First Down Signal

One of the top experts in early football rules history Timothy P. Brown joins us on the discussion to identify some of the early first time uses of signalling a first down. Timothy Brown's FootballArchaeology.com has a daily football factoid that he shares that are really quite interesting in a short read. They preserve football history in a very unique way and we are quite happy that Tim has agreed to join us each week to go over some of his Today's Tidbits. Click that link and you can subscribe for free to receive them yourself each evening.

Former football official F. A. Lambert, had many recorded contributions to officiationg gridiron games in his book; Football Officiating and Interpretation of the Rules from 1926. Our friend Tim Brown of FootballArchaeology.com shares the interesting ways that officials would tell the press box and the chain crew when a team would reach the line to gain.

The signal was not always the arm extended forward towards the defensive team's end of the field.

The banner photo is of Melville Mucklestone, carrying the ball in this photograph, played for the University of Washington football team from 1908-1910, and captained the 1909 team to a record of 7-0-0. The team was coached by "Gloomy" Gil Dobie (1908-1916). This photograph shows the University of Washington vs. University of Oregon game at Denny Field on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1909. Old Denny Field was located on the northwest corner of the UW campus near 45th Street. In front of 7,000 spectators, the UW Huskies won the game 20-6 over the Oregon Webfoots.Handwritten on verso: Crowd of 7000 at Denny field, Muddy field, clear and dry, Thanksgiving Day Handwritten on verso: Melville Mucklestone, Nov 27 -09 Caption information source:.

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from the following brilliant internet sites: Timothy Brown and his FootballArchaeology.com website.