One of America’s favorite pastimes, college football, became a very controversial sport in the early 1900’s and was being considered to be too dangerous to be played. College football was in serious talk of being discontinued and faced much criticism over player safety. A big supporter of college football (especially Harvard), Theodore Roosevelt wanted football to continue being played at Harvard. Roosevelt went behind the scenes to bring reform to the sport and ensure its continuation. Theodore Roosevelt is considered as a savior of college football and annually the NCAA gives the “Theodore Roosevelt Award” to a collegiate athlete and a distinguished citizen in the community. Former winners include Dwight D. Eisenhower, Arnold Palmer, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Cosby.
Many new rules were established to make football safer and different from rugby. In 1906, the first forward pass was thrown and was a twenty yard toss. Although this revolutionary concept was used, there were still many critics who thought the forward pass wasn’t manly enough. By 1912, the six-point touchdown was created, instead of five. Next, the field goal was decreased to three points instead of two, which is still true today. President Roosevelt’s need for reform of college football impacted the game dramatically making it the game we know today.
The impact of Roosevelt ’s change on college football still exists today and will be present of years to come. The former “grudge match” between the teams, where punching and kicking was accepted, no longer seemed to exist in the sport. With the reforms, new found popularity came too as new stadiums were being built and the sport gained nationwide acceptance. If it were not for Roosevelt ’s love of the game, it is possible that college and professional football might cease to exist.
Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/how-theodore-roosevelt-changed-football_593503.html/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Award_(NCAA)
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Will, this truly is a great story. I like how you talked about Teddy Roosevelt's view of the "carnage" that was taking place on these football fields.
ReplyDeleteWill, i thought this article was very well written. I had no idea that Teddy Roosevelt had anything to do with college football. I am now truly grateful to him for saving the game of football that I know and love. Keep up the good work :)
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