Public Media from Michigan State University

Remembering EL’s Pigs vs. Freaks football clashes

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Back in the days of hippie clashes with police over the war in Vietnam, the two sides met on the gridiron in games that were dubbed the Bull Bowl. Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with two men who played in the Pigs vs. the Freaks football games.

During the Vietnam war, there was a lot of tension between police and war protesters. Cops and hippies clashed over almost every issue. But for a time in the early 1970’s, the two factions did have a common meeting place: Spartan Stadium.

People who’ve lived here a long time will remember this little amateur football game called the Bull Bowl bursting onto the scene. It outgrew its humble beginnings and had to be moved to MSU to accommodate the crowds wanting to watch the Pigs vs. the Freaks on the gridiron.

These games were so popular that a documentary film was made about the rivalry, complete with game play-by-play from MSU football announcer Bob Sherman and narration by Terry Braverman.

Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with two men who played in the Pigs vs. Freaks football games: a Pig, retired Lansing cop Doug Pollard, and a Freak, Bob Every.

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Scott Pohl is a general assignment news reporter and produces news features and interviews. He is also an alternate local host on NPR's "Morning Edition."