There are certain college football rivalries that resonate around the country. There is Michigan vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Auburn and Notre Dame vs USC just to name a few. However, there is another football rivalry based in Louisiana that over the years has become more than just a battle for bragging rights between two institutions. It has become the cornerstone event for both a city, and a culture. In this all new edition of the Historically Speaking Sports podcast, the Sports History podcast that gives you the sports for back in the day, we will talk with author Tom Aiello and his book the History of the Bayou Classic. The annual game between the Grambling State Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars evokes memories of great coaching matchups which featured the great Eddie Robinson and incomparable players on both sides with a good number of them reaching the pro football hall of fame. Even though the game known as the Bayou Classic has been around since 1974, the rivalry between Southern and Grambling goes back nearly a century with a very interesting history and back story. Along with the game there is a number of other events connected with the bayou classic that includes the Greek Show, job fair and the famous Battle of the bands. Yet of course, what makes the game are the players. And some of the greatest players in NFL history have played in this game. In our shout out segment, we will highlight some of the players that have stared in this annual game that has become the biggest and most important football rivalry in the state of Louisiana. All that and more in this all new edition of the historically Speaking Sports here on the sports history network.To contact the show, please e-mail us at Historically.speaking.sports@gmail.com Here is the link to Tom Aiello's books: https://www.thomasaiellobooks.com/
The year was 2002. The price of gas was roughly a $1.19 a gallon, a dozen of eggs were under a dollar and the biggest hits in Hip Hop was "Getting Hot in Here" by Nelly and the song from the movie Eight Mile "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. In the world of college football, the Miami Hurricanes were coming off of a national championship run and were looking to continue their 22-game winning streak, a streak that seemed to have no end in sight. However "The U" was beginning to hear rumbles from other programs looking to knock them off of their lofty perch. In this episode of the podcast, we will travel back to the year 2002 in College Football in our first episode of the series we call "A Year in the League" where we talk about all of the headlines, best teams and memorable moments that made that season so memorable. In addition of the Larry Coker coached Miami Hurricanes, there were other teams that included the USC trojans that were on the rise who were led by head Coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Carson Palmer who went on to win college footballs most coveted trophy. Another team that was making noise in college football that year was Oklahoma who had returned to glory after years of struggle that followed the exit of their legendary coach Barry Switzer and also will revisit one of the most improbable finishes in college football that fans have called the "Bluegrass Miracle". Yet that season climaxed in the desert of Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl when a team with a second year coach and a freshman running back pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year in one of the best national championship games ever and brought a national title to a place that hadn't celebrated one for more than a generation. Later in the show, we'll send a shout out to all of the schools in our home state and what they did in that season of 2002 including our alma mater who won their rivalry game for the ninth time in a span of 10 seasons.To contact the show, send us an e-mail at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail .com
This is a short bulletin previewing from a historical perspective the upcoming World Series. In this, the 121 edition of the fall classic, features the National League and defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. looking to repeat as World Champions and to claim its ninth World Series in history They will face the Toronto Blue Jays, looking to win its first title in 32 years when they themselves won back to back titles under manager Cito Gaston in the early 1990s.
Historically Speaking Sports co hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs are both natives of Louisiana and also the southern part of the United States where college football is more than just a sport. On Saturdays in the fall it is the south's secular religion. In this edition of this podcast, Dana and Charles highlight teams they they consider the best college football teams they had ever seen. The teams that are highlighted are some of the best college football teams ever. Most won championships. Some came close to winning. A couple won despite of on and off the field controversy. One team made the list that had two losses on the season but in the process had a Heisman Trophy winner and rewrote the NCAA offensive record books. Later in the show we will send a Shout Out to pair of coaches that were major parts of the college football landscape and had some of the best players and some championship season but for whatever reason, they both had fallen through the cracks of sports history. We have all that and more coming up on this all new edition of the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast. To contact the show you could drop us an e-mail at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
Between the years of 1985 thru 1996, the New Orleans Saints had risen from the cellar of the NFL to become a perennial playoff team. Though they never won a playoff game during that time, the Saints, behind quarterback Bobby Hebert and a legendary linebacking corps known as the Dome Patrol, became one of the NFL's elite teams. Behind it all was the quotable head coach with ties to the USFL, Jim Mora. In this episode of the podcast, hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs will talk about the key players and moments from that time in Saints history along with there own personal memories of that team, both growing up in Louisiana at the time. Later in the show we will send a shout out to the Who Dat Chant. a chant, which actually became famous in the 1960s thanks to high school and colleges in the area but actually predates the NFL itself and we will settle....sort of ...the debate which have raged on for decades. Which came first the Who Dat chant in New Orleans or the Who Dey chant in Cincinnati? To contact the show you could send an e-mail to Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
September 3rd, 1995 was the start of the 76th season of the National Football league. The San Francisco 49ers were the defending Super Bowl champions and every team was looking at the new season with new hope, possibilities and opportunities. For two of the now 30 teams in the National Football League however, the hope, possibilities and opportunities were new. On this early fall afternoon, in 1995 were the first games of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville jaguars as newly minted members of the NFL. Though they both lost their opening games of the regular season, no one had any idea just 16 months later, some 497 days later, both would be playing for a right to play in Super Bowl XXXI. In this all new edition of the podcast, Co Hosts Dana Auguster and Charles will take a look at the first two seasons of the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Two franchises that shocked fans and football experts alike, crawling from expansion obscurity to the darlings of the NFL in just two seasons. Later in the show, we will send a shout out out one of the members of the Carolina Panthers team who embodied the leadership and toughness of that team that was one step away from the Super Bowl. An undersized linebacker who came up with the teams motto that it still follows today and thus far, the only player to have his number retired by the team.To contact the show with questions, comments or show ideas, please e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
Ladies and Gentlemen, football is back and not a moment too soon. In this episode of the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast, hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs are joined by fellow football fans and good friends Mark Boutte and David Bashay to talk out of course, football. We will discuss our our hopes this year for out teams as well as debate on who is the most overrated and underrated quarterbacks, coaches and teams heading into the the 2025 NFL season. Also later in the show, on a lighter note, our favorite all-time football movies as well as out top five favorite fictional football players. all that and more as well welcome back football in our lives. To contact the show, you could e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
There are teams that linger on in the memory long after they had vanished from the scene. One such team was the Brooklyn dodgers who was one if the winningest teams in the mid 20th century and had a storied and devoted following in the borough that was known as the bedroom of New York. The Montreal Expos was not as storied as the boys of summer Brooklyn Dodgers but over its 36 years of existence, "Les Expos" was as big to French speaking Canadians as Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider and Pee Wee Resse was to Brooklynites. Hello this is Dana Auguster, and my co-host Charles Combs will be along shortly or this new edition of the new and improved Historically Speaking Sports podcast where we give you the best of sports from back in the day.As you have probably noticed we have a new theme song...so thanks to my main man Ron Tyke Oliver and Donovan D who wrote produced and performed the theme... thanks for that gentlemen In this episode of the podcast we will continue out Forgotten Franchise series with a team that is hardly forgotten by baseball fans.The Montreal Expos are maybe more popular now then they were 20 years ago where their existence were hanging by a thread and was ran my Major League Baseball. yet during there time in Montreal before their move to Washington DC, the expos had some of the greatest players in baseball history over the last 50-plus years. Those players included the likes of Rusty Staub, known as the Grande Orange' the teams first superstar. also the likes of Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, John Wetteland, Steve Rogers, Vladimir Guerrero, and a catcher nicknamed "The Kid". We have that coming up as well as as shout out to the original team in Montreal....the Montreal Royals that had at one time a who-who of players to play for this minor league team in the international league including one Jack Roosevelt Robinson and a heartfelt tribute to Chicago Cubs great Ryne SandburgTo contact the show you could send us an email at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.comThis is the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast, a member of the Sports History Network.
During the decade of the 1980'sz in the time between the retirement of Muhammad Ali and the rise of Mike Tyson, the sport of boxing was never more popular. Thanks to the talents, toughness and swagger of four fighters with various talents and differing styles. In this episode of the podcast. Dana Auguster and Charles Combs discuss the Four Kings era highlighted by Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler. This era of boxing was highlighted by epic fights, controversial decisions and a whole lot of swagger and personality. Later in the show, we will send a shout out to one of the most incredible and famous fights that involved two of the gentlemen that we talked about. On April 15, 1985 in Las Vegas in a fight that was nicknamed "The War", Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler put on one of the greatest fights in boxing history. A fight that only lasted three rounds. Please subscribe to the show and if you are interested in contacting the show, please write to us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
The 95th mid-summer classic, also known as the MLB All-Star game is now upon us as the best of Major League baseball converge on the city of Atlanta. In this edition of the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast, hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs get to get to select their own all-stars. With a mixture of Hall of Famers and other all-time greats, the co-hosts of the show will select from players over the last 45 years in Major League Baseball to fill out their fantasy rosters.Dana Auguster selected his best from the American League while co-host Charles Combs selected his favorites from the National League. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and also if you like to contact us please e-mail at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
There are losses that can endure for a day or a week or maybe even a year. But there are losses that some fans deal with that last for years, decades and some that they never get over. On this edition of the Historically Speaking Sports podcast, Charles Combs and Dana Auguster will reveal the losses that they have endured as fans which they have never gotten over and may have finally come to terms with. These losses were historically relevant big games, some even championship games. But all of them rank as some of the most memorable moments in the history of sports in this country. We even have a boxing match from the early 1990s that makes the list and no it is not Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson. Later in the show, we are going to send a shout out to an NFL regular season game from December of 2003. A game that featured a miraculous finish by a team looking to return to the playoffs. However the team that pulled off the gridiron miracle failed to complete the deal. And to this day, some 22 years later, I still somewhat feel responsible for that teams loss.. Simply because I opened my mouth and said something that I shouldn’t have. All that and more on this all new edition of the Historically Speaking Sports podcast here on the sports history Network. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and also if you would like to write to the show, you could reach us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
Every month of the calendar is known for different things that are synonymous with that time of year. For example, the Month of December is known for Christmas. October is the time of year for both Halloween and the World Series. The month of June is no different. Not only does it mark the start of summer vacation, but it is also the month that sees the crowning of the new champions of the NBA and NHL.In this edition of the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs share their favorite and not-so favorite moments of the NBA Finals. Also later in the show, Dana and Charles delve into the hockey's most cherished possession - the Stanley Cup. They will discuss its history and the traditions that surround the Stanley Cup and all of the trophies and other individual awards that make that sport as special as it is here in North America. To close out the show the show hosts will send a shout out to the events of June 17th 1994. That night the sports watching public was setting in for Game 5 of the NBA finals between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets. However that game was serve as a backdrop as the sports watching public was captivated by what was happening on a southern California freeway with a white Ford Bronco. To contact the show please feel free to drop us a line at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
In this all new episode of the Historically Speaking Sports, Co Hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs, discuss and speculate about one of the NBA's brightest and most influential eras. As with a lot of sports fans, we like to think and wonder what would have happened if this thing happened or that event would not have happened, how would have history been different. In this episode Auguster and Combs discuss three scenarios that possibly would have changed NBA history as we know it. Titled "Jordan Era What Ifs" we discuss various questions: What if Len Bias and Reggie Lewis both had full careers with the Boston Celtics in the late 1980s and 1990's?What if Arvydas Sabonis would have come to the Portland Trail Blazers when he was drafted in 1986 instead of having to wait almost a decade to join the team because of political instability in the former Soviet Union?And finally, how dominant would the Houston Rockets would have been after reaching the NBA Finals in 1986 if Ralph Sampson would not have been lost to injury and two of their stars, Lewis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins had not been suspended for drug use? We will attempt to answer these questions as well as send a shout out to one of the most underrated NBA drafts ever, the 1986 NBA Draft. To contact the show, please email us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
Every year no mater the sport, no matter the decade, every season has certain characteristics and highlights that sets that year apart from all others. The 1978 NBA Season has it own distinctive flavor from the New York Nets moving to Piscataway from Long Island and becoming the New Jersey Nets to the Washington Bullets winning their only NBA title. Yet were there were two other events that took place during 1978 NBA regular season that set that year apart and in both cases forever linked two pairs of players together in NBA history. In one instance, two future basketball Hall of Famers had a season long scoring duel that ended with a climatic finish on the last day of the regular season that rewrote the record books. Yet there was another event that happened in the early stages of the 1978 regular season that became one of the league's most infamous. So infamous in fact that it actually prompted an investigative report from legendary CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite. The incident was known simply in the annals of NBA history as "The Punch". We have that and so much more on this all new edition of the Historically Speaking Sports podcast right here on the Sports History Network. The podcast that give you the best of sports from back in the day.You could follow us on Twitter/X or Threads, Blue Sky and Instagram. Just search for Historically Speaking Sports and also would could write to us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
In this episode of Historically Speaking Sports, we introduce new co-host Charles Combs that will join current host Dana Auguster to continue to give listeners the best of sports from back in the day. Combs, a long time friend of Dana Auguster whose friendship has lasted for close to 30 years, will provide added content, sports passion and possibly debates on sports issues with a historical spin. Combs talks about his sports interests as well as current sports topics such as the recently completed NFL Draft, the NBA playoffs and the early stages of the 2025 MLB season. To contact the show, e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com and you could also follow us on various social media platforms for your daily dose of sports history.
***Special Bulletin***The Final Four is set and the four teams that are remaining the Duke Blue Devils in their 18th Final Four. they will face the Houston Cougars, in their seventh final four and is still looking for their first ever National Championship.That is second game of the semifinal double header. The first is between a pair of teams from the Southeastern Conference as the Auburn Tigers just in their second Final Four, their first since 2021 will take on the Florida Gators, thier first appearance since 2014 and is looking to win their first title since winning back-to-back titles since 2006 and 2007.
This is the first episode of a weekly episode of This Week in Sports History. In this episode among other great basketball championship games that took place week (March 30- April 5) we are going to highlight the 1991 Final Four that took place in Indianapolis. The Final four that year was highlighted by the national Semifinal between defending champion UNLV Runnin' Rebels coached by Jerry Tarkanian and the Duke Blue Devils which was a rematch of the National Championship game the year before. Along with several college basketball title games that took place that week, we will highlight a pair of heavyweight boxing matches including one that took place over a century ago. To contact the show, please e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com.
On the calendar, the Month of march always represented the start of the NCAA tournament and the stretch run of the NBA season. Yet for this particular podcaster, the month of March is the birthday month of the host of this sports history program.In this all new episode of the Historically Speaking Sports podcast host Dana Auguster brings the listener on a stroll down memory lane as he highlights the most memorable events of every year of his 52 years of life. Some are some of the greatest moments in sports history while others are just footnotes in the wide ranging subject of sports history. Later in the program, Dana Auguster will give you the story of his oldest sports memory. It was one of the greatest and most miraculous finishes in college bowl game history and put a little known California-based bowl game on the map in only its third year of existence.To contact the show, please e-mail us at historically.speaking.sports @gmail.com.
Opening its doors in 1975, the Louisiana Superdome has become more than just the home of the New Orleans Saints and the yearly site of the Sugar Bowl. For the last 50 years the Superdome, the most recognizable stadium for sure in the western hemisphere, has been the location of some of the most memorable games and sports moments over the last half century. This week, the now Caesar's Superdome will be hosting the Super Bowl for a record 8th time, adding to its reputation as America’s premiere locale for big games and championship matches. This is Part one of three episodes examining the illustrious history of the Louisiana Superdome, the site of many exciting memorable sports moments over the last 50 years. Joining us in this episode is a pair of colleagues here onthe Sports history network. The host of the Football is Family podcast, Jeremy McFarlinand the co host of the Hello Old Sports podcast Dan Neumann as they will talkabout the best moments of Super Bowls in the Super dome as well as share theirmemories of a building that has hosted more than its share of big games inNorth American Sports. Later in the Show, we will send a shout out to the Stadiumthat the Superdome replaced in the mid 1970s. A stadium known in the Big Easy as the "Old lady of Willow Street", Tulane stadium. A stadium that was the site of three super bowls in its own right as well as the long time home of the Sugar Bowl, the original home of the Saints and was also the site of one two of the greatest moments in Saints history. To contact the show, please feel free to e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com and you could follow us on social media by searching for Historically Speaking Sports.
In two weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will play for footballs grandest prize, the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in three seasons. The Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions will look to be the first team ever to win three consecutive Super Bowl Titles.Meanwhile the Philadelphia eagles will look to not only dethrone the champs but also win their second Super Bowl Championship in franchise history. In this short mini bulletin episode, we will take a quick dive into the upcoming big game with some historical perspective about the game and the two teams. To contact the show you could e-mail us at Historically.Speaking.Sports@gmail.com