1884-1894 - Mass Momentum Plays And Brutality Bring Football to Edge of Extinction -Football History

Summary

This video script delves into the formative years of American football, highlighting early plays like the V trick and the Flying Wedge, which emerged between 1884 and 1894. It discusses the evolution of the game, influenced by rule changes that distinguished it from rugby, such as the introduction of possession and the concept of downs. The script also touches on the brutality of these early plays, which led to significant injuries and public outcry, resulting in rule amendments aimed at reducing violence. The narrative captures the struggle to preserve and reform the sport amidst growing concerns over player safety and the game's future.

Takeaways

• 🏈 The script discusses the evolution of early football plays, focusing on the period from 1884 to 1894, which included the introduction of mass momentum plays like the V trick, Turtleback, and the Flying Wedge.
• 📚 It highlights the rule changes of American football in the 1890s to differentiate it from rugby, such as the establishment of possession and the concept of downs, as well as allowing tackling below the waist and blocking in front of the ball carrier.
• 🔍 The V trick, created by Princeton quarterback Richard Hodge in 1884, was a significant early play that utilized a V-shaped formation to gain yardage and became widely adopted by other teams.
• 🎖️ The Flying Wedge, introduced by Harvard in 1892, was a spectacular and dangerous mass momentum play that involved players running at full speed into a defense, causing public concern over the violence in the game.
• 👨‍🏫 The script credits Lauren F. DeLand, a chess player and war strategy enthusiast, as the inventor of the Flying Wedge, demonstrating the influence of military tactics on early football strategies.
• 📉 The public and some educational institutions, like Harvard's President Charles Elliot, began to criticize the brutality of football, leading to a crisis in the sport's reputation and the temporary cessation of the Harvard-Yale rivalry.
• ⚖️ In response to the violence and controversy, the Intercollegiate Football Association was replaced by the Intercollegiate Rules Committee, which made significant rule changes to reduce the violence in the game.
• 🚫 The 1893 rule changes included the outlawing of momentum mass plays, reducing the game length, prohibiting players from laying hands on opponents unless they had the ball, and introducing a modern kickoff rule.
• 👮‍♂️ An additional official, the linesman, was added to improve the enforcement of rules and reduce the occurrence of slugging and piling up on players.
• 📉 The script mentions the Hampton Park bloodbath, an 1894 game between Yale and Harvard that resulted in severe injuries and further highlighted the need for rule changes to protect players.
• 📚 Walter Camp, known as the father of American football, conducted a survey to support the continuation of the sport amidst the controversy, illustrating the efforts to save football from being abolished.

Q & A

What were some of the earliest football plays mentioned in the script?

The earliest football plays mentioned in the script include the V trick, the Princeton V, the Turtleback, and the Flying Wedge.

How did the establishment of possession and the system of downs differentiate American football from rugby in the 1890s?

The establishment of possession and the system of downs, where teams had four downs to gain five yards, made American football distinct from rugby, which did not have these concepts at the time.

What rule changes in 1890 made American football more distinctly American?

In 1890, two rule changes made American football more distinctly American: allowing tackling below the waist, which is not allowed in rugby, and allowing blocking in front of a ball carrier, which was originally called interference.

What was the significance of the V trick in the evolution of football plays?

The V trick, introduced in 1884, was the original wedge play and served as the forerunner of all mass plays that would come later, changing the offensive system for football.

How did the Flying Wedge play differ from the V trick and why was it significant?

The Flying Wedge play differed from the V trick in that it involved two groups of players running and converging on the ball carrier, creating tremendous momentum. It was significant because it was considered the most spectacular play in the history of football and led to further rule changes due to its dangerous nature.

Who introduced the Flying Wedge play and what was its origin?

The Flying Wedge play was introduced by Lauren F. DeLand, who was known for being a good chess player and had a background in studying the art and strategy of war.

What were the concerns about the mass momentum plays in the early days of football?

The concerns about mass momentum plays included their violent and dangerous nature, which often led to serious injuries, and the fact that they were seen as boring by the spectators due to the lack of open field play and constant collisions.

What rule changes occurred at the end of the 1893 season to address the issues with football?

The rule changes at the end of the 1893 season included outlawing momentum mass plays, reducing the game length from 90 to 70 minutes, prohibiting players from laying their hands on an opponent unless they had the ball, specifying that the ball must travel 10 yards on a kickoff, adding a linesman as a third official, and prohibiting piling up on the runner after he has cried down.

What was the impact of the 1894 game between Yale and Harvard on the perception of football?

The 1894 game between Yale and Harvard, known as the Hampton Park bloodbath, resulted in eight players being injured and brought significant public attention to the brutality of football, leading to calls for the sport to be abolished.

What was Walter Camp's role in the controversy surrounding football in the 1890s?

Walter Camp, known as the father of American football, issued a book called 'Football Facts and Figures' to survey football players about the game and its brutality, effectively acting as a propaganda piece to support the continuation of football amidst calls for its abolition.