At the turn of the 20th century, collegiate football could best be described as ruthless, chaotic, and hazardous. Injuries were common, many times serious, and, in a few cases, deadly.
President Theodore Roosevelt is credited with highlighting a serious review of the fledgling sport, resulting in reforms such as allowing the forward pass, increasing the distance for a first down from 5 yards to 10, and establishing a neutral zone dividing one team’s offense from the other’s defense. Injuries declined and interest in the sport rose as measured by participation, attendance, and competition.
Recommended Stories
Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account
Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.