- Nov 25, 2016
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I have always been firmly in the no camp.
However, it turns out that it's actually been done before. Well, sort of.
In 1934 Arch Ward the sports editor at the Chicago Tribune set up a charity event called the College All Star game. The game featured a team made up of the best college seniors going head to head against the pro (NFL or AFL) champions. The game became an annual event and was played every year from 1934 to 1976 with the sole exception of the 1974 season when NFL players went on strike.
In the inaugural game the all stars played the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field before a crowd of 79,432 people. The game ended in a scoreless tie. The following year the Bears won 5-0. The first all star victory came in 1937 when they beat Curly Lambeau's Green Bay Packers. In 1938 the all stars won again beating the Washington Redskins. The last all star win came in 1963 when the all stars beat Vince Lombardi's Packers 20-17.
As the salary of NFL players started rising the NFL owners became more reluctant to play the game. Concerns about injuries to existing NFL players and draftees on the all star squad eventually led to the demise of the college versus NFL match up.
A college all star team has played the pro championship team a total of 42 times. The pros won 31, the all stars won 9 and there were 2 ties.
There is no way a college all star team could compete against the Super Bowl champs in modern times. However, a college all star team coached by Saban and given a month of practice playing against the NFL's worst team? It would be interesting to watch.
However, it turns out that it's actually been done before. Well, sort of.
In 1934 Arch Ward the sports editor at the Chicago Tribune set up a charity event called the College All Star game. The game featured a team made up of the best college seniors going head to head against the pro (NFL or AFL) champions. The game became an annual event and was played every year from 1934 to 1976 with the sole exception of the 1974 season when NFL players went on strike.
In the inaugural game the all stars played the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field before a crowd of 79,432 people. The game ended in a scoreless tie. The following year the Bears won 5-0. The first all star victory came in 1937 when they beat Curly Lambeau's Green Bay Packers. In 1938 the all stars won again beating the Washington Redskins. The last all star win came in 1963 when the all stars beat Vince Lombardi's Packers 20-17.
As the salary of NFL players started rising the NFL owners became more reluctant to play the game. Concerns about injuries to existing NFL players and draftees on the all star squad eventually led to the demise of the college versus NFL match up.
A college all star team has played the pro championship team a total of 42 times. The pros won 31, the all stars won 9 and there were 2 ties.
There is no way a college all star team could compete against the Super Bowl champs in modern times. However, a college all star team coached by Saban and given a month of practice playing against the NFL's worst team? It would be interesting to watch.