2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

LIONS TALES
NAMING THE LIONS
When the team moved to Detroit from Portsmouth,
Ohio in 1934, the organization settled on the name
that would be uttered in Detroit and all around the
league to this very day. After deciding to be known
as the Lions, (staying consistent with the jungle cat
image of the city’s baseball team, the Tigers) two
Lion cubs were given to the team by John Millen of
the Detroit Zoo. Their names were “Grid” and “Iron.”
They accompanied the team to all of their games.
‣ ¾ The previous Detroit professional football teams
were known as the Heralds, Panthers and the
Wolverines.
HOMES OF THE DETROIT LIONS
In 2002, the Lions moved into their current home,
Ford Field, in downtown Detroit. It marked the
team’s return to the city for the first time since
1974.
STADIUM........................................... YEARS
Spartan Stadium (Portsmouth, Ohio)....... 1930-33
University of Detroit Stadium.................... 1934-37
Briggs Stadium (later named Tiger Stadium).. 1938-74
Pontiac Silverdome....................................... 1975-01
Ford Field ............................................................2002-
GRIDIRON HEROES
As the new pro football franchise took root in
Detroit, owner G.A. Richards called for an original
fight song to be written for the Lions. In the late
1930s, Wayne State University director of bands
Graham T. Overgard, who was also the Lions’
director of entertainment, penned the lyrics and
music for “Gridiron Heroes–The Victory Song of
the Detroit Lions.”
‣ ¾ “Gridiron Heroes” has become one of the NFL’s
oldest and most popular songs today, and it is
still played after each Lions’ score.
PAPER LION
(Verse)
Hail the colors Blue and Silver let them
wave.
Sing the song and cheer the Gridiron
Heroes brave,
Fighting for fame, winning the game.
Dashing to victory as they go.
(Chorus)
Forward down the field,
A charging team that will not yield.
And when the Blue and Silver wave,
Stand and cheer the brave.
Rah, Rah, Rah!
Go hard win the game.
With honor you will keep your fame
Down the field and gain,
A Lion victory!
Filming of the George Plimpton book, “Paper Lion,”
began in early 1968. Alan Alda starred as Plimpton,
the Sports Illustrated feature writer who masqueraded
as a quarterback with the Lions during training
camp. The world premiere was held Thursday, Oct.
3, 1968, at the Adams Theatre. The film introduced
Lauren Hutton to the silver screen, and featured
actual members of the Detroit Lions, including
coach Joe Schmidt, Alex Karras, John Gordy, Mike
Lucci, Pat Studstill and Roger Brown.
‣ ¾ The 2003 season marked the 40th anniversary of
George Plimpton’s visit to Lions’ training camp
when he began writing the original script for his
book. Last year was also the 35th anniversary
of the “Paper Lion” movie release.
‣ ¾ The Detroit Lions reunited most of the cast in
2003 with a “Paper Lion” reunion that was held
in September. Forty players, including Plimpton
and Karras, rekindled friendships that formed
during their experience together in the 1960s.
‣ ¾ The reunion turned out to be the final chapter
of Plimpton’s life as he passed away days later
(September 26, 2003) at the age of 76.
IN MEMORIAM
Several members of the Detroit Lions served in
World War II and made the ultimate sacrifice for
their country in the fight against fascism.
‣ ¾ Lt. Charles Behan was killed by Japanese machine
gun fire on Okinawa, May 18, 1945.
‣ ¾ Sgt. Alex Ketzko was killed in France with
Patch’s Seventh Army, Dec. 23, 1944.
‣ ¾ Lt. Chet Wetterlund was killed flying a Navy
Hellcat on night patrol along the New Jersey
coast, Sept. 5, 1944.
DECADE OF DOMINANCE
Only a handful of great teams over the years in the
NFL can claim the title of dynasty. One of those
great teams was the Detroit Lions in the 1950s
when the franchise captured world championships
three times in a six-year span. Winning three championships
in six years has occurred only nine times
by eight different teams in the history of the NFL.
‣ ¾ Detroit won back-to-back titles in 1952 and 1953
and became the third team since the beginning
of NFL Championship games in 1933 to win
championships in consecutive years.
‣ ¾ Overall since ‘33, back-to-back titles has occurred
just 15 times. Including 1954, the Lions
appeared in the NFL title game four times in a
six-year period.
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
The Detroit Lions have a deep history of outstanding
players who have Texas roots. Five players on
the Lions’ All-Time Team played college football in
the Lone Star State, including : QB Bobby Layne
(Texas), S Yale Lary (Texas A&M), RB Doak Walker
(Southern Methodist), G Harley Sewell (Texas) and
DT Doug English (Texas). Layne, Lary and Walker
are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
‣ ¾ Joining those stars on the franchise’s All-Time
Team are Texas prepsters CB Dick “Night Train”
Lane (Austin), who is also a member of the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, and RB Billy Sims (Hooks).
‣ ¾ Layne, Lane, Lary and Walker are all members
of the Pride of the Lions charter class.
DETROIT LIONS
HISTORY