General Assembly of Pennsylvania

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 337 Session of 2003

Introduced by Allen, Gooodman, Argall, Phillips, McCall, Belfanti, Fairchild, Baker, Baldwin, Barrar, Bebko-Jones, Browne, Cappelli, Coleman, Corrigan, Creighton, Daley, Dally, Denlinger, DeWeese, DiGirolamo, Fabrizio, Feese, Fichter, Forcier, Frankel, Gabig, Geist, George, Gingrich, Gruucela, Haluska, Harhai, Harhart, Hennessey, Hershey, Hutchinson, Kirkland, Laughlin, Lewis, Maher, Mann, Markosek, Marisco, Nailor, Payne, Reichley, Roebuck, Rohrer, Rubley, Santoni, Sather, Shaner, B. Smith, Solobay, Tigue, Walko, Wojnaroski, Youngblood, Yudichak, and Zug, June 25, 2003

Introduced as a Noncontroversial Resolution under Rule 35, June 25, 2003

A RESOLUTION

Urging the National Football League to recognize the Pottsville Maroons as the National Football League Champions of 1925.

WHEREAS, In December 1925 the Pottsville Maroons traveled to Chicago to meet the Cardinals for the National Football League championship title; and

WHEREAS, The Maroons won decisively 21-7 and were immediately declared league champions by the media; and

WHEREAS, One week later, the Maroons, representing the NFL East, played the Notre Dame All-Stars in another postseason game at Philadelphia's Shibe Park; and

WHEREAS, The Maroons posted a come-from-behind victory in the closing seconds of the game, causing their supporters to claim the title of World Champions in addition to the title of National Champions earned from the victory over Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Controversy arose when the Frankford Yellow Jacket officials protested the game as a violation of their territorial rights as Shibe Park was located within their territorial franchise; and

WHEREAS, The National Football League reprimanded the Maroons by prohibiting further league competition or championship; and

WHEREAS, League officials ordered the Chicago Cardinals to play two additional games, which they won, giving the Cardinals a higher winning percentage than the Maroons; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago Cardinals, named as the team eligible for the 1925 Championship title, declined the championship, causing the league to never award the 1925 title to a team which accepted it; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania join with and support the Governor in his efforts to have the Pottsville Maroons recognized as the National Football League Champions of 1925; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania urge the National Football League to recognize the right of the Pottsville Maroons of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to be named as the National Football League Champions of 1925.

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor and to the National Football League Commissioner.