It was a Cinderella story about the Wyoming State Porcupines basketball team going undefeated for the 3rd year in a row. It had cred, coming out of NBC’s Dick Engberg and Al McGuire, complete with television graphics to make it look official. No one questioned the story, even though the team never made it to March Madness.

“Hey, look at this. Here’s a new entry, Wyoming State. We don’t know a lot about the Porcupines, but they haven’t lost a game in three years.”

- NBC’s Dick Enberg April Fools’ joke

Wyoming made it to national attention with that April Fools’ joke, thanks to the power of network television. For you and me, we put Saran Wrap under the toilet seat or sugar in the salt shaker for April Fool’s Day. But how did it start?

The History Channel speculates it dates back to 1582 in France when the people were making the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar which saw start of the new year moved to January 1 instead of the last week of March through April 1. They became the butt of jokes and hoaxes. They list other possible origins as well.

What’s your best joke or prank?

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