Friday, November 8, 2013

The NFL's Evansville Crimson Giants-- Part 2

Continued from Nov. 4th.

In 1921, the same businessmen decided to form their own team. They got two Ex-Collegians to form the new team and established the American Football Association and named the team the Crimson Giants. Eventually the Ex-Collegians and Crimson Giants merged.

On August 27, 1921, they got an American Professional Football Association (forerunner of the NFL, renamed NFL in 1922) franchise. In 1921, the team won five of their first season games. They defeated the Louisville Brecks, then the Muncie Flyers and then lost to the Hammond Pros.

Biggest problems for the team were money and scheduling. In early November, the team traveled to play the Green Bay Packers at Hagenmeister Park and lost 43-6. They had two other games, one in Chicago against the Decatur Staleys and one against the Cincinnati Celts that was cancelled because of weather.

The year resulted in a big financial loss.

The Crimson Giants played only three games in 1922 and lost all three to the Toledo Maroons, Rock Island Independents and Louisville Brecks. That was the end of the team.

Early NFL. Tough Going.  --Cooter

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