Dawgs By Nature
25 questions with a former Browns coach
The “Arizona Cardinals” are the oldest continuous professional American Football team in the United States. They began as a gym team that would play other athletic clubs and gyms, and small-to-medium city teams situated regionally where a day trip on a train could get them there and back in the same 24-hour period.
Much like the Cleveland Browns, the Cardinals are steeped in history.
The Cardinals have had eight different franchise names beginning with the “Morgan Athletic Club” in 1898. In 1901, they became their third moniker this time called the “Racine Cardinals.” The team name “Cardinals” was not after the species of birds, but the color “cardinal red.” Many teams at the time had the names of colors, especially in pro baseball where everyone wore the same uniform just with different colors of leggings.
RELATED: CARDINALS ALL-TIME RUSHING LEADERS
Fast forward to 1987. For years, other NFL clubs had looked at Phoenix, Arizona as a place to relocate. Often, the city was used as a negotiation ploy for a club to persuade the local politicians and community to get what they wanted if they decided to remain instead. The “St. Louis Cardinals” finally took the plunge in a move and the “Phoenix Cardinals” began in the 1988 season.
At the time, all of New Mexico and Arizona favored the Dallas Cowboys as their favorite NFL club. So, in 1994, the franchise changed its name again, this time to the “Arizona Cardinals” to help develop its fanbase regionally.
Stump Mitchell was drafted by St. Louis in 1981, taken in the ninth round after a stellar college career out of The Citadel. In his senior season, he was voted the Southern Conference Player of the Year, named Third Team All-American, and was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection. Mitchell still holds Citadel school records for career rushing yards (4,062) plus the most rushing yards in a single season (1,647).
After his final college season, Mitchell was ranked second in the nation in rushing yards behind George Rogers of South Carolina. Mitchell’s numbers that year topped Herschel Walker, Marcus Allen, Freeman McNeil, Barry Redden, James Brooks, Kelvin Bryant, Sammy Winder, Eric Dickerson, Curt Warner, Butch Woolfolk, and Roger Craig.
In his rookie NFL season, Mitchell played sparingly on offense because the franchise already had Pro Bowler O.J. Anderson entrenched at running back. But Mitchell found his calling on special teams as the main punt and kickoff returner. That season, he had 42 punt returns for 445 yards with a 10.6 yards per return average, one touchdown, and a long of 50 yards. He also returned 55 kickoffs for 1,292 yards and a 23.5 yards per return average with a long of 67 yards.
In 1985, he was finally the main running back and came through rushing for 1,006 yards on 183 carries, scored seven touchdowns, had a 5.5 yards per carry average, plus caught 47 balls for 502 yards with another three scores.
He spent nine...
