This Day in Jets History: The Titans Take the Field
Sept 11, 2015 5:50:46 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Sept 11, 2015 5:50:46 GMT -5
Sept 11, 1960
The New York Titans played host to the Buffalo Bills in their first game ever to be played as a member of the American Football League. It was a rainy afternoon in New York as the two teams met at the rundown Polo Grounds. Jets owner, Harry Wismer was counting on crowds of 40,000 plus for the Titans. The announced crowd for the game was closer to 10,000 and the paid attendance was only 5,727.
Crowds were typically so sparse for the Titans during those first few seasons, that fans were encouraged to sit together in sections that would appear on television more frequently so it would not be obvious to TV viewers just how much of the huge stadium remained empty.
Wismer remained optimistic despite the disappointing gate, “As long as we got this thing off,” he said, “Its sunshine for me and the professional football fans around the country.”
The Titans got off to a slow start, falling behind 3-0 on a 35 yard field goal by the Bills’ Darrell Harper. It proved to be the Bills only sustained offensive drive of the game, as the Bills would not enter Titans territory again until late in the 4th quarter.
The Titans offense would get going in the 2nd quarter. QB Dick Jamieson hit Don Maynard for a 58 yard strike to set up the Titans 1st score. Maynard’s reception got the Titans down to the Bills 10 yard line, but they could not finish the drive and had to settle for a 15-yard field goal by Bill Shockley and a tie score.
The first man ever to score a TD in franchise history was QB Al Dorow, #12 in the picture above. (Dorow and Jamieson split the QB duties in the game), who would run one in from 2 yards out in the 2nd quarter. That TD was also set up by a completion to Maynard, a 19-yarder to get inside the Buffalo 5. After a Buffalo fumble on the next possession, Dorow added a 15 yard TD run before the half and the Titans were in complete control with a 17-3 halftime lead.
The Titans dominance continued in the 2nd half. Jamieson would toss the franchise’s first scoring pass to Art Powell late in the 4th quarter to give the Titans a well played 27-3 victory over their opponents from Buffalo. The Titan defense only allowed Buffalo 113 yards on the day, 5 for 23 passing and forced 3 turnovers. Dorow and Maynard were the heroes on the other side of the ball. Maynard singlehandedly outgained the Bills with 116 receiving yards. Dorow finished the game with 74 passing yards, 31 yards on the ground and the two TDs.
The New York Titans played host to the Buffalo Bills in their first game ever to be played as a member of the American Football League. It was a rainy afternoon in New York as the two teams met at the rundown Polo Grounds. Jets owner, Harry Wismer was counting on crowds of 40,000 plus for the Titans. The announced crowd for the game was closer to 10,000 and the paid attendance was only 5,727.
Crowds were typically so sparse for the Titans during those first few seasons, that fans were encouraged to sit together in sections that would appear on television more frequently so it would not be obvious to TV viewers just how much of the huge stadium remained empty.
Wismer remained optimistic despite the disappointing gate, “As long as we got this thing off,” he said, “Its sunshine for me and the professional football fans around the country.”
The Titans got off to a slow start, falling behind 3-0 on a 35 yard field goal by the Bills’ Darrell Harper. It proved to be the Bills only sustained offensive drive of the game, as the Bills would not enter Titans territory again until late in the 4th quarter.
The Titans offense would get going in the 2nd quarter. QB Dick Jamieson hit Don Maynard for a 58 yard strike to set up the Titans 1st score. Maynard’s reception got the Titans down to the Bills 10 yard line, but they could not finish the drive and had to settle for a 15-yard field goal by Bill Shockley and a tie score.
The first man ever to score a TD in franchise history was QB Al Dorow, #12 in the picture above. (Dorow and Jamieson split the QB duties in the game), who would run one in from 2 yards out in the 2nd quarter. That TD was also set up by a completion to Maynard, a 19-yarder to get inside the Buffalo 5. After a Buffalo fumble on the next possession, Dorow added a 15 yard TD run before the half and the Titans were in complete control with a 17-3 halftime lead.
The Titans dominance continued in the 2nd half. Jamieson would toss the franchise’s first scoring pass to Art Powell late in the 4th quarter to give the Titans a well played 27-3 victory over their opponents from Buffalo. The Titan defense only allowed Buffalo 113 yards on the day, 5 for 23 passing and forced 3 turnovers. Dorow and Maynard were the heroes on the other side of the ball. Maynard singlehandedly outgained the Bills with 116 receiving yards. Dorow finished the game with 74 passing yards, 31 yards on the ground and the two TDs.
