We did this over here earlier for the baseball playoffs and it was a lot of fun.  So as the NFL playoffs begin, let’s look again at where the names of the competitors come from.  Starting with the AFC:

The Tennessee Titans
The Titans have some of the most fun name history out of the whole bunch.  The Titans used to be the Tennessee Oilers, and the Tennessee Oilers used to be the former AFL team the Houston Oilers (which makes a lot more sense).  So the team changed its name in 1999 and became the Titans, therefore picking up a bit of legacy from the former (and also former AFL team) New York Titans, who became the New York Jets.  So in one team’s name, you can draw associations to three other teams!  There isn’t much of a story behind the Titans name, it was changed to coincide with the team getting a new stadium, (the Oilers name only was around for two years) and it was supposed to be less geographically specific as the Oilers and reflect powerful, intimidating qualities. Read the full story

When a game starts to go long, it’s usually the result of it being a down to the wire, edge of the seat battle.  We all know what happens then, the commentator will pipe up that if you tuned in looking for another program, well then you’ll just have to be patient.  Programs get pre-empted all the time.  In fact, it’s a rule.  Football games must be shown in their entirety, and Heidi is the reason.

1968.  The game was the Raiders against the Jets, week eleven in what would be a preview of the AFL championship game.  NBC was carrying the game.  Also, NBC had produced a television adaptation of Heidi and was all set to give a big premier right in primetime.

The film, of course, would have to follow a game that would best be described as huge.  It was a high scoring thrill ride of a game between two of the best teams in the league.  The Jets had Joe Nameth, the Raiders had Daryle Lamonica and were defending champs.  The scene was the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum.  Read the full story

By Stephen Turk

Naming a team can be a tough endeavor.  Previous posts here have dealt with the various processes that take place in giving a team an identity.  Some names, however, just don’t seem to work out, as if the name itself dooms the team to failure.  It seems kind of silly, but it isn’t totally without merit, those in the sports world are a superstitious bunch.  The Texans seems to be one such name.

There is a current team, the Houston Texans, who entered the NFL in a recent expansion.  They have struggled in their years of existence, and I can only hope for Houston fans that these current Texans fare better than the Texans of old. Read the full story

by Stephen Turk

Recently, I wrote on the interesting situation surrounding the merger of the AFL and the NFL, which gave us, of course, the modern NFL as we know it.  My primary source for all this was the great and extremely detailed and informative book Remember the AFL by Dave Steidel.  Well, I’ve had the opportunity to communicate with Dave, and he has generously fielded a few specific questions.  So here is some additional information from the expert:

Q: In watching today’s NFL, what reminds you of the AFL?

A: The names on jerseys, the two point conversion, side line reporters, the game clock being the official time were all started in the AFL.  Also in the beginning the AFL offenses were very creative and wide open.  Some people suggest that the West Coast offense started in the AFL with San Diego’s Sid Gillman in the early sixties.  The type of game played by the NFL today is more like the old AFL then the old NFL. Read the full story