Philadelphia eagles santa claus incident

It is December and Eagles fans are angry. The team is losing, a disappointing season is winding down and the fans are calling for the coach to be fired.

From Philly and the Pa. Let us know! The year was — a disastrous season for the Philadelphia Eagles. The team ended with a record and lost its final game of the season in disappointing fashion exactly 55 years ago Friday. But the reason the contest has gone down in the history books is due to unusual half-time festivities. But even that showing was just good enough to guarantee they would not get the first pick in the college draft, a star running back called O. Simpson, because the Buffalo Bills had only a single victory that season.

Philadelphia eagles santa claus incident

Olivo, known as the Santa who was booed and dodged snowballs during halftime at a Eagles game, believes the infamous snowball episode launched the Philadelphia Eagles reputation for boorish fans. The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP. Yes, the NFC East title is still in sight for the Eagles when they host the New York Giants — but the date alone is enough to make fans at the Linc cringe at reminders of a bad rap and a bad Santa. The Eagles, only six years removed from an NFL championship, started in under coach Joe Kuharich and seem poised to finish with the worst record in the league and earn the No. That meant a chance at selecting USC running back O. And when the Eagles needed a pinch-hit Santa to fill in for the real-deal halftime act either stranded elsewhere in a snowstorm or simply no-showing because of one, they plucked a fan out of the stands who happened to dress as Saint Nick to toss candy canes into the crowd. Only a funny thing has happened over the decades since fans had the best arms in Philly and a jail cell was needed at Veterans Stadium, and diehards packed DieHards with each ticket purchased, Philly crowds have become — nice. The snowball story, though, stuck to Philly, so when the Eagles host the New York Giants, the incident surely will be recycled on the TV broadcast, or on local news, or on national sports highlights — Hey! The city that hates Santa played on Christmas! He went onto the field only as a favor.

That season culminated with one of the most storied events in the citys sports history: the fans throwing snow balls at Santa Claus.

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From Philly and the Pa. Let us know! The year was — a disastrous season for the Philadelphia Eagles. The team ended with a record and lost its final game of the season in disappointing fashion exactly 55 years ago Friday. But the reason the contest has gone down in the history books is due to unusual half-time festivities. But even that showing was just good enough to guarantee they would not get the first pick in the college draft, a star running back called O. Simpson, because the Buffalo Bills had only a single victory that season. Macnow said Eagles fans were displeased and demanding that the head coach be fired. Aggravating the situation was the cold and blustery weather from a big winter storm. A Christmas festival was planned for halftime, complete with Santa Claus throwing candy canes to the crowd accompanied by all of the cheerleaders dressed as elves.

Philadelphia eagles santa claus incident

Philadelphia has a reputation across professional sports for having the roughest fans. Nobody knows that better than Frank Olivo. The Eagles were bad that season. They went into the game with a record, but they were coming off two wins in a row, which hurt their odds at the No. So fans went into the stadium annoyed — if they were going to be bad, the least they could do was get the top pick. In that draft, it would have been O. Fans arrived to the stadium that afternoon with snow in their seats to watch a poor team in unfavorable weather. Philadelphia fans throwing snowballs at Santa Claus is a topic that can come up during any Eagles broadcast, and maybe even other professional Philly sports games, too.

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Bad suit, scraggly beard. Kickoff is scheduled for p. I really thought we had a bit of an odd scoop especially with the film. There were three inches of slush on their wooden seats and they were seeing their chances of drafting Simpson slipping away. If the Eagles finished with the worst record, they would get first pick in the draft which meant they could have O. Citizen Horwitz By Larry Platt. I believe my fellow news people in the Channel 3 news room agreed based on their replays of the yarn during the week. And later in the week, Jim Leaming, the sports director, ran it twice as a rueful analysis of the Eagles' sorry season. Let's give Santa Claus a rousing welcome, Philadelphia welcome' [and well] What if it never happened? Buried deep in the Philadelphia Inquirer game story was a note that "fans amused themselves by pelting both benches with snowballs. Share this Facebook Twitter Email. Those were snowballs flying past Santa Claus. No big deal.

The incident occurred on December 15, , in Week 14, at the time the final week of the NFL season, with the struggling Eagles sitting at 2—11 on the season. Tied 7—7 at halftime, the team brought out Santa Claus as part of the halftime Christmas parade; but Eagles fans upset by the poor season pelted him with snowballs.

Look no further:. I really thought we had a bit of an odd scoop especially with the film. Despite various offers to sell his famous cufflinks over the years, Olivo opted to hold on to his historic pair of accessories. Franklin Field , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many who repeat the Philadelphia legend of Santa getting booed take it at face value as just Eagles fans being themselves. Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell also attended that very game. If you look at the Monday papers, it was proof it was no big deal. You may also like. If the Eagles finished with the worst record, they would get first pick in the draft which meant they could have O. More From AP News. The next day at the station, especially in the newsroom, snowballs and Santa Claus were about the only discussion. SB Nation.