Broadcast celebrates Red Grange

Posted September 03, 2009 11:00 pm

Associated Press

URBANA -- The life of Harold E. "Red" Grange will be explored in his own words in the new documentary "Red Grange Remembers," produced by Urbana PBS affiliate WILL-TV.

The program is framed around what may have been Grange's last long television interview in the early 1980s. Grange died in 1991 at age 87.

Grange made his reputation during an Illinois-Michigan game in 1924. It was homecoming and the Big Ten tiebreaker.

With Michigan on a three-year undefeated streak, Illinois was the underdog. Grange scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes, and Illinois won 39-14.

Grange left the UI in 1925 for the fledgling pro game, signing the first-ever pro football contract for he then-astronomical salary of $100,000.

"Red Grange Remembers" is scheduled for broadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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