Walter Camp

We get quite the education on the Father of American Football, Walter Camp by Roger R. Tamte who wrote a very in depth book on Camp and Roger comes into the Pigpen to share his wealth of knowledge!

In this bonus edition of the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch we are bringing recognition to perhaps the most important man in American Football History, Walter Camp, whom many in the last 100 years or so have called the Father of American Football. There is some controversy and inconsistency somewhat as to what day Camp was born as we will talk about in a moment but as stated earlier we are declaring this as Walter Camp Weekend just the same on Pigskin Dispatch. Helping us in this study of Camp is an expert and the author of an excellent book on the man titled Walter Camp and the Creation of American Football authored by Roger R. Tamte a scholar of early American football who has studied Camp for many years. Roger Tamte, Welcome to the Pigpen!

For starters in the podcast we learned a bit about Roger and his background as a retired patent attorney who has always had a deep passion for football history. We then  talk about the controversy on when exactly Walter Camp was born April 7 versus April 17, 1859 as different sources call his birthdate differently. Roger dives  deep into clarifying what Walter Camp was fully responsible for such as down and distance and other items that we may give him the credit but that may have been in place prior to Camp such as scrimmage.

Roger gives insight about the facts that Camp had an important role besides inventing key parts of American football. He was a leader and took responsibility for many administrative aspects of the game. He really was the sole individual continuously involved in development of the game through the early years, from 1876 on until at least the mid-1880s. He responded publicly to college officers criticizing the game and the increased role of athletics in colleges. He wrote books teaching football. He wrote informational newspaper articles preceding and after games. He developed an annual guide (in about 1883 and continued to be involved in it as editor and writer the rest of his life) containing the game’s official rules, commenting on rule changes, and reporting and commenting on various issues and events involving American football. Tamte credits Camp with  the creation of the All America team and named members to such a team with few years missed until he died. There is some controversy about whether he was the creator, but Roger believes it is true. 

Join us in this interesting interview with the man that wrote the book on Camp and make sure to buy yourself a copy of it, because Roger really did his research and homework on it! Walter Camp and the Creation of American Football authored by Roger R. Tamte