This Day in Football History
1994 - Houston Oilers fire Jack Pardee and Kevin Gilbride
One year after the infamous Buddy Ryan-Kevin Gilbride fist fight, Jack Pardee, head coach of the underachieving Houston Oilers, is fired along with his offensive coordinator.
The Oilers had a great 1993 season derailed by dysfunction, and the death of reserve lineman Jeff Alm, after winning their last 11 games heading into the playoffs. In 1994, however, with defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan leaving to coach the Arizona Cardinals, the Oilers lose their first 10 games.
Ryan famously says of Gilbride: "(He's) a wimp who should be selling insurance ..."
Gilbride goes on to win two Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants, while Pardee would coach one season in the CFL.
1998 - 1st overall pick Tim Couch throws for 492 yards against Vanderbilt
Tim Couch cements his reputation as a can't-miss prospect in a 55-17 Kentucky win over Vanderbilt. He completes 44 of 53 passes for 492 yards.
Couch is selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in April's draft and fizzles out of the NFL within five years. He throws 67 interceptions against 64 touchdowns for his career and is dogged by a rotator cuff injury that eventually ends his playing days.
1943 - Sid Luckman becomes 1st to throw for 400 yards
Today a quarterback throwing for 400 yards in a game happens almost every week, but in 1943 it was a big deal.
The Chicago Bears' Sid Luckman throws for 433 yards and seven touchdowns against the New York Giants.
Considering seven touchdown passes in a single game is still tied for the NFL record, the feat is quite amazing. Seven touchdowns while the Allied expeditionary force is still in the initial phases of planning the D-Day invasion? Incredible.
Luckman goes on to be named the NFL's MVP in '43 and leads the Bears to championships in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946. He still owns most major Chicago Bears passing records.
Birthdays
1989 - T.Y. Hilton
1973 - Lawyer Milloy
1961 - Fred Young