A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Entry from September 03, 2014
“If you don’t hear an offensive lineman’s named called, he is doing a good job” (football adage)

An old football adage is that no one hears about an offensive lineman when that player is doing a good job. If you hear an offensive lineman’s name mentioned in the course of a football game, it’s probably because that lineman has just been called for a penalty.
 
The saying goes back to at least the 1970s. “It’s a shame that the only time an offensive lineman’s name is mentioned is when the quarterback gets sacked or he’s called for a holding penalty” was cited in print in 1976. “Let’s face it,” Atlanta Falcons All-Pro offensive tackle Mike Kenn said in 1981. “The only time an offensive lineman’s name is called is for a penalty.”
 
“The age old saying, ‘if you don’t hear an offensive lineman’s named called, he is doing a good job,’ still holds true today” was cited in 2014.
 
   
21 November 1976, Independent, Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA), “Rams’ Williams seeks to square accounts” by Rich Roberts, pg. S-8, col. 3:
Williams (Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman John Willisms—ed.) sighs in resignation to an offensive lineman’s lot.
 
“It’s a shame that the only time an offensive lineman’s name is mentioned is when the quarterback gets sacked or he’s called for a holding penalty.”
 
Google News Archive
4 October 1981, Spartanburg (SC) Herald-Journal, “Several Falcons On Streaks Including Unknown Tackle,” pg. B8, col. 4:
So if Mike Kenn’s name is not too well-known, there is a good reason.
 
“Let’s face it,” he said. “The only time an offensive lineman’s name is called is for a penalty.”
 
Google Books
The Women’s Armchair Guide to Pro Football
By Betsy Berns
New York, NY: BVision Sportsmedia, L.P.
1996
Pg. 18:
For the most part, you will hear an offensive lineman’s name mentioned when he has done something wrong, such as being called for a holding penalty or offsides.
 
Google Books
The Steelers Reader
Edited by Randy Roberts and David Welky
Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press
2001
Pg. 176:
If you hear an offensive lineman’s name during a game, it is probably because he has just committed a costly holding infraction.
 
Google Books
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Football
By Joe Theismann with Brian Tarcy
Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books
2001
Pg. 93:
They Get Noticed When Something Goes Wrong
Although they’re finally beginning to get some acclaim, offensive lineman still lead rather anonymous lives on the field. The truth is, about the only time they get noticed is when they do something wrong.
 
So, when you hear an offensive lineman’s name or number called during the game, chances are he committed one of the following infractions:
 
. Holding.
. Encroachment.
. False start.
. Ineligible received downfield during a pass attempt.
. Chop block.
. Clipping.
 
Twitter
Ryan Abraham
‏@insidetroy
Kiffin also praised the play of Max Tuerk. If you don’t say an offensive lineman’s name much, that is a good thing. #USC
Los Angeles, CA
8:39 PM - 20 Aug 2012
     
“Your Dallas Cowboys Football Fix”
25 September 2013
Which NFC East Team Currently Has The Worst Offensive Line?
by CowgirlCas
(...)
In most cases, if you don’t hear an offensive lineman’s name much, he must be doing a good job.
   
Lombardi Ave (Green Bay Packers blog)
September 2, 2014
Green Bay Packers O-line ready to block for Rodgers, Lacy
by Davey Miller
The age old saying, “if you don’t hear an offensive lineman’s named called, he is doing a good job,” still holds true today.

Posted by Barry Popik
New York CitySports/Games • Wednesday, September 03, 2014 • Permalink


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