4 Interesting Facts About Football You May Not Know

As the most popular sport in America, football is watched and played by people all over the country, ranging from professional leagues, to youth teams, and even families in their yards. But how much do you really know about the history of the game and how it evolved into the sport we know today? Let’s go ahead and dive into some interesting facts about football that you may not know:

1. The First Football Game Was Played in 1869

Although it is generally known that football has been around in the United States for over a century, not many people realize that the first game was actually played in the 1800’s! In November of 1869, Rutgers defeated Princeton in a game that only slightly resembled what the sport would eventually become. Each team had 25 players, the ball was round, and players were not permitted to carry it. Instead, they had to use various body parts to bat it towards the opponent’s goal. Over the following years, rule changes would gradually occur that brought the game closer to the version of football we know and love today.

2. World War II Resulted in Position Specialization

Before World War II, football was played with one team that operated as both the offense and the defense, with no substitutions allowed. During the war, many of the men who would have played football were drafted into the war, which meant frequent roster changes. As a result, the rules were changed to allow substitutions, which became immediately popular with players and coaches. Even after the war ended, substitutions remained common and evolved into the offensive and defensive player groups we see today, as well as the addition of special teams.

3. Why They Are Called “Quarterbacks”

Even very casual football fans know that the quarterback is among the most important players on any football team. But do you know why they are called quarterbacks? While many positions in football are named for obvious reasons (offensive lineman, kicker, etc.), that is not the case for the quarterback position. The name actually originated from where the player stands during a basic formation. The fullback would stand the furthest behind the offensive line (“fully back”), then the running backs were halfway back from the line and referred to as halfbacks. Finally, the quarterback stood between the halfbacks and the offensive line, therefore “a quarter of the way back” or “quarterback.”

4. The Goal Post Was Once on the Goal Line

In today’s football, the field goal posts sit at the back of the end zone, but this was not always the case. The goal post was originally located on the goal line itself, which made field goals easier, but also presented a significant safety issue. Players sometimes ran into the posts when trying to catch touchdowns, and, aside from the safety concerns, the goal post was disruptive to play. As a result, the goal post was eventually moved to the back of the end zone where it still stands today.

Now that you know some of these interesting facts about football, you are ready to impress with your knowledge about the history of the game. And, of course, there are always opportunities to get your kids involved in football and other sports by checking out the upcoming events here at Rocky Top Sports World!