CBS paid homage to 1924 Michigan-Illinois

One of the great things about college football is its history. The longevity of the sport means there are always some cool anniversaries to celebrate. And No. 22 Illinois went all out on that front for their game against No. 24 Michigan Saturday, even wearing uniforms (and leather-looking helmets) recalling their famed game against the Wolverines 100 years ago. There, Red Grange accumulated six touchdowns (four rushing, one passing, and a kick return) in a 39-14 win over previously-unbeaten Michigan, on the day of dedication for Illinois’ new Memorial Stadium. And CBS, and the broadcast team of Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, and Jenny Dell, came up with quite the salute to 1924 on their opening for this game:

That starts with a radio reenactment of some of the 1924 game, progresses through sepia-toned footage of the Nessler-Danielson booth and sideline reporter Dell wearing 1924-style outfits (which they removed for more modern attire after the open), and even features Nessler reading a Grantland Rice column on Grange near the end (3:30). “Grantland Rice, considered the greatest sportswriter of all time, waxed poetically about the ‘Galloping Ghost.’ He wrote ‘There are two shapes now moving, two ghosts that drift and glide. And which of them to tackle, each rival must decide. They shift with spectral swiftness across the swarded range. And one of them’s a shadow and one of them is Grange.”\

Here’s the very-1920s outfit Dell wore on the sideline for the open:

This was far from the only reference to history on this broadcast. The Illini uniforms were shown off well after a touchdown:

And CBS studio analyst Rick Neuheisel donned a leather helmet of his own on the studio show before the game:

To illustrate how much has changed since that 1924 game in the media realm, here’s the start of the Associated Press recap of that game, via The New York Times :

A flashing, red-haired youngster, running and dodging with the speed of a deer, gave 67,000 jammed into the new $1,700,000 Illinois Memorial Stadium the thrill of their lives today, when Illinois vanquished Michigan, 39 to 14, in what probably will be the outstanding game of the 1924 gridiron season in the West. Harold (Red) Grange, Illinois phenomenon, All- America halfback, who attained gridiron honors of the nation last season, was the dynamo that furnished the thrills. Grange doubled and redoubled his football glory in the most remarkable exhibition of running, dodging and passing seen on any gridiron in years-an exhibition that set the dumbfounded spectators screaming with excitement.

It was a wildly different era indeed. But it was cool to see CBS pay tribute to it, and to see the broadcast team of Nessler, Danielson, and Dell get in on the fun.

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