Chads Page
The History of Football
The Birth of American Football
FOOTBALL, a game played by two opposing teams
with a ball of various types, usually spherical or ellipsoidal in shape.
The object of the game is to score points by carrying the ball across the
opponent's goal line, or by kicking the ball through the opponent's goal.
Most modern versions of football originated in England. At the beginning
of the 19th century, several versions of the game—all permitting players
to kick the ball but not carry it—were being played at various English
schools. The modification of the game that permits carrying the ball was
first introduced at Rugby School in 1823.Thereafter numerous football
clubs sprang up in England, some playing the kicking game,others the
ball-carrying game. The kicking game eventually became known as association
football, and later soccer, and the ball-carrying game became known as
rugby football.
In 1820 students at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University)
participated in a soccerlike game, called ballown, in which they advanced
the ball by punching it with their fists. Eastern colleges began competing
in the game, which resembled soccer more than modern American football. In
1876 representatives of Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton universities
met at Springfield, Massachusetts,and formed a new set of football rules
and the Intercollegiate Football Association. The resulting combination of
rugby and soccer became popular, and as time went on, the new game of
American football evolved. The first professional
football game in the United States was played in 1892.
(Source:Encarta)
The Birth of the National Football
League
On November 13,1892,Professional Football was born when William
(Pudge)Heffelfinger,a former guard at Yale University,was paid $500.00...
plus $25.00 expenses...to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association vs
the Pittsburg Athletic club.Pudge returned a 25 yard fumble to score
the only points in the game and gave the A.A.A. a 4-0 victory over
Pittsburg.
For the next 28 years,professional football was unorganized.There were no
uniform rules or game schedules and no control over bidding for top college
players.
On Agust 20,1920,In Canton,Ohio...Ralph Hay(owner)& Jim Thorpe of the
Canton Bulldogs met with Frank Neid & Art Ranney of the Akron Pros,Carl
Storck of the Dayton Triangles and Jimmy O'Donnel & Stanley Cofall of the
Cleveland Indians.These seven men realized that football had a place in
American Sports and that it needed to be organized.They decided to form a
league and call it the American Professional Football
Conference.
On September 17,1920 another more formal meeting was held in Hay's Canton
automobile dealership showroom.In addition to Akron,Canton,Cleveland and
Dayton,representatives from the Decatur(illinois)Staleys,the Hammond
(Indiana)Pros,the Massillon(Ohio)Tigers,the Muncie(Indiana)Flyers,the
Racine(Illinois)Cardinals,the Rochester(NewYork)Jeffersons and the Rock
Island(Illinois)Independants.The owners exchanged ideas,set up rules &
regulations,elected officials and changed the leagues name to the
American Professional Football Association.
*Jim Thorpe,the most famous football player of the era was elected
president of the league.
The Buffalo All-Americans,Chicago Tigers,Columbus(Ohio)Panhandlers and
Detroit Heralds soon joined the league.
On September 26,1920,the first game featuring a
A.P.F.A.was played at Douglas Park.The Rock Island Independants ran
over the St.Paul Ideals 48-0.
On October 3,1920, twoA.P.F.A. teams went
head-to-head for the first time at Daytons Triangle Field. Daytons Lou
Partlow broke a third quarter scoreless tie with a 25 yard rushing
touchdown-considered to be the first official
N.F.L. touchdown- and Dayton went on to win 14-0.
Later that day,the Rock island Idependants tromped the Muncie Flyers 48-0
in what would be the last game that Muncie would play.*After being so
thoroughly outplayed by Rock Island,George Halas cancelled his Staley's game
against Muncie scheduled for the following week.hearing this,the Muncie
financial backers pulled out and the team folded.
The 1920 season ended with the undefeted Akron Pros emerging as the A.P.F.A.CHAMPIONS with 8-0-3 record.
On June 24,1922,at a meeting in Canton,Ohio,the A.P.F.A.
changed it's name to the National Football League
.Membership grew to 18 teams and the PACKERS became the first
publicly owned corporation.*The N.F.L. was here
to stay.
| Source |
| 75 years:
|
| The history of the NFL
|
| Turner Publishing,Inc
|
In 1933,the NFL developed the 'play-off' system.The teams
were divided into two divisions. The Eastern Division
& the Western Division.The team with
the 'best record' from each division competed for the title of 'NFL
CHAMPION'.
In 1966, The NFL merged with the American Football League (AFL).
The NFL was renamed National football Conference (NFC) and the AFL was
renamed American Football Conference (AFC).At this time,the CHAMPIONSHIP
game became known as the SUPERBOWL.The Winner from each
conference competed for the title of SUPERBOWL
CHAMPION.
*For a complete record of the
CHAMPIONSHIP winners and losers,visit
Chris Gray's
Championship History page.
*For a complete and extensive
look at the Superbowl winners & losers,superbowl sites,attendance numbers
and much more,visit
Chris Grays's
Superbowl History page.
source:Chris Gray's NFL history pages
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