By Jessica Piazza

TWIF Featured Columnist

“A Girl’s Glimpse of the Game”

For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has always been about family, friends, feasting and of course, football. It’s a tradition that started right here in the Buckeye state and dates back to 1920, when the Akron Pros defeated the Canton Bulldogs, 7-0. Since then, Thanksgiving Day games have become a customary part of the holiday. Just as turkey has stuffing, mashed potatoes have gravy and pumpkin pie has whipped cream – Thanksgiving has football. 

For some, it’s a great distraction from the all the chaos and commotion of the hectic day.  Especially if you partake in a big Thanksgiving celebration complete with aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins-of-cousins (most of whom you haven’t talked to since last Thanksgiving). For others it’s simply a routine tradition that football be the main course of the day.

The Detroit Lions started the Thanksgiving Day football event in 1934, and the Dallas Cowboys followed suit in 1966. The Lions and Cowboys typically play their respective games at home in a series called the Thanksgiving Classic. In past years, the two teams have played some really remarkable, nail-biting games. 

In 1980, David Williams of the Chicago Bears returned the opening kickoff in overtime for a touchdown against Detroit giving Chicago the win, the only time that has happened in a Thanksgiving game. 

However, a more notable Thanksgiving game moment occurred in 1993 as Dallas hosted the Miami Dolphins. Dallas was leading 14-13 with only seconds left in the game. In a last ditch effort, the Dolphins attempted a 41-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked. It appeared Dallas had all but claimed victory when Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett attempted to recover the ball, only to slip and fall due to the snowy conditions on the field. Ultimately, Miami recovered the gaffe and took possession on the Dallas 1-yard line, in which they subsequently kicked a successful field goal to defeat the Cowboys, 16-14.    

Unfortunately in recent years, the Thanksgiving Classic has been far less exciting. This year Detroit will host the Green Bay Packers at 12:30 p.m. on FOX. The Lions will go into the game with a disappointing 2-8 record, not to mention last year’s winless season of 0-16 (making them the first team in NFL history to lose 16 games in a single season). Needless to say, the matchup is certain to be a washout with Green Bay coming out way on top. 

Likewise, the scuffle between Dallas and the Oakland Raiders will most likely be a flop. The Raiders, whose performance this year has been less than impressive, will be no match for the Cowboys with a respectable record of 7-3. But nonetheless, tune into CBS at 4:15 p.m. if you’d like to watch the Cowboys lasso the Raiders.

Although both games appear to be duds, there’s no need to call it a turkey just yet. “Thankfully,” in 2006, a third game was added to the Thanksgiving Day lineup and is aired on the NFL Network at 8:20 p.m. This year the Denver Broncos will host the New York Giants, making it the only game worth watching.

Furthermore, another less popular, but optimistic element to the Thanksgiving Day football affair has come with the introduction of the United Football League, or UFL, which will hold its championship game over the Thanksgiving weekend (Friday at noon on the Versus channel). Thus, increasing the odds that there will be a better chance for some good entertainment to engage in post-turkey (when you are still too full to move from the couch).

So as football has become America’s favorite pastime, it has also become firmly rooted as one of the many traditions in American culture associated with Thanksgiving Day. Regardless if the games are worth watching or not, it’s the tradition and sentiment of NFL football that really makes it feel like Thanksgiving.