I can't believe that my beloved Patriots have been playing pro football for 50 years now. While I haven't been here to see them all, I've learned as much as I can about the days of the past. I'll be sharing five articles in this series, where each will cover ten years of Patriots football. Let's start with the beginning. In November 1959, the Patriots were given entry into the AFL. Billy Sullivan was the team's original owner, and being the promoter that he was, he decided to stir up some hype by letting local writers attempt to give the team its best name. The Patriots were decided upon, and the team quickly looked for a coach and home. The team decided to go with Lou Saban as its first ever coach, and hired him for the 1960 football season. As far as a stadium goes, it was Boston University's Nickerson Field, and the team played its first game in franchise history against the Denver Broncos in 1960. The Pats lost this game 13-10, and finished last in their …show more content…
Holovak found success with the team, leading them to a 9-4-1 finish in both 1961 and 1962. The Pats also moved their home to Harvard's football field. In 1963, the Patriots shacked up with the Red Sox at historic Fenway Park. The Patriots ended up winning the AFL Eastern Division while posting a modest 7-6-1. They made the franchises first playoff appearance by defeating the Buffalo Bills 26-8. They went on to the next round but got throttled by the San Diego Chargers 51-10. The franchise took well to Holovak, and his success resulted in an upgrade to the team's general manager in 1964. This season, the Pats finished at 10-3-1, and Holovak was rewarded with AFL Coach of the Year. With three straight successful seasons, the Pats were a force to be reckoned with. 1965 was an off year, and 1966 a successful one. Things took a turn for the worse after that, and Holovak was dismissed in