Pigskin Dispatch

About Pigskin Dispatch

The host of the podcast is Darin Hayes who hails from Northwest Pennsylvania. The area is in the center of an NFL triangle approximately 100 miles away from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.

This dynamic helped to ingrain football into the fabric of the region. Darin played football as a youth and then officiated on the high school gridiron for almost 3 decades! 

His love of the game has spurned him to promote the positive aspects of football and preserve the game’s history with this podcast and his websites PigskinDispatch.com and CleteMarxComics.com.

Darin Hayes - Pigskin Dispatch Host

I grew up in North Western PA (still live there) and my earliest memories are in the early 70’s watching Steeler’s games with my Dad and Grandfather. The ’70’s Steelers had finally given some redemption for my Dad and Gramps after the longevity of suffering through some pretty terrible Steelers seasons in an area of the country that is filled with Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills fans along with those of  the Steelers, and that was my hook for football.

I loved watching High School, college and Pro football and even played a bit as a youngster. After college I still had the bug so I got involved in officiating HS football for 27 years. While still officiating I wrote for a couple of officiating websites and really got enamoured in the history of the game and it’s rules. This led me to May of 2020 starting PigskinDispatch.com to help give recognition to the good folks of football and also to preserve the history of the game.

What This Podcast Brings to the Table

The Pigskin Daily History Dispatch Podcast takes the listener through the historical events, people, inventions and plays that had some significance to the game of football on the date discussed.

We try to cover every angle, and look in every nook and cranny to bring these yester-year gridiron nuggets from all levels of American football all over the globe to help tell the story of American football. Check out our websites PigskinDispatch.com & CleteMarxComics.com for more positive football entertainment. So hold on as we are going to go no-huddle and throw quick slants to bring you the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch Podcast!

The pivotal theme of this podcast revolves around the rich and intricate history of Pennsylvania football, as we engage in a discourse with the esteemed sports historian, Dave Finoli. He elucidates the fascinating narrative of how the Pro Football Hall of Fame could have potentially been situated in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, rather than its current location...
The episode delves into the historical rivalry between Michigan and Notre Dame, emphasizing a pivotal moment in June 1923 that irrevocably altered the dynamics of their football relationship. It recounts the events leading up to a long hiatus in their games, instigated by a series of escalating tensions and disputes between the two institutions, particularly...
The episode delves into the historical rivalry between the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame, a conflict that began in November 1887 when Michigan imparted foundational knowledge of American football to Notre Dame players before their inaugural encounter. This initial meeting culminated in an 8-0 victory for Michigan, setting the stage for...
The episode embarks on an exploration of the intricate evolution of rule enforcement within the realm of football, elucidating the historical transition from rudimentary punitive measures to the sophisticated system of penalties we observe today. We delve into the nascent days of the sport, characterized by mass formations and tumultuous collisions, where rules were often...
This podcast episode delves into our preseason predictions for the National Football League (NFL) teams, providing insights on how we envision their performances in the upcoming season. We engage in an analytical discourse regarding the power rankings of the National Football Conference (NFC), emphasizing our assessments of each team’s potential based on recent developments and...
The genesis of the American Football League (AFL) is a pivotal moment in the annals of sports history, marked by a decisive vote cast by six men on August 22, 1959, in Dallas, Texas. This momentous decision catalyzed a monumental shift in professional football, challenging the entrenched monopoly of the National Football League (NFL) and...
The clandestine meeting between NFL and AFL executives in a Dallas parking lot marked a pivotal moment in the history of professional football, as it laid the groundwork for the eventual merger of these two rival leagues. This episode delves into the intricacies of this secretive encounter, highlighting the intense competition that had characterized the...
The Continental Football League, an ambitious entity that existed between 1965 and 1969, serves as the focal point of our discussion today. We delve into the history and significance of this league, often overshadowed by the more prominent rivalries of the AFL and NFL during the 1960s. Joining us is historian Timothy B. Brown from...
The primary focus of this episode revolves around our analysis and predictions for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, specifically through a unique draft format designed to assess team performance based on regular season wins. We delve into the intricacies of the AFC, with particular attention given to the Los Angeles Chargers, whom Ed Cleese posits...
The salient point of today’s discussion revolves around the remarkable stories of kickers Chester Marcol and Roy Gerela, who not only excelled in their positions but also left indelible marks on NFL history. I delve into Marcol’s extraordinary journey from a Polish immigrant to a leading scorer in the NFL, highlighting his infamous walk-off touchdown...

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