The month of August is home to some unique moments in Patriots history. A time when summer is starting to fade and the new football season is quickly approaching. It is not a month when championships are won or records are broken, however, it is a time for new beginnings. Here are a few of those for your late-summer football appetite.
August 2, 2008
Andre Tippett was the first Patriots defender to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after playing his entire career with the Patriots. Defensive superstars Mike Haynes (class of 97) and Nick Buoniconti (class of 01) were both enshrined in Canton but did not complete their entire careers in New England.
August 6, 2001
The first seats are installed at Gillette Stadium as the stadium continued to prepare for its grand opening in 2002.
August 3, 2019
Ty Law became the first Patriots player from the early 2000s dynasty to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Junior Seau (class of 15) and Randy Moss (class of 18) were integral parts of the 2007 perfect season, however neither captured a championship with the Patriots.
August 13, 1967
The AFL’s Boston Patriots played the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in a preseason game. It was the first time the Patriots had played an NFL team. The Patriots lost the game, 33-3. Just three years later, the AFL and the Boston Patriots joined the National Football League.
August 14, 1960
The Boston Patriots play their first home game, a 24-14 preseason loss to the Dallas Texans before 11,000 fans at Harvard Stadium — significant date in Patriots and New England football history.
August 15, 1971
The Patriots make their debut at Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough. Gino Cappelletti kicked a 36-yard field goal for the first points scored in the stadium as the Patriots topped the NY Giants, 20-14, before 60,423 fans in a preseason tilt.
August 17, 2002
The reigning Super Bowl champion Patriots hosted the first football game at Gillette Stadium, a 16-15 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
August 20,1977
The installation of the iconic Super Turf artificial surface in Schaefer Stadium is completed.
August 25, 1997
The Patriots introduce the world’s first direct-to-digital nightly video webcast, called Patriots Cyber Sideline. The webcast contained everything from Patriots player interviews and press conferences to game reviews and previews.
August 27, 2003
Robert Kraft presented offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi with the first annual New England Patriots Ron Burton Community Service Award. The award is presented in honor of Burton, the first draft choice in team history and a dedicated philanthropist in the New England community.
August 27, 2007
While under-construction, the new Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon “hosts” it’s first induction ceremony, enshrining Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan at the Patriots Kickoff Gala inside Gillette Stadium.
August 1992
Boston Patriots legends Gino Cappelletti and Nick Buoniconti are inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Cappelletti and Buoniconti joined John Hannah (class of 1991) and became the first pair of players to be simultaneously inducted.
As for 2020, the Patriots enter the most unique football season in quite some time, facing new challenges, with a new quarterback, in new jerseys. As another football season begins, another historic month of August is here.
