago Bears' star running backs, Red Grange,
nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost," and Bronco Nagurski;
Boston's Cliff Battles; and New York Giants receiver
Ray Flaherty, to name a few.
The Chicago Bearswith a record of 10 wins
and 4 losses (.714) won the title outright in the season replay without
the need for a playoff, as occurred in 1932 when the Bears and
Portsmouth Spartans tied for 1st place. Below is a summary of the replay
results.
