Browns To Honor Undefeated ‘48 Team - Wed, Nov 5 2008 at 5:48 pm
During halftime of tomorrow night’s Browns-Broncos prime-time clash, the club will honor the ‘47, ‘48 and ‘49 All-America Football Conference teams.
Players expected to be in attendance from those teams include Dante Lavelli, Dub Jones and Ara Parseghian.
Additionally, Shannon Dawson, wife of kicker Phil Dawson, will perform the National Anthem.
For the entire text of the press release, click after the jump…
The Cleveland Browns are hosting AFC West rival Denver Broncos on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 8:15 p.m. at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The game will be televised to a nationwide audience on the NFL Network.
The Browns will honor their 1947, 1948 and 1949 All-America Football Conference (AAFC) teams with a special halftime ceremony. These Browns teams recorded a 29-game unbeaten streak from 1947-49, including a perfect 14-0 season in 1948. Players in attendance from those teams will include wide receiver Dub Jones, wide receiver Dante Lavelli, running back Ara Parseghian, defensive end Bill ‘Zeke’ O’Connor, defensive tackle Ben Pucci and center Mike ‘Mo’ Scarry.
The Browns originally joined the AAFC in 1946 and won the championship in each of their four seasons in the AAFC before joining the NFL in 1950. The Browns 1948 team went undefeated with a 14-0 regular season mark and won the championship with a 49-7 win over the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 19, 1948. The Browns posted a 29-game unbeaten streak beginning on Oct. 19, 1947 thru Oct. 2, 1949.
The NFL Network begins its third year airing the exclusive Thursday Night Football primetime package. The NFL Network will begin pregame coverage at 5:00 p.m. with Total Access on Location with Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp and Adam Shefter. Announcing the game will be Bob Papa and Cris Collinsworth.
Shannon Dawson, wife of Browns kicker Phil Dawson, will perform the National Anthem and presenting the colors will be the United States Navy.
Thursday nights game is presented by the all new 2009 Ford F-150 and your Northeast Ohio Ford Dealers. Fans can register to win a 2009 Ford F-150 at the Ford displays along the ‘Ford F-150 Tailgate Terrace’ along Alfred Lerner Way and stop by and receive a limited-edition Cleveland Browns poster.
The Browns will also pay tribute to the United States Navy with the ‘Hats Off to Our Heroes’ Honor Row game day feature at the end of the first quarter. The Browns created the ‘Hats Off to Our Heroes’ community relations program to honor those representatives who epitomize the core of our community and have positively impacted our neighborhoods.
Additionally, several players will be hosting special guests at each home game throughout the year. Defensive lineman Shaun Smith works with local students through his “Lining Up with Shaun Smith” program, linebacker Antwan Peek assists several non-profit groups, who are part of his “Peek’s Pound”, safety Brodney Pool also provides support to local students through his “Pool’s Posse” program, safety Mike Adams and his “Mike Adams Rising Stars” program works with the ‘I am NOT a Hero Foundation’, and kicker Phil Dawson, along with his wife Shannon, have partnered with Adoption Network to provide families the opportunity to attend games this year. Also, defensive lineman Shaun Rogers works with three schools through his ‘Baby’s Block” program and defensive lineman Corey Williams has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters through his “C Dub’s Club” program.
The Browns will have many special guests coming as nearly 50 alumni will enjoy the game and over 10 Browns Backers Groups, including visits from the three different states. The Browns welcome the Central Virginia (Richmond, Va.), Northern California (Sacramento, Calif.) and Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Browns Backers to name a few.
The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m., however gates will open at 6:15 p.m. with inflatables, interactives and live music along the Tailgate Terrace, located on the East Patio. BrownsTown, located on the North side of the Stadium, is the official tailgate spot for ticketed patrons and offers food and drinks and opens at 6:15 p.m. Also, The Grille, located along Alfred Lerner Way, offers an assortment of food and beverages and will open at 6:15 p.m.
In addition, Legends, a sports bar located behind the Dawg Pound, features two full bars, novelty shops, a full kitchen and 37 flat screen televisions. Legends can be accessed from the Stadium’s east ramps, stairs or elevator, and will be open beginning at 6:15 p.m.
I am the widow of a Browns Football Team player (Center) whose name is Jack F. Porche. Jack was scouted at Durham, NC while a college freshman. He graduated from high school in 1947, so I think we’re talking about 1947 or 1948.
Our children and I would love to learn more information about the team and his time with the team, if there’s anyone to respond to this, I would be grateful. Joan Porche