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The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football

Norman Butler

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In the early 1900s, football was a brutal and dangerous game. Players routinely suffered serious injuries, and even death was not uncommon. President Theodore Roosevelt, a former football player himself, was appalled by the violence of the game. He threatened to ban football if the rules were not changed to make it safer.

The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football

by John J. Miller

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	944 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	229 pages

The result was the creation of the forward pass, which revolutionized the game and made it the sport we know today. The forward pass opened up the field and made the game more exciting and less dangerous. It also led to the development of new strategies and formations, and it helped to make football the most popular sport in America.

The Early Days of Football

Football has its roots in the ancient game of rugby. Rugby was brought to the United States by British immigrants in the 1800s. The first American football game was played in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers universities. The game was a brutal affair, and it quickly became clear that changes needed to be made to make it safer.

In 1873, the Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA) was formed to standardize the rules of the game. The IFA introduced a number of changes, including the legalization of the forward pass. However, the forward pass was not widely used at first. Most teams preferred to run the ball, and the game remained a dangerous one.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Forward Pass

President Theodore Roosevelt was a lifelong football fan. He had played the game at Harvard University, and he continued to follow the sport after he became president. Roosevelt was appalled by the violence of football, and he believed that the game needed to be changed to make it safer.

In 1905, Roosevelt invited representatives from the IFA to the White House. He told them that he would ban football if the rules were not changed to make the game safer. The IFA representatives agreed to Roosevelt's demands, and they introduced a number of new rules, including the legalization of the forward pass.

The Impact of the Forward Pass

The legalization of the forward pass had a profound impact on the game of football. It opened up the field and made the game more exciting and less dangerous. It also led to the development of new strategies and formations, and it helped to make football the most popular sport in America.

The forward pass is one of the most important plays in football. It allows teams to move the ball down the field quickly and efficiently. It also makes the game more exciting for fans. The forward pass is a testament to the vision of Theodore Roosevelt. He saw the potential of the game, and he made the changes necessary to make it the great sport that it is today.

The Big Scrum is a fascinating story about how one man's vision changed the course of a sport. Theodore Roosevelt's decision to legalize the forward pass helped to make football the most popular sport in America. It is a game that is enjoyed by millions of people around the world, and it is a testament to the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt.

President Theodore Roosevelt Meeting With Representatives From The Intercollegiate Football Association At The White House In 1905 The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football