Dayton Triangles History

As a child growing up just north of Dayton, Ohio, I had no idea that I lived within walking distance of professional sports history. Much later in life, I learned that Triangle Park in Dayton, near my childhood home, was the site of the first game played between members of what became the National Football League. On October 3, 1920, the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles by a score of 14-0.

I began to wonder: who were these Triangles? What was their story? As I looked more closely, I found myself asking other questions. What was life like in the Triangles’ heyday? I set out to answer these questions for myself with the intention of writing a book. I hoped to publish the book on or before the 100th anniversary of that first game in 2020.

However, when the NFL announced plans to celebrate its 100th season and honor the original teams in 2019, I realized that I couldn’t finish and publish the book in time to coincide with that celebration. I decided the next best thing would be a documentary podcast.

What’s hosted at this site is the result of that effort. “Triangles: The Life and Times of an NFL Original Team” traces the history of the team from the formation of its nucleus at what is now the University of Dayton through its 25th anniversary in 1941. Along the way, we’ll meet colorful characters and unsung heroes. I hope to give you a sense of what life and football were like 100 years ago.

Although I call this a “documentary” podcast, let me make one thing clear: I’m no journalist. As I learned more about the team and the men who played for it, I came to cheer for them. I hope that you will, too.

Bruce Smith, Writer/Producer/Narrator

Bruce Smith Sharing Dayton History In Interviews

Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY This introduction to the Dayton Triangles podcast discusses Bruce’s personal motivations for creating the podcast and gives a preview of what to expect in coming episodes. LINKS...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY This episode introduces the Saint Mary’s Cadets, predecessors of the Dayton Triangles, and talks about radical changes in American football in 1905 that helped them succeed. LINKS...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The beginning of the story of how the Saint Mary’s Cadets, predecessors of NFL founding team the Dayton Triangles, became champions of local independent football. LINKS Dayton...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The Saint Mary’s Cadets, forerunners of the Dayton Triangles, would face off against long-standing champions the Olt’s-Superba Oakwoods for the independent football championship of Dayton in 1913....
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The Saint Mary’s Cadets, forerunners of the Dayton Triangles, set out to defend their city independent football championship in 1914. However, winning the title was one thing;...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY During the 1915 season, the former Saint Mary’s Cadets become the Dayton Gym-Cadets. It was the last year they played football under the Cadet name. The following...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The Dayton Triangles football team, which would become a founding member of the National Football League in 1920, open their inaugural season of play in 1916 under...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY When the United States enters the war in Europe in 1917, things change for the second-year Dayton Triangles. Coach Nelson “Bud” Talbott and Triangles business manager Mike...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The 1918 Dayton Triangles must deal with the constraints imposed by war in Europe and an influenza pandemic at home. The Triangles persevere under the guidance of...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Following two years of war and disease, life returned to normal for the Dayton Triangles football team in 1919. With their coach and star quarterback back from...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The Dayton Triangles join with other teams in 1920 to form the American Professional Football Association, which would eventually rename itself the National Football League. The inaugural...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Dayton Triangles coach Nelson Talbott, forced to take on more family responsibilities in the wake of his father’s death, turns to his old Yale coach Frank Hinkey...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The 1922 NFL season represents a turning point for the National Football League founding team, the Dayton Triangles. Founding coach Nelson “Bud” Talbott is forced to step...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Following the death of F. B. MacNab, who had been the Dayton Triangles’ most ardent financial supporter, Carl Storck must assume ownership of the team’s NFL franchise...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY As the 1924 National Football League season approaches, Dayton Triangles owner/coach/manager Carl Storck hopes to restore the team to NFL glory after a disastrous 1923 campaign. The...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY After concluding that the National Football League original team the Dayton Triangles could no longer make money on home games, owner/coach Carl Storck and his business manager...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Facing irrelevance in 1927, Dayton Triangles owner Carl Storck and business manager Mike Redelle reinvent the National Football League original team as a hometown squad. Season highlights...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The Dayton Triangles, last founding members of the National Football League, struggle to survive as a road team in the late 1920s. LINKS Dayton Triangles History on...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY Carl Storck sold the Dayton Triangles in 1930 but stayed in the National Football League as an executive. Eventually, he succeeded the late Joe Carr as NFL...
Dayton Triangles History is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One – the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY The final episode of the podcast explores the impact that the National Football League original team the Dayton Triangles and its members had on sports and the...

Digital $50 gift card to Homefield Apparel