The Dolphins were the first expansion team of the AFL. Owner Joe Robbie and actor Danny Thomas purchased the franchise for $7.5 million. After Robbie was awarded the franchise, he wanted to place it in Philadelphia even though the NFL already had the Eagles. The AFL’s commissioner, Joe Foss, talked Robbie into going to South Florida’s tropical climate which was also without direct competition.
A “name-the-team” contest was held with a total of 19,843 entries. A committee comprised of local media selected Mustangs, Moons, Sharks, Dolphins, Suns, Mariners, Missiles and Marauders as the nickname finalists. "Dolphins" was selected and submitted by 622 entrants, with the winner Mrs. Robert Swanson.
In the first game, the Dolphins’ Joe Auer ran back the kickoff for a touchdown. The team would lose, however, 23-14 to the Raiders.
The turnaround for the club occurred with the hiring of head coach Don Shula in 1970. In 1972, the Dolphins garnished history as the team went a sterling 17-0-0. Although four other teams in the history of pro football have gone unbeaten during their season, this club is the only NFL team to go unbeaten and untied. Interesting enough, even though the team was 15-0-0. they played the AFC Championship Game on the road in Pittsburgh.
In 1983, five QBs were taken in the first round of the NFL draft. As the Dolphins were about to draft at No. 27—the second to last slot—the franchise selected what would become one of pro football's most prominent QBs: Dan Marino.
The franchise has captured two NFL championships, both Super Bowls.
Origin Facts:
Established: 1966
Original Owner: Joe Robbie & Danny Thomas
Original Colors: Teal, orange & white
First Stadium: Orange Bowl, seating 74,476
Retired Jerseys: No. 39 Larry Csonka, No. 12 Bob Griese, No. 13 Dan Marino
Dazzle the gang with this irresistible BBQ Cheddar Meatloaf...a rolled meat loaf that oozes with cheese.
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- Preheat oven to 400º. Coat a 7- x 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, bread, eggs, mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until well blended. Place on a 12- x 16-inch piece of wax paper and pat firmly into a 10- x 12-inch rectangle.
- In a small bowl, combine cheese and parsley; mix well. Sprinkle cheese mixture evenly over ground beef mixture. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting from the short end, by lifting with the wax paper and removing the paper as you roll. Seal the end well.
- Place seam-side down in prepared baking dish. Pour barbecue sauce over the roll and bake 55 to 60 minutes, or until no pink remains in beef and juices run clear.
- Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Slice and serve.
1917 – Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (d. 1984)
1919 – Alan Young, British-born American actor (Mister Ed) (d.2016)
1961 – Meg Ryan, American actress
Each year on the third Thursday in November, the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout.
This is an annual social engineering event to encourage Americans to stop tobacco smoking. The Great American Smokeout challenges smokers to quit cigarettes for 24 hours with the hopes that this decision will continue forever.
There are benefits to 1 day without cigarettes. After just 20 minutes without a cigarette, the heart rate drops. So does the blood pressure. Twelve hours later, the body will cleanse the carbon monoxide from the last cigarette from the body.
That’s a great start. If you make it past 1 day, your risk of heart attack begins to decrease along with heart disease and stroke. After just 1 day – keep it up.
After 2 days, things start tasting and smelling better. That’s because your nerves are healing from the smoke damage.
Day 3 may be tough. The nicotine is leaving your body and symptoms of withdrawal may occur. But you can do it.
By 1 month, you may notice you can breathe better. The coughing is less. Your lungs may be clearer.
Do you want to find out more? Visit the American Cancer Society to learn more.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Join millions of other smokers and do not smoke for the day. Support your friends and family who are trying to quit smoking.
GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT HISTORY
Evolving from a series of small-scale initiatives, the first Great American Smokeout was held on November 16, 1977, in San Francisco’s Union Square.
- 1970 – Randolph, Massachusetts – Arthur P. Mullaney suggested people give up cigarettes for a day donating the money to a local high school.
- 1974 – Monticello, Minnesota – Lynn R. Smith of the Monticello Times promoted a “Don’t Smoke Day”.
- 1976 – November 18, The California Division of the American Cancer Society successfully prompted nearly one million smokers to quit for the day.
