Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - The Curse of Bobby Layne (Second and Ten)

Brian Swartz · 10-24-2023, 02:34 AM

Football In Detroit

One might well wish for a human being somewhat more ... discerning in their tastes as the saviour of the franchise, swooping down with his bag full of money to rescue the team from financial ruin. As a business venture, it was definitely a gamble as three previous franchises had already failed in Detroit, and those during the 1920s in much better economic times. Had it not been someone with the media clout of a George Richards who purchased them, the move may well have failed.

- The Detroit Heralds had a 15-year history as an amateur and semi-professional team when the APFA formed in 1920. Even World War I didn't seem to deter them. After rebranding as the Tigers in 1921, financial problems ultimately sank them and the players who hadn't already left joined other teams.

- A similar fate met the Detroit Panthers, who lasted two years from 1925-1926. The team wasn't nearly as bad as the Heralds/Tigers had been, forging an overall winning record in those two years, but as player-coach-owner Jim Conzelman later said 'The town wasn't quite ready for pro football'.

- A final attempt, the Detroit Wolverines, banked on former Michigan Wolverine star Benny Friedman in 1928. An investor group put $10,000 into purchasing the Cleveland Bulldogs and moving them to Detroit ... sound familiar? Their problem wasn't being unsuccessful ... it was being too successful, going 7-2-2 in their only year of competition. The New York Giants wanted Friedman badly enough that owner Tim Mara bought the Wolverines franchise for 30% less than they'd cost a year earlier, just to secure his rights. Money talks, and apparently the financial prospects of keeping the Panthers running just weren't there.

None of this was particularly unusual. Far more NFL franchises failed in the 20s than succeeded. As recently as 1926, 5 of the then-22 teams were new that year, and 7 would fold before the next season began. It wasn't that chaotic every year but the league was definitely a merry-go-round. Since then there had been relative stability, by which we mean only 1-2 franchises folding on an annual basis. The first consecutive seasons in which the same teams competed each year were yet in the league's future; 1935 and 1936.

10-24-2023, 02:34 AM	#7
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Football In Detroit One might well wish for a human being somewhat more ... discerning in their tastes as the saviour of the franchise, swooping down with his bag full of money to rescue the team from financial ruin. As a business venture, it was definitely a gamble as three previous franchises had already failed in Detroit, and those during the 1920s in much better economic times. Had it not been someone with the media clout of a George Richards who purchased them, the move may well have failed. - The Detroit Heralds had a 15-year history as an amateur and semi-professional team when the APFA formed in 1920. Even World War I didn't seem to deter them. After rebranding as the Tigers in 1921, financial problems ultimately sank them and the players who hadn't already left joined other teams. - A similar fate met the Detroit Panthers, who lasted two years from 1925-1926. The team wasn't nearly as bad as the Heralds/Tigers had been, forging an overall winning record in those two years, but as player-coach-owner Jim Conzelman later said 'The town wasn't quite ready for pro football'. - A final attempt, the Detroit Wolverines, banked on former Michigan Wolverine star Benny Friedman in 1928. An investor group put $10,000 into purchasing the Cleveland Bulldogs and moving them to Detroit ... sound familiar? Their problem wasn't being unsuccessful ... it was being too successful, going 7-2-2 in their only year of competition. The New York Giants wanted Friedman badly enough that owner Tim Mara bought the Wolverines franchise for 30% less than they'd cost a year earlier, just to secure his rights. Money talks, and apparently the financial prospects of keeping the Panthers running just weren't there. None of this was particularly unusual. Far more NFL franchises failed in the 20s than succeeded. As recently as 1926, 5 of the then-22 teams were new that year, and 7 would fold before the next season began. It wasn't that chaotic every year but the league was definitely a merry-go-round. Since then there had been relative stability, by which we mean only 1-2 franchises folding on an annual basis. The first consecutive seasons in which the same teams competed each year were yet in the league's future; 1935 and 1936. Last edited by Brian Swartz : 10-24-2023 at 02:35 AM.