Cleveland Browns and the Great Lakes Classic: A Nostalgic Preseason Rivalry
The history of the Cleveland Browns is rich with tradition, success, and a dedicated fan base. From their dominance in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) to their early years in the National Football League (NFL), the Browns have consistently been a team that evokes passion and excitement. While much of their history is rooted in regular-season and playoff battles, one unique chapter involves a preseason rivalry born out of nostalgia and a desire to give back to the community: "The Great Lakes Classic" against the Detroit Lions.
The Browns-Lions Championship Battles of the 1950s
To understand the genesis of "The Great Lakes Classic," one must first delve into the intense rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions during the 1950s. Both teams were powerhouses in their respective conferences, consistently vying for the NFL Championship. From 1950 to 1957, the Browns played in seven NFL Championship Games, securing three titles. Similarly, the Lions were a dominant force, appearing in four NFL Championship Games and winning three titles from 1952 to 1957.
Their paths crossed in five of those championship games, including an impressive four consecutive meetings from 1951 to 1954. These contests were hard-fought and memorable, solidifying the Browns-Lions rivalry as one of the most significant in the league. The results of those championship games were:
- 1952: Lions win 17-7
- 1953: Lions win 17-16
- 1954: Browns win 56-10
- 1957: Lions win 59-14
Carmen Policy's Vision: Rekindling the Rivalry
Decades later, Carmen Policy, a Youngstown, Ohio native and lifelong Browns fan, became a minority owner and President of the new Cleveland Browns in 1999. Policy, who had previously been the President of the San Francisco 49ers, was instrumental in their success, having been a part of five Super Bowl teams. As a child, he fondly remembered those tense championship battles between the Browns and the Lions.
Recognizing that the modern NFL landscape made a traditional rivalry difficult to maintain, Policy devised an ingenious idea to honor those bygone championship teams. With the Browns now in the AFC and the Lions in the NFC, their regular-season matchups would be infrequent. To bridge this gap, Policy invented "The Great Lakes Classic."
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The Great Lakes Classic: A Preseason Tradition
"The Great Lakes Classic" was inaugurated in 2002 as an annual preseason game between the Browns and the Lions. The inspiration for this game came from another preseason game that the 49ers were involved with annually against the Denver Broncos, entitled "The Rocky Mountain Classic.” The winner of this contest would be awarded "The Great Lakes Freighter Trophy," affectionately nicknamed "The Barge" by many beat writers. Beyond bragging rights, the game also carried a charitable component, with both clubs contributing $50,000, the winning team directing three-quarters of the bounty to their chosen charity, and the losing team awarding the balance to their own charity.
Policy explained the rationale behind the Classic: "Back before the Super Bowl, the Browns and Lions played for the league championship five times. And the Browns only came out on top once. So let’s do a preseason game and make it as interesting as possible."
The concept was rooted in the early days of professional football, where teams often played geographically close opponents for logistical reasons. Detroit is just a boat ride northwest of Cleveland through Lake Erie, up the Detroit River. The proximity of the two cities and the rich history between the two teams made this an easy venture.
The Great Lakes Freighter Trophy: A Symbol of the Rivalry
The centerpiece of "The Great Lakes Classic" was undoubtedly "The Great Lakes Freighter Trophy." The trophy was designed to honor the iron-ore freighters that have sailed Lake Erie for generations.
Policy described it as "a beautiful piece - kinda heavy," estimating its cost to be between $25,000 and $50,000. It weighed approximately 75 pounds and required two people to move.
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The trophy featured the helmets of both the Browns and the Lions, along with the inscriptions "Lions" and "Browns" in each franchise's respective letter styles. A central plaque displayed the words "Great Lakes Classic - Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions."
Like the Stanley Cup in hockey, the winning team kept the trophy until the following year's game. Engraved plaques displayed the winner, year, and score.
Policy, being a two-time NFL team President, understood the importance of promotion. He added the charitable aspect into the fold.
A Series of Memorable Games
"The Great Lakes Classic" provided a platform for young players to compete for roster spots and for fans to witness a unique preseason rivalry. The inaugural game on August 17, 2002, in Cleveland saw the Browns emerge victorious with a 24-23 win.
While the games themselves were exhibition contests, the competitive spirit was undeniable. "Matt Millen really greased us if we lost," Policy recalled. "The local paper would run a full story on the game plus the trophy. Matt would send photos and tell us how well it fits over at their office complex and that they plan on just keeping it."
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The Demise of the Classic
Despite its initial success and charitable impact, "The Great Lakes Classic" came to an end in 2014. By that time, Policy had moved on. The 2015 NFL preseason schedule, now operated by the league, did not include the Browns-Lions game. The announcement was that there was a scheduling conflict and that the series was "on hold." So far, no word on why the series wasn’t resumed and placed back on the preseason schedule.
Policy speculated that "some new people came in and didn’t see the community value in continuing the Classic. The league may have wanted their preseason selections to be more versatile as well. It went on for 11 years though."
The Lions won the final game of the series in 2014 with a score of 13-12. Overall, the Browns won the series 6-5, with most games played in the second preseason game slot.
The Barge's Whereabouts
The fate of "The Great Lakes Freighter Trophy" after the series' conclusion is somewhat unclear. While the Lions were the last team to win the game, the trophy was later spotted in the Browns' media room.
According to Bill Keenist, the Lions' VP of communications, Detroit commissioned a second trophy to be made at some point.
"That trophy weighed a ton," Keenist explained. "After a while, we decided it wasn’t fair to our equipment guys to ask them to load and unload that thing every time, so we opted to have a second trophy made."
This eliminated the need to transport the heavy trophy each year, with each team simply displaying their version during the game, maintaining the illusion of a traveling trophy.
A Look Back at Browns Preseason History
The Browns' preseason history extends beyond "The Great Lakes Classic." The team has participated in various exhibition games throughout the years, including the NFL's first-ever doubleheader in 1962. In those games, the Browns faced off against teams like the Baltimore Colts and the Green Bay Packers.
The Browns have also been involved in unique preseason matchups, such as the "Molson Challenge" against the New York Jets in Montreal. These games provided opportunities for the team to connect with fans in different markets and experiment with different strategies.
The Significance of Preseason Games
NFL preseason games serve several important purposes. They allow teams to evaluate their players, experiment with different lineups, and prepare for the regular season. Preseason games also provide opportunities for fans to see their favorite teams in action and get a glimpse of the upcoming season.
While preseason games may not carry the same weight as regular-season contests, they are an integral part of the NFL landscape.
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