Football History

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Before roaring crowds and million-dollar contracts, American football was a nascent sport struggling to define itself. Enter Walter Camp. Often hailed as the "Father of American Football," Camp's influence transcended mere coaching. He was a strategist, an innovator, and a visionary who molded a chaotic game into the gridiron giant we know today. This article delves into the life and legacy of Walter Camp, exploring his groundbreaking contributions that shaped the sport we love – American football.

Born April 7, 1859 in New Britain, Connecticut—Walter Camp suggested the innovations of the line of scrimmage, a series of downs, and the creation of the player positions of snapper and quarterback to handle the transitions of scrimmage. These revisions set American football on a course to become a sport all its own and separate it from the already established games of soccer and rugby. Camp also was an innovative coach who spearheaded some of the most dominant college football teams ever.

Walter Camp was the Yale Bulldogs coach from 1888-1892 and the Stanford Indian coach from 1892, 1894-1895. Camp's 1888 Eli team's average margin of victory was 54-0, as Yale went 13-0. It wasn't a fluke either, as Camp and the Bulldogs repeated the feat in 1888-1892. They had a 68-2 record, posting three un-scored upon, undefeated teams in his five years. When not coaching, Camp officiated games and even started the Walter Camp All-American awards at the end of the season. Walter continued attending the rules meeting until 1925, when he died at a rules convention.

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Welcome to NFL Trivia! In today's 14-second challenge, we test your gridiron knowledge. Stay tuned to see if you can answer our question of the day and prove you're a true football aficionado.

Let the countdown begin as you start thinking football!

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Bennie Oosterbaan's name is synonymous with excellence at the University of Michigan. Not only was he a legendary player, but he also went on to coach the Wolverines to glory. To understand Oosterbaan's impact, we must explore both facets of his football career.

On the field, Oosterbaan was a force to be reckoned with. Ultimately, he led the Big Ten in scoring in 1925, showcasing his offensive prowess. He earned three All-American selections and established himself as a critical contributor to Michigan's success, playing alongside another legend, quarterback Benny Friedman. Oosterbaan's athleticism was wider than football. He was a three-time letterman in basketball, leading the Big Ten in scoring in 1928, and a talented baseball player, leading the conference in batting average the same year. This versatility solidified his reputation as one of the most gifted athletes in college sports history.

After graduation, Oosterbaan chose to stay at Michigan, not as a player, but as a coach. He began his journey as an assistant, learning the ropes under the legendary Fritz Crisler. Oosterbaan's dedication and strategic mind were evident. In 1948, he was tasked with succeeding Crisler, who had just led Michigan to an undefeated season and a national championship.

Oosterbaan's debut as head coach was nothing short of spectacular. He led the 1948 team, known as the "Goofus Galore" squad, to another undefeated season and a national championship. He became the only coach in NCAA history to achieve this feat in his first year. He built a successful coaching career, winning three Big Ten titles and finishing in the top 20 in the polls most years.

However, Oosterbaan was known for more than wins and losses. He emphasized discipline, sportsmanship, and character development in his players. His quiet leadership style, emphasizing "poise" over yelling and screaming, earned him the respect and loyalty of his teams. He believed in his players and empowered them to excel on and off the field.

Bennie Oosterbaan's legacy extends far beyond wins and championships. He is a symbol of dedication, athletic prowess, and exceptional leadership. He was a role model for generations of players and coaches, proving that success can be achieved through hard work, humility, and a genuine love for the game. His name will forever be etched in the annals of Michigan football history as a true legend.

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1. New York Yankees (1926-1929):

-Played in the first American Football League (1926) and then the National Football League (1927-1929).

-Founded by Red Grange and C.C. Pyle.

-Featured the legendary Red Grange, helping popularize the sport.

-Played their home games at Yankee Stadium.

-Folded after the 1929 season due to financial struggles.

2. New York Yankees (1936)

-Part of the second American Football League

-Best player was HB Ken Strong

-1937 Yankees team was plagued by player defections to the NFL

-Two homefields Yankee Stadium and Triborough Stadium

[b]3. New York Yankees (1940)

- A franchise in the third American Football League

-In 1941, after a new ownership, the franchise became the New York Americans

[b]4. New York Yankees (1946-1949):

-Played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

-Reached the championship game twice but lost both times to the Cleveland Browns.

-Briefly merged with the Brooklyn Dodgers football team in 1949.

-Disbanded when the AAFC merged with the NFL, with their players divided between the New York Giants and the New York Bulldogs.

It's important to note these teams are not affiliated with the famous New York Yankees baseball team. They simply adopted the same name for their own brand recognition.

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Born February 18, 1895, in Laurium, Michigan, the legendary University of Notre Dame fullback George Gipp was born.

Records show that Gipp rushed for 2,341 yards in four varsity years. This was a school record that lasted until 1978. He also completed 93 passes for 1,769 yards, punted, and returned kicks. He scored 156 points, counting touchdowns, extra points, and field goals. It was no wonder that with a talent like George Gipp, legendary Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne would remember Gipp's last words to him as Gipp lay in a hospital bed dying from a battle with pneumonia.

Gipp had said. "Someday, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are going bad, and breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go on in there with all they've got and win just one for The Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock, but I'll know about it and be happy." Knute used those words eight years after Gipp died in a 1928 game against the Army. The Irish were down by six in the halftime locker room, but Rockne's plea from the dear departed Gipp roused the Irish into a 12-6 comeback victory that may never be forgotten.

The National Football Foundation selected George Gipp for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

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February 20 is the anniversary of an important moment in football history.

According to the University of Georgia web post, it was on that day in 1892 in Atlanta, Georgia, that the University of Georgia Bulldogs played its second game ever in a 10-0 loss against the Auburn Tigers. The game would be the first in what is now known as 'The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry,' with 128 games between the schools entering the 2024 season. It was the first game of what has become the South's oldest college football rivalry, and many of the sport's historians consider February 20, 1892, to be the birth date of college football in the South and an early nod to SEC football.
Though the two teams did not square off in 1893, it has been a regular matchup since 1894.
Georgia leads the series is 64-56-8.

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The old saying goes that you can't teach an old dog a new trick. That may be true, but what if the dog is of the Frankfurter breed? Can we call them something different? Who named it the term hot dog anyway?

Most of us have eaten, purchased, or seen hot dogs sold at a football game at one point or more in our lives. I know the old Chevy commercials would like to make us believe that baseball is the sport associated with apple pie and hot dogs; the marketing department at the General Motors division may be surprised by what sports connection history holds for the hot dog.

No one knows precisely who named the hot dog, but one story in football history should interest us. It says that famous New York Journal cartoonist Tad Dorgan attended a gridiron contest at the Polo Grounds one fall afternoon in the early 1920s. While there, he observed a food vendor, Harry Stevens, selling the "hot dachshund sausages" during a game at the New York stadium and shouting, "Get your red-hot dachshund sausages!"

When Dorgan later tried to create the story in the newspaper, he found that, like most of us, he had no idea how to spell the word dachshund, so knowing the loosely connected English translation, he expressed it in print as, "Get your red-hot dogs!"

Some experts say this was an urban legend as the print of Dorgan's story or cartoon has never surfaced or been located. Other leads say that Americans transcribed the dachshund naturally and publicly into the work hot dog from the dachshund. Still, for a story on football history, the first one is much more fun!
Credits

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from the following brilliant internet sites: Legendary storyteller Paul Harvey for the inspiration, Hot-Dog.org, and Wikipedia
The banner photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of a vendor standing next to his Tellas Busy Bee cart, advertising 'Red Hot Frankfurters and Ice Cold Lemonade' traffic a blur in the background.Citation/Reference: circa April 8, 1936. Contributed by Berenice Abbott, taken by an unknown.

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February 15, 1929 - A new sporting goods company is founded. The Riddell Company was established by John T. Riddell, a high school football coach and Athletic Director who started by making better, safer football cleats in 1922. Not long after, John went all in and became a pioneer in athletic safety equipment.

Riddell is quoted on the website: “When we started, there was no game history. In wet weather, players have a foot problem. Leather cleats nailed to the bottom of a shoe just won’t cut it. And if the local cobbler is too busy to fix them, it’s “Sorry Boys.” This necessity prompted Coach Riddell into action and eventually led to the formation of the company that bears his name.

Today, Riddell equipment is found on almost every gridiron field; helmets, shoulder pads, and accessories are designed to keep players safe.

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February 19, 1917, Illinois Head Coach Bob Zuppke released his new concept of football helmet innovation. These new-fangled head protectors were called Zuppke Helmets, or ZH for short.

The Helmets are manufactured using interior padding of suspended leather straps and ear hole cutouts.

The ZH's revolutionary design cradled the skull within the helmet, replacing the former foam shell. Fabric straps crisscrossed the interior, absorbing and distributing impact more effectively while allowing for improved ventilation. The suspension innovation acted as a shock absorber to lessen the blow of effects. Companies like Rawlings and Spalding manufactured this breakthrough invention. It was famously worn by Zuppke's star player Red Grange and others.

Though suspension straps are no longer used in modern football helmets, Zuppke's design has stood as a standard application for almost six decades.

The concept is still an integral part of some construction hard hats and other safety headgear, leading it to stand the test of time.