Football Daily

Born July 26, 1920, in Elmira, New York, was Bob Waterfield Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined QB of the Rams franchise both in Cleveland and Los Angeles. He was important enough to the Rams franchise that his number 7 jersey was retired by the organization. The former UCLA Bruin's signal caller had his college career briefly interrupted when the U.S. Army called him into service during WWII. His football prowess was legendary and so was his off field life as he married actress Jane Russell just before serving in the Army and playing for Fort Bennings 176th Infantry football team. Mr. Waterfield returned to the Bruins after this service in the war in an honorable discharge due to a knee injury and played in the 1944 season for UCLA. He was drafted as the 42nd pick in the 1945 NFL draft by the Cleveland Rams, and as a rookie won the starting job, led the team to a 9-1 record and the NFL Championship in an exciting 15-14 victory over the Washington Redskins!

Beneath the roar of the stadium, the green rectangle lies like a canvas, ready to be etched with stories of triumph and heartbreak. This isn't just a field; it's a battlefield of muddy grit, laser-focused strategy, and audacious athleticism. It's where dynasties are forged and empires crumble, all within the white lines of the American football field.

But the field we know today whispers tales of its evolution. From muddy rugby battles to the gridiron of the future, its transformation mirrors the game's own journey. We'll rewind, traveling back to those dusty beginnings, uncovering the forgotten pioneers who shaped the field from a chaotic brawl into the strategic masterpiece it is today.

Imagine Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football," meticulously drawing lines on a cow pasture, planting the seeds of order amidst the mayhem. We'll meet Amos Alonzo Stagg, who revolutionized the game with the forward pass, forever changing the landscape of strategy. We'll witness the birth of iconic formations like the T and the Single Wing, each a testament to the game's ever-evolving tactics.

This isn't just a stroll down memory lane; it's a deep dive into the history that gave birth to the gridiron we know and love. We'll explore the impact of technology, from leather helmets to instant replay, and how it reshaped the way the game is played. We'll hear the echoes of legendary rivalries, like the epic clashes between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, their battles etching themselves onto the very fabric of the field.

So buckle up, football fans. We're embarking on a journey through the hallowed grounds of American football history.

Fun facts about how the size of the football field has changed in size, shape, and dimensions.

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What are the different lines on a football field and what do they do?

James Gilbert has put together an impressive research study on the evolution of the American football field over the years of rules revisions and modifications since 1876, complete with graphics. Enjoy this Substack post that he put out recently.

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Timothy Brown gives a great look back at some of the pitfalls of ingredients used to mark lines on the field and their relation to player comfort.

The Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex will be home turf for the UH Rainbow Warriors’ games in 2021. But this isn’t the first move for the team, or the last.

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FootballArchaeology.com post on James L. Gilbert's fantastic work of identifying revision history graphically of the American College football field over the years.