Why does Dallas and Detroit play on Thanksgiving?
Their tradition began in 1966 when general manager Tex Schramm signed up to play on that day to get more national publicity. Like the Lions, the Cowboys had record-shattering crowds show up at the Cotton Bowl.
What college teams played at the first Thanksgiving football game?
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday and by 1869, according to Philadelphia’s The Evening Telegraph, the first intercollegiate football game was played on Thanksgiving Day between Rutgers University and Princeton University.
Which football teams historically play on Thanksgiving Day?
The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the Detroit Lions since 1934, and one game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966 (with two exceptions in 1975 and 1977).
What two teams played the first NFL Thanksgiving Day game?
The University of Detroit Stadium hosted the first broadcasted Thanksgiving Day football game in 1934, pitting the Detroit Lions against the Chicago Bears and sparking a new tradition.
Do the same NFL teams play every Thanksgiving?
Since 1978, the Lions and Cowboys have hosted a game on Thanksgiving every year. Detroit always plays the early game, followed by Dallas in the late afternoon and a rotating prime-time matchup added in 2006.
Why is a male turkey often referred to as Tom turkey?
Do you know why the male turkey is often referred to as “Tom” Turkey? Rumor has it that Ben Franklin was mad at Thomas Jefferson for opposing his idea to have the turkey as our National Bird, so good ole’ Ben mockingly called the turkey “Tom” after Mr. Jefferson.
Which president moved Thanksgiving up a week?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1939, half of America celebrated Thanksgiving, and the other half celebrated “Franksgiving.” To boost the economy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week to create an extra seven days of Christmas shopping.