History of Football

Lane Tech High School vs. Austin High School Football Game, 1955

2010-08-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

This is very cool...I found a photos of my Uncle Russ playing football for Lane Tech High School on eBay. Here's the image:

And the seller's description:

Don Martorano (24) of Lane Tech, who picked up nine yards before being upended in a tangle of players. Austin's John Lullo (25) and Lane Tech's Rich Asala stay clear of the flying Martorano. Lane Tech went on to beat Austin 27-0 at Lane Stadium, October 29, 1955.

Purchase the original or high-quality prints here: Lane Tech vs. Austin High School

Find thousands of images celebration the history of Chicago at Vintage Photos of Chicago

If you're interested in Chicago history, visit History of Chicago.

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois Headed to the Rose Bowl, 1948

2010-08-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

Northwestern University students celebrating on campus after beating the University of Illinois and securing Northwestern's spot in the Rose Bowl, November 22, 1948

Both the original negative and high-quality reproduction prints are available from here: Northwestern football

Vintage University of Chicago Football Postcard

2010-08-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

At time of writing, this postcard is available for purchase here:
University of Chicago Football Chant

If you're interested in Chicago History, see our other sites, Uptown Chicago History and Chicago History.

Romantic Football Postcard with Girl and Cupid

2010-07-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

Coaching the Team

To purchase the postcard; click here

Tuck Oilette Postcard Yale Football Girl

2010-07-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Rah! Rah! Rah! Yale!

To purchase the postcard; click here

Auburn University vs Georgia Tech Vintage Football Poster

2010-07-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

Auburn University VS Georgia Institute of Technology

Get it at Vintage Football Posters

The College Girl, Yale Football Fan, 1907

2010-07-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

THE COLLEGE GIRL

Of football she talks like a sport

And rooting and cheering's her forte,

Whichever side wins

She's sure of "frat" pins,

For she's really a very good sort.

To purchase the postcard; click here

Bernhard Wall Football Girl Postcard

2010-07-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

To purchase the postcard; click here

College Girl Vinegar Valentine with a Football Theme

2010-07-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

COLLEGE GIRL

No matter what the game or team,

You're always ready to cheer and scream;

You'd be better off if you'd forget the college

And try to get some useful knowledge.

To purchase the postcard; click here

What's a vinegar valentine?

Vinegar valentines are greeting cards, or, rather, insult cards, that come in the form of an insult, decorated with a caricature and, below that, an insulting poem. Ostensibly given on Valentine's Day, the caricature and poem is about the "type" that the recipient belongs to--spinster, floozy, dude, scholar, etc.

The cards are usually simply a sheet of thin, colored paper, about the size of a modern greeting card. They were later also produced in the form of postcards. They were usually sent anonymously. Postmasters sometimes confiscated these cards as unfit to be mailed.

The cards were first produced in the late Victorian era and enjoyed their greatest popularity in that period and in the first quarter of the 20th century.

1907 Brown University Football Girl Postcard

2010-06-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

To purchase the postcard; click here

The Stadium (Archbold) Syracuse University, New York

2010-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

Archbold Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Syracuse, New York. It opened in 1907 and was home to the Syracuse University Orangemen football team prior to the Carrier Dome opening in 1980. It was the third concrete football stadium built in the country.

The stadium was named for John D. Archbold, who donated $600,000 for the project. He was also responsible for funding towards the building of Archbold Gymnasium, located just to the east overlooking the stadium.

The 800' x 475' stadium was oval-shaped, with a track (originally dirt) and a natural grass football field. The west end zone, the stadium's main entrance, was marked by a grand castle-like façade with turrets framing the gateway arch. There was originally a wooden roof over the central section of the south grandstands for the reserved seating.

In the 1950s, the building was expanded to the north and south, bringing the capacity up to 40,000. However, by the 1970s, the building's capacity was lowered to approximately 26,000 due to fire codes. This proved to be the stadium's undoing. It was closed following the 1978 season, to be razed for the building of the Carrier Dome, which, coincidentally, is approximately 230 feet shorter than the stadium. [1]

In the final game at Archbold Stadium, on November 11, 1978, the Orangemen defeated nationally-ranked Navy, 20-17.

Touchdown! Vintage 1907 Football Postcard

2010-05-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

To purchase the postcard; click here

Baltimore Stadium

2010-05-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

Baby in Booties and Football Helmet

2010-03-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

Cheer up! I'm on your side.

To purchase the postcard; click here

History of the Football Helmet

2010-02-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

A football helmet is a protective device used primarily in American football and Canadian football, the modern hard plastic version of which was created by Paul Brown. It consists of a hard plastic top with thick padding on the inside, a facemask made of one or more plastic bars, and a chinstrap. Some players add polycarbonate visors to their helmets, which are used to protect eyes from glare and impacts. Helmets are a requirement at all levels of organized football, except for non-tackle variations such as flag football. Although they are protective, players can and do still suffer head injuries such as concussion. Each position has a different type of face mask to balance protection and visibility.

One of the first instances of football headgear dates to 1896 when Lafayette College halfback George "Rose" Barclay began to use straps and earpieces to protect his ears. Many sources give credit for creation of the helmet to James Naismith. Additionally, other sources credit the invention of the football helmet to U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman Joseph M. Reeves (later to become the "Father of Carrier Aviation"), who had a protective device for his head made out of mole skin to allow him to play in the 1893 Army-Navy game. Later helmets were made of padded leather, and resembled aviators' helmets or modern day scrum caps. In professional football, at least, they were also optional. Some National Football League players, notably Hall-of-Famer Bill Hewitt, played all or most of their careers helmetless.

By the mid 1940s, helmets were finally required in the NFL. They were still made of leather, but with improved manufacturing techniques had assumed their more familiar spherical shape. By the 1950s, the introduction of polymers brought the leather helmet era to an end. The face mask was also introduced around this time, reducing the number of broken noses and teeth, but also necessitating new rules prohibiting opposing players from grabbing the face mask. The NFL player who gave the NFL the inspiration to develop penalty for grabbing the face mask was former Los Angeles Rams/ Detroit Lions defensive back Dick "Night Train" Lane. Lane would frequently tackle opposing players by the face mask, before there was a rule in place. A face mask penalty results in a 15 yard penalty. The NFL rule was recently changed prior to the 2008 season, eliminating the 5 yard unintentional face mask penalty. The Los Angeles Rams were the first NFL team to put logos on their helmets, and as of 2009 the Cleveland Browns are the only NFL team not using any form of primary logo on its helmets.

In 2002, American football equipment manufacturer Riddell released a new design of helmet called the Revolution. The newer design was released in response to a study on concussions. The design is becoming more popular in the NFL and NCAA, being used by notables such as Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, Casey Hampton, and Brady Quinn.

The helmet will sometimes be wrenched from a player's head in the jostling of a play and leave the player vulnerable to injury. Sports Illustrated for January 15, 2007, includes a couple of photos of Jeremy Shockey of the New Orleans Saints, continuing to push for extra yardage in a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, despite having lost his helmet during the play.

In 2007, Schutt Sports announced the arrival of a next generation helmet, the Schutt ION 4D. This next generation design was in response to the demand for a safer football helmet. The design includes an integrated faceguard. This new faceguard design features shock absorbing "Energy Wedges" that reduce the force of impacts to the faceguard. College Teams wearing the helmet include Air Force Academy, Penn State, and Virginia. Many of the New York Giants wear the ION 4D design including Brandon Jacobs.
Kevin Grady wearing the winged football helmet.

NFL rules state that all helmets with a headset in them must have a visible green dot on the back. A few times in 2006 the holder on the field goal attempt was told to pull up and throw or run at the last second because of a change the coaches saw on the field. This gave teams an "unfair advantage" in the eyes of the NFL. The new rules let each team know who is wearing a headset and who is hearing the plays being called.

Also, a new, more recent addition to the football helmet is a visor or eyeshield, traditionally used to protect players from eye injuries or glare. It is believed that the first player to use a protective visor in an NFL game was Mark Mullaney of the Minnesota Vikings in 1984 in order to protect a healing eye injury. Top manufacturers of visors are Nike, Oakley, and Under Armour, with Leader being to first to come out with a visor/shield for former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon. The visors started out as clear or smoked, but now come in colors ranging from blue, gold, All black, Rainbow, Silver, or Amber, though high-school and pee-wee leagues prohibit all but clear visors. This rule was made so in case a player suffered a head injury officials, trainers, and coaches could see into his eyes to see if he were conscious. The NCAA banned the use of tinted visors for the same reason. However, players with eye problems may still use clear visors.

One-bar facemasks

The one-bar facemask has been illegal in the National Football League since 2004, but a grandfather clause allows players who wore the mask prior to 2004 to continue to do so for the remainder of their careers. Free agent punter Scott Player currently wears a 1-bar facemask and will be the last unless a new rule reissuing the 1-bar facemasks is issued and passed. Since Player is approaching 40 years old and did not play at all in the 2008 season it is unlikely that the 1-bar facemask will be seen in NFL play again. Player currently plays for the UFL's Hartford Colonials—the 1-bar facemask is legal in that league.

Typically, by the mid-1980s only placekickers and punters wore the one-bar facemask, a notable exception being Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann.

While playing for the San Diego Chargers, Doug Flutie wore a one-bar facemask for just one game (October 31, 2004) in a 42–14 win against the Oakland Raiders.

The one-bar had two different variations. The standard one-bar was made from nylon or other hard plastic and was bolted to both side of the helmet just in front of the earholes. There was a "snub" version that did not extend as far out in front of the helmet as the standard.

Princeton Tigers Football Postcard, 1905

2010-02-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Hooray, hooray, hooray

Tiber, sis, boom, ah!

To purchase the postcard; click here

Fantasy Football

2010-01-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Fantasy Football is a fantasy sports game in which participants (called "owners") are arranged into a competitive league, earning “fantasy points” by using the statistics of real football players. The owners of each league draft real-life American football players, typically from either the NFL or NCAA, filling a roster containing the various offense or defensive positions on a team, such as Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, and Tight End. Depending on how well the players on an Owner’s team do in a given week, the team earns Fantasy Points to compete against the other owners in the league. If a running back rushes for a touchdown, for instance, the running back earned a pre-determined amount of points for that running back’s owner. At the end of the season, win-loss records determine league rankings or qualifications into a playoff bracket. Most leagues set aside the last weekends of the regular season for their own playoffs, which determines the league’s champion for that season.

Fantasy football has become an incredibly popular phenomenon. Just prior to the 2009 NFL season, Colin Cowherd of ESPN said "more than 27 million players play fantasy football. They spend an average of nine hours a week (during football season... playing fantasy football)."

History

The game originated in 1962 from an idea of Bob Winkenbach, then a limited partner in the Oakland Raiders, with assistance from Bill Tunnell, the Raiders' public relations man, Scotty Stirling, the beat writer from the Oakland Tribune, and George Ross, the Tribune's sports editor, as well as Philip Carmona, Winkenbach's friend. The idea emerged during a three-week road trip the Raiders took to the East Coast. Winkenbach and the others fleshed out the idea during the trip, and upon their return, formed the first fantasy football league, the GOPPPL (Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League). In 1989 Robert Barbiere and Brad Wendkos of Phoneworks teamed with west coast ad agency Wakeman & deForest to create the first public fantasy football games named "Pigskin Playoff". The games ran in major regional newspapers including the LA Times, Chicago Sun Times, and New York Newsday. Participants created their own team of NFL players and scored points based on those players actual performance. Archives of these papers contain the weekly game, results, prizes, and format. With the rise of personal computers and the Internet in the late 1990s, the participation in and popularity of fantasy football increased to the level of prominence it holds today. Most leagues are now hosted online through providers such as CBS, ESPN, NFL.com, and Yahoo!, typically at no charge, making the game extremely accessible.

Competition format

The two main types of competition formats are Head-to-head, with weekly games played against specific opponents (much like in the NFL), and Total Points, in which cumulative points during the season determine winners (or playoff teams).

League types

Leagues can consist of anywhere from 4 to as many as 20 teams. There are three major types: redraft, "keeper" leagues, and dynasty leagues. In a redraft, each owner starts with no players at the beginning of each season and drafts an entire fantasy team. Each owner in a keeper league is allowed to retain a small number of players they owned during the previous season, eliminating these players from the draft, while each owner in a dynasty league is allowed to retain as many players as desired from the previous season, with the draft encompassing only rookies and other unowned (or un-retained) players.

Draft formats

Players are drafted on a team in three main formats. One of these is the serpentine/snake draft, in which the draft order from the first round is reversed in the second round, then reversed again in every round thereafter, thus creating a snakelike progression. Another is the "standard" draft system, in which draft order is maintained throughout. The last is an auction system, in which owners bid on players using a predetermined budget. Budgets will differ depending on league settings and number of participants. An auction league allows team owners to have the ability to buy any player at any time.

Salary cap leagues

The salary cap football league is a particular type of dynasty league which adds another factor of realism similar to the NFL: the salary cap. Just like in the NFL, this means each player has an associated salary and the total spent on all the players on a team has a maximum - the "salary cap." This can have many levels of complexity, e.g. a player may be signed for multiple years, etc.

New league types

A new style of fantasy football is modeled after the popular "survivor pool" or "knock out pool" style of weekly NFL wagering that allows each pool member to pick one NFL team to win each week, but he or she can only pick that team once all year.

Similarly, survivor fantasy leagues allow owners to draft a fresh team of seven players each week, with each player only available to each owner one week per year. This added level of strategy places an emphasis on weekly NFL match ups, while at the same time diminishing the negative consequences of injuries.

Another type of league, that allows for year round fantasy football is called Simulation Football. Simulation Football uses a computer to simulate the games with simulated players, instead of relying on the NFL for its players and stats. The most basic type is a GM league, where all the player has to do is put together a team and the computer does most of the work. A much more involved type of simulation football is called a "Create-a-Player" or CAP league. In a CAP league, top players vie for the chance to be a GM and put together a team using players that are created by other people. There are different types of scoring for determining who is a "top player" but the people are charged with making their player as good as possible using the league's scoring system.

The popularity of fantasy football has filtered down into the collegiate level as well. Fantasy College Football is gaining in popularity as diehard fantasy players and college football fanatics combine two of their favorite passions into one. The most popular leagues involve the BCS only schools while other leagues incorporate all FBS schools or even just the "non-BCS" schools.

The draft

Just like in real football, each year fantasy football leagues have a draft (note: in dynasty leagues, this normally consists of NFL rookies only), in which each team drafts NFL players. These players are kept unless "dropped" (aka become free agents) or are traded. In most leagues, no player may be owned by more than one team, (although some leagues do allow for this).

There are essentially two types of drafts. In a traditional "serpentine" (aka "snake") draft, owners take turns drafting players in a "serpentine" method, i.e. the owner who picks 1st in the odd rounds picks last in the even rounds, in the interests of fairness. In an auction draft, each owner has an (imaginary) budget which he must use to purchase all his players in an auction format, ie players are nominated and bid on, and the owner who bids the highest on each player receives that player (reducing their remaining budget accordingly).

Free agents and trades

Free agents and trades are integral components to maintaining a competitive roster throughout the duration of a season. Free agents exist in fantasy leagues that do not allow multiple teams to have any one professional athlete. In these leagues, free agents are professional players that are not currently on any league members' rosters. You can add, or claim, players anytime during the season.

At the beginning of every week, after the Monday night football game, team owners can claim free agents. The waiver claims are processed later on in the week. If more than one team owner claims a player, a team's waiver wire position determines who gets the player. A team's wavier wire ranking is determined by things like team record and the number of free agents already added. The better a team's ranking, the more likely they will get the best free agents. This helps competitiveness as the season wears on. Usually there are several surprise players that are not drafted by any team and yet become some of the best fantasy players.

Some leagues have trade deadlines that are set, and others have a waiver period before free agents can be picked up. This really depends as to how the league is set up. When a trade is proposed and accepted in some leagues there can be a voting period which will allow the league to decide if the trade is acceptable or not.

Fantasy trade referees

Often within fantasy football leagues trades are made that cause controversy and are considered unfair by many other members of the league. These disputes are often settled by fantasy football trade referees. These third party sites feature experienced fantasy players who rule on trades and offer an objective third party opinion.

You may not need to use trade referees if your league uses the voting system in which the league can approve or decline the trade that has been placed. In some leagues if there is a voting period and a trade referee in place, the trade referee can overrule the league voting and this can cause controversy as well.

Team rosters

Each team is allowed a pre-determined number of players on its team, as well as a specified number at each position that can or must be used in each game (the "starters"). Owners for each team then determine each week which players will start (within the rules) and which will be "benched". Just like in real football, bench players can become starters for various reasons: due to other players' injury, poor performance, or if another player's team has a bye.

Each week, owners choose their starters for a game before a certain deadline. Whether to sit or start a player is usually based on strategic considerations including the player's past and expected performance, defensive match ups, and so on.

Starters

Each team owner must designate which players from the team roster will be starters each week - i.e. the only players who will "score" any points. The following example is similar to many common formats required for a starting lineup:

* 1 Quarterback (QB)
* 2 Running Backs (RB)
* 2 Wide Receivers (WR)
* 1 Flex (RB/WR)
* 1 Tight End (TE)
* 1 Placekicker (K)
* 1 Team Defense/Special Teams (DST)

There are of course many variants on this. Some leagues use individual defensive players (IDPs) (and in some cases a punter) instead of or in addition to a combined Team Defense/Special Teams. Some other leagues use separate Defense and Special Teams. Another variant is the "flex" position, which can be filled by a player in one of several positions. Flex positions are often limited to "WR/TE", "RB/WR", or "RB/WR/TE". Traditionally, this flex was required to be an RB, WR, or TE, however, some leagues allow any position to fill this flex slot as an "OP" (any Offensive Player). Some leagues do also have a 2 quarterback requirement for a starting lineup, yet providing another twist into the complexity of different scoring systems and lineups (Hendricks, 2007 Fantasy Football Guidebook pg 21-44).

Scoring

Players earn their team points based on their performance in their weekly games; for example, each touchdown counts as 6 points, a certain number of yards gained counts for points, and so on. In almost all cases, players earn points for passing, rushing, and receiving yards. Passing yards (sometimes touchdowns as well) typically earn about half as many points as rushing/receiving yards, since QBs normally get many more. Negative points are also usually given for turnovers, and kickers earn points for field goals and extra points (sometimes negative points for missed kicks). Bonuses can also be given for exceptionally good performances, like a QB throwing for over 300 yards, or a kicker making a long field goal. Team defenses earn points for things like sacks, turnovers, safeties, etc. Individual defensive players typically do not earn points for team-wide stats such as keeping the opponent under a certain score or yardage total, but rather for tackles or turnovers made.

A typical scoring format follows. Again, there are many variations used:

* 1 point for 25 passing yards
* 1 point for 10 rushing yards
* 1 point for 10 receiving yards
* 6 points for a touchdown
* 4 points for a passing touchdown
* -2 points for every interception thrown or fumble lost
* 1 point for each extra point made
* 3 points for each 0-39 yard field goal, 4 points for each 40-49 yard field goal, and 5 points for each 50+ yard field goal
* 2 points per turnover gained by defense
* 1 points per sack by the defense
* 2 points for a safety by defense
* 6 points for each touchdown scored by defense
* 2 points for each blocked kick[2]

An alternate scoring format is the "pure yardage" league, in which touchdowns are ignored, and each player's passing, rushing and receiving yards are totaled. Some yardage leagues also convert defensive stats into yards (ex., 50 yards for an interception, 20 yards for a sack), whether for a team's defense, or individual players. Another scoring system counts only touchdowns, touchdown passes, and field goals for points.

And one more alternative OFFENSIVE scoring system that has become very popular is called PPR or Points Per Reception. This was added to counter-balance the drastic importance of drafting running backs over the other positions. With PPR, a tight end & wide receiver have more value than they do in standard scoring leagues. It also benefits running backs who catch balls out of the backfield. So a player like Reggie Bush would be drafted much lower in a standard scoring leagues than in a points per reception league. PPR changes the draft strategy and adds variety for fantasy football players.

The equivalent to this on the DEFENSIVE side of the ball is Individual Defensive Players or IDP fantasy football. The main difference being that players typically draft anywhere from 3 to 7 individual defensive players during a draft as opposed to just one team defense. Sometimes there are required positions to fill like 2 Linebackers, 2 Defensive Backs and 2 Defensive Linemen and sometimes it's just 5 defensive players of any position you choose. There are many different ways to draft IDPs and many have found this makes the later part of the fantasy draft more exciting. For instance, instead of drafting a 5th wide receiver in the 16th round that will typically be on your bench or dropped part way through the season, you are instead drafting a "full-time" starting defensive player that can help you win your league.

Individual defensive players

Many leagues have now incorporated Individual Defensive Player (IDP) play into their scoring systems. IDP play typically has roster space for three groups of defensive players: defensive linemen (DL), linebackers (LB) and defensive backs (DB).

One possible scoring system:

* 2 points per solo tackle
* 1 point per assist
* 6 points per defensive touchdown
* 2 points per safety
* 1 point per pass defended
* 2 points per half sack
* 2 points per fumble recovered
* 2 points per forced fumble
* 2 points per interception

All individual players

There are a few dynasty leagues that follow the NFL's roster model and score all possible NFL players at all individual positions. Offensive linemen (OL) are scored by total yards and points minus sacks given up. Fullbacks are partially scored as offensive linemen because of their blocking duties. Kick and punt returners are scored by yardage and touchdowns. Punters are scored by net average and punts inside the 20 yard line.

Strategy

Many Fantasy Football players are passionate about their hobby and are always looking for ways to gain an advantage over their competition. Magazines, websites, books, and software are available that provide fantasy players with the information they need to make better decisions. Many of the most experienced Fantasy Football players subscribe to the "RB early and often" theory. This strategy places emphasis on landing 3 or 4 starting RB's. The logic behind the theory is that a superstar running back generally provides much more value over the course of a season than a replacement-level running back, especially when compared to other key positions. This coupled with the fact that most leagues start a least 2 RB means the value of having many top tier RB's outweighs having top players at QB and WR.

One secondary theory that emerged from the RB early and often theory is the idea of handcuffing star players to their backup. Handcuffing is the drafting of two players from the same team in the same position to protect the investment in the top player. For example, if one were to invest a high draft pick in a high performance, though injury prone RB, it would be wise to draft the backup to this player in the later rounds. If the star player got injured you then automatically have a new 'starter' who will often be in position to put up numbers similar to that of the starter.

A final strategy consists of drafting QB to WR combos. This is good for players like Randy Moss and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, or Sidney Rice and Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings. Any time one of the players scores, the points scored on the play in question double for your team. This is often called double-dipping. Fantasy owners should be warned though that there are some drawbacks to this theory. The first problem is if you have too many players on the same team you will have your good players on the same 'bye' weeks and will likely be unable to furnish your best team that week. Another drawback is that if you have a QB/WR combo and the QB has a bad week, it will result in both players not performing well on your roster.

During head to head league play, the Stojka Gambit is often used as a defensive tactic. The gambit consists of offsetting an opponent's best player by countering with a teammate, such as offsetting a QB by playing his go to wide receiver. Often very effective, the gambit is nonetheless a risky tactic as it can often result in lower points for the team employing the tactic. Variations of the Stojka Gambit can be used with defensive players but it primarily is used in head to head league play.

Another tactic used in head to head play is the Mulitz Counter. In leagues where Team Defenses are used the Counter involves starting players whose "real life" teams are playing against the opposing manager's team defense. This strategy is best applied by managers whose teams are underdogs as it can result in huge swings because when the offensive players used do well the opposing defense will most likely fare poorly resulting in a greater swing towards the team using the Counter.

Another situation to consider is Justice's Conundrum. In a league that determines waiver order by standing in the league, a player may consider throwing a heads-up match by not placing players in starting positions. This would result in a sure loss, and this would result in a more favorable waiver position for the next week, thus allowing someone better potential to obtain an emerging talent off of the waiver wires. This is a conundrum because it will undoubtedly cause a player to lose footing in the standings, with implications for seedings as the season ends and playoffs begin. However, as a long term strategy, this could allow access to crucial waiver wire pickups that will yield benefits once the playoffs begin and the juggernauts in the league are poised to steamroll. Essentially, it is a borderline desperation tactic, but could yield benefits and allow you the only avenue to pick up talent to eventually defeat the league's top contenders. This may be considered cheating in some leagues.

Effect on spectatorship

The explosive popularity of fantasy sports, coupled with the availability of venues showcasing numerous live football games via satellite, has had significant effects on football viewing and rooting habits among participants. Fantasy sports players watch more game telecasts, buy more tickets and spend money at stadiums at a much higher rate than general sports fans. For example, 55 percent of fantasy sports players report watching more sports on television since they started playing fantasy sports. The NFL entered into a reported five-year, $600 million deal in 2006 with Sprint that was driven at least in part because of fantasy sports, allowing subscribers to draft and monitor their teams with their cellphones.

Critics charge that rather than supporting a favorite team in any one game, some fantasy owners may instead support the players on their fantasy rosters. Players are mixed on the impact of the effects of fantasy football on fans' habits and preferences. In interviews with ESPN, retired NFL QB Jake Plummer stated, "I think it's ruined the game." And, as retired New York Giants RB Tiki Barber noted about fantasy fans, "there's an incongruity in the wants.". However, Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley plays in four fantasy football leagues himself.

For instance, a fantasy owner might have the quarterback from one team and the running back from the opposing team on his roster, and end up hoping both teams score frequently. However, he will only cheer passing scores from the first team and running scores from the second. As another example, if a team is up by many touchdowns, the "owner" of a running back on the losing team may be upset since the losing team will prefer passing instead of rushing for the score.

Often, a fantasy owner may end up watching a game he would otherwise have had no interest in, simply because he "owns" one or more of the players involved. Also, many longtime fans refuse to draft players who play for 'their [real] team's rivals, thus preventing the problem of cheering against their team. Fantasy football has had a net positive benefit in increased knowledge of players at all positions, not just the traditionally regarded "skill positions."[neutrality is disputed] For example, there is a premium placed on knowing who the starting tight end is for every team in the league, or the backup running backs, or even available place kickers who may be picked up by a playoff contender. This has helped increase the popularity of the league, and given status to fantasy football fans who take the time to learn the sport.

University of Nebraska VS Kansas Wood Sign

2009-12-12T23:06:00.000-08:00

University of Nebraska VS Kansas Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

Louisiana State University Tigers Wood Sign

2009-12-12T23:04:00.001-08:00

Louisiana State University Tigers Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

Louisiana State University, Tiger Wood Sign

2009-12-12T23:03:00.000-08:00

Louisiana State University, Tiger Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Utah vs BYU Wood Sign

2009-12-12T23:02:00.001-08:00

University of Utah VS BYU Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Michigan VS Ohio State Wood Sign

2009-12-12T23:01:00.001-08:00

University of Michigan VS Ohio State Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

UCLA VS Ohio State Wood Sign

2009-12-12T23:00:00.001-08:00

UCLA VS Ohio State Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Georgia vs Florida

2009-12-12T22:59:00.001-08:00

University of Georgia VS Florida Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Georgia VS Georgia Tech

2009-12-12T22:58:00.001-08:00

University of Georgia VS Georgia Tech Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Texas "Get Hooked" Wood Sign

2009-12-12T22:57:00.000-08:00

University of Texas "Get Hooked" Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Oregon "O" Wood Sign

2009-12-12T22:56:00.001-08:00

University of Oregon "O" Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Oregon Classic Arch Wood Sign

2009-12-12T22:55:00.001-08:00

University of Oregon Classic Arch Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Minnesota "M" Wood Sign

2009-12-12T22:54:00.001-08:00

University of Minnesota "M" Wood Sign

Buy at: Vintage Football Posters

University of Minnesota Gopher "M" Wood Sign

2009-12-12T22:53:00.001-08:00

University of Minnesota Gopher "M" Wood Sign

Buy at Football Posters

University of Illinois Logo Wood Sign

2009-12-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

University of Illinois logo wood sign.

Buy at Football Posters

Flag Football

2009-02-16T20:28:00.000-08:00

Flag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game (often called "tackle football" for contrast), but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier ("deflagging") to end a down. In most organized play, players wear a belt. These belts vary from "Triple Threat" which the entire flag belt is removed, to "Sonic Pop" which only the flag is pulled. The "Sonic Pop" flag belts have also been modified by some organizations to just a simple velcro attachment holding the flag to the belt.

Variations

Chiefly because there is no dominant sanctioning organization for the sport, the game has mutated into many variations: 9-man, 8-man, 7-man, 5-man, and 4-man on a side; with kicking and punting and without; with point-after conversions (including some with 1, 2, and 3 point tries) or without; and field sizes that vary from full CFL size, NFL size (120 yards long by 53 1/3 yards wide), to fields a third that size.

An important distinction is whether linemen are allowed to catch passes ("Eligible Linemen") or, as in the CFL / NFL, are not allowed to do so ("Ineligible Linemen"). Flag (and touch) football may also be divided into "contact" or "non-contact", depending on whether or not blocking is allowed; if allowed, blocking is usually restricted to the chest.

In Non-Contact flag football, there is no blocking, usually no linemen, and if there are linemen they can not use their hands to block an opponent. Defensive players cannot get in the way of a runner; they can only attempt to grab the flag without impeding the path of the runner. Offensive players are not allowed to hand block defensive players to prevent them from grabbing the flag.

In Contact flag football, none of the rules above apply. There are linemen blocking only around chest area, no chop blocks or blocks below the waist. Defensive players can get in the path of an offensive player to attempt to grab the flag. Offensive players can hand block defensive players attempting to grab the flag.

Organized flag football leagues follow a number of sets of rules, with variants including:

* 9-man ineligible (with contact),
* 8-man ineligible (with contact)
* 8-man eligible (with or without contact),
* 7-man eligible (with or without contact),
* 6-man eligible (with or without contact),
* 5-man eligible (with or without contact),
* 4-man eligible (with or without contact), and
* 4-man Colorado rules

Competition

The sport has a strong amateur following and several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations.

The International Flag Football Federation sponsored World Cup of Flag Football featuring teams from the United States, Mexico and several other nations.

The International Woman's Flag Football Association hosts contact flag football tournaments across the world with participants from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and several other nations. The organization also known as the IWFFA is the largest organization for women and girls in the sport of flag football. The most active tournament is held each February in Key West, Florida, called the Kelly McGillis Classic where over 30 women and girls teams participate in 8on8 contact flag football.

The United States Flag and Touch Football League (USFTL) has a number of smaller organizations spread out over the US. Located in Ohio, this league supports a number of teams from the Mid Atlantic, NorthEast, and Midwest states.

The NFL conducts their own Youth World Championship for children 12–14 years of age. Held in different nations around the world, it is five man no contact football played between ten countries. Previous NFL Flag Football World Championships have been held in Toronto, Cologne, Mexico City, Tokyo, Vancouver and Beijing. The NFL has also at times sanctioned "Air It Out" competitions aimed primarily at its fans in which tournament-winning teams were allowed to compete against retired NFL All-Pros.

In the United Kingdom, flag football competition is currently organized by the British American Football Association Community League. At a senior level as of 2010, it is played by sixteen teams divided into two regional conferences, North (Scottish), and South (England & Wales) with the top teams qualifying for playoffs at the end of the season. The league also organizes teams competing at youth, junior and cadet levels.

Text from wikipedia

Paper Football

2009-01-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

Paper football (also called FIKI Football, Finger football, Chinese football, Biren football or Flick football) refers to a table-top game, loosely based on American football, in which a sheet of paper folded into a small triangle is slid back and forth across a table top by two opponents. This game is widely practiced, generally by boys of primary and middle school age in the United States, as an informal recreation.

Paper football field

The game is normally played on table tops. The optimal table top is roughly rectangular to resemble an American football field, and has an evenly polished surface to facilitate sliding of the "ball". Players of the game frequently adapt school desks or fast food tables for impromptu games. Generally, a playing area can be made out of any flat surface where the two players are able to face one another, and where the players are roughly a normal conversational distance apart. When a surface is larger than the desirable field of play, drink containers and other artifacts can be used to mark out-of-bounds. For one-down games, the field is typically 24 inches (2 feet or 60cm) long and for 4-down games, the field is typically at least 36 inches (3 feet or 91cm) long, and as long as 60 inches (5 feet or 152cm).

Standard goal posts

The defending player must provide the Goal Posts, as most games incorporate kicking of the ball (for field goals, kickoffs, etc) by flicking the ball through the air. Standard goal posts are made by holding the thumb and forefinger of each hand at a 90 degree angle, and touching the thumbs or forefingers together to resemble a goal post. The method used should be agreed upon before play begins. Since hand sizes vary, players generally agree to hold their fingers closer or further apart so as not to unfairly disadvantage any player. Some competitors even choose to fashion goal posts from other materials to standardize the process. The body is used as a net to prevent the ball from flying too far from the play area.

Paper football construction

Due to the audience and impromptu nature of the game, a paper football is often made out of a single sheet of notebook paper, though any material from origami paper to leather has been used. The paper is either cut or folded to form a long strip, and this is in turn folded up in a diagonal fashion until the end of the strip is tucked into the last fold, securing the final paper football in its iconic triangular shape. In the absence of paper, sugar packets and matchbooks have also been used to substitute for a ball.

Game play

Many variations of the game exist, but in general paper football is played to resemble American football. The two opposing teams (usually two opposing players) sit facing each other over the play area. A coin (or, a specially-marked football) is flipped to see who kicks off to start the game. After the kickoff the teams advance the Ball by flicking it across the field. Each flick represents a drive in American football, with the goal being to score a touchdown. Games may be as simple as flicking the ball back and forth in a fashion similar to field goals, or as involved as including simulations of events from touchbacks to penalties to first downs.

Kick off

A kick off may start the game. The player holds the football under a fingertip of one hand on his end of the table and flicks (kicks) it with a finger from the other hand towards the opposing player's end of the table. The receiving team gets possession where the ball stops. If any part of the ball is overhanging the end of the table a safety has occurred. The kicking team is awarded 2 points and the receiving team kicks off to the other team from its own end of the table.

There are a couple of other ways to perform the kick off; one is by placing the ball on the edge of the table with one corner overhanging, and flicking it towards the opposing side of the table. Other players use a one-handed type of kick off: the ball is held resting in the palm, then it is tossed onto the table by hitting the fingers on the underside of the table. The method used should be agreed upon before playing.

Advancing the ball

The primary activity of the game is to slide the paper football across the football field by flicking it. The legal flick or shot or throw is any method which advances the ball through flicking or hitting, but pushing the ball is disallowed. The ball is generally flicked either with the thumb and forefinger in a manner similar to shooting marbles, or another manner comfortable to the player. Striking with objects such as pencils is more rare.

Change of possession

Shots which fail to reach the end of the table may result in a change of Possession allowing the opponent to receive possession, that is, to take his own shot from that point. Players generally alternate shots until one scores a touchdown or the paper football is knocked completely off the table. Alternatively, players may use a number of downs where players get a set number of attempts to flick the ball so that it overhangs the opponent's side, and change of possession only happens after all downs are used. The ball may travel off the edges of the table in two ways:

* Off either side, not facing a player, resulting in out of bounds and change of possession. In some games, this is considered a first down, and the player retains possession.

* Off the end facing the opposing player, resulting in a touchback, where the opposing player gains possession and may place the ball partway up the table, often setting up a field goal. This may instead also be an out of bounds, depending on house rules.

Note that oftentimes, a play area may have its bounds defined in terms of objects or marks instead of using the actual edge of a surface- all edge rules apply as though the defined space were the physical surface and the area outside that space may be considered off the table.

Scoring

A team scores points by the following plays:

Touchdown

A touchdown (TD) is generally worth 6 points, as in American football. It is scored when a player advances the ball such that it comes to rest with part of the ball extending over the edge the opponent's end of the table without falling to the ground.

In some cases, it is unclear whether or not a touchdown has been scored, since only a small portion of the ball seems to be over the edge of the table. In this case, some players will bring out the chains, by sliding an object vertically along the edge of the table. If the object disturbs the ball, the touchdown is considered successful.

Extra points

Following a touchdown, the scoring player usually kicks a field goal for 1 point (an extra point or point-after touchdown), or has the option to try for 2 points (a two-point conversion).

* Point After Touchdown: The opponent holds his fingers in the goalpost position, and the scoring player flicks the ball through the air. The attempt is successful so long as the center of the ball travels through the imaginary area over the bottom fingers and between the uprights, even of the ball bounces off the uprights (but continues through the scoring area) in the process.

* Two Point Conversion: The scoring player gets one attempt to flick the ball over the edge of the table in a manner similar to scoring a touchdown. In some games, the player starts from the middle of the table for this attempt.

Play resumes with either a fresh kickoff by the scoring player, or a change of possession, based on house rules.

Field goals

A field goal is any attempt by a player to hold the ball in one hand (which in turn generally rests on the table), and to flick the ball using the other hand such that it travels through a goalpost formed by the fingers of the opposing player. Field goals generally score 3 points. Implementation of field goals varies widely, and in some variations the game consists entirely players kicking field goals back and forth with no other plays in between. When used in this manner, field goals tend to be one point each, rather like a simple mockup of basketball with players trading free throws.

Some variations:

* If a team gains possession in the other teams territory (such as after an illegal attempt to push the ball or the ball going out of bounds), the player can attempt a field goal instead of trying for a touchdown. The defender can place the goal posts anywhere on their goal line and the kick must take place from the exact position where the football lies, or from the spot the football left the table.
* The defending player has the option to try for a field goal after a touchback. A field goal, which employs precisely the same method as described above for a Point After Touchdown, except that it scores three points rather than one. In some variations, the field goal option is only awarded after three (or another predetermined number of) touchbacks.

Safety

A safety is worth two points. This occurs when a player fumbles by accidentally knocking the ball into a scoring position off his own end of the table (scoring in favor of the opposing player), or the ball coming to rest in the scoring position during a kickoff.

Penalties

Pushing the ball, kicking the ball wildly so that it goes far from the table, or disturbing the ball during an opponent's play may all result in penalties depending on game variation. Most often, a penalty moves the ball toward the offender's side of the table, to the opponent's advantage. If players are using downs, the offending player generally loses a down (or the opponent's play is considered not to have used a down), in addition to letting the opposing player move the ball to a more advantageous position.

Game length

Games may last a set amount of time, and this has historically been dictated by the end of the class period during which the game was started, or when one participant scores a predetermined number of points. Games are generally played quite quickly.

Various methods in turn or in combination can be used to break ties:

Overtime

If a time length game is tied after the allotted time, the teams may play an additional period called overtime, which usually lasts 5 minutes. The overtime should be started with a coin flip to determine who kicks off.

Sudden Death

If the game is still tied after overtime it can go into an additional time period called sudden death. In sudden death the next score of any kind wins.

Variations

* Known to be played with matchbooks as footballs in the 1950s in the American midwest.
* Played in Connecticut in the 1950s using an American quarter. Due to increased noise from the metallic quarter scraping the table, this method is often avoided in classrooms and study halls.
* One classroom variation incorporates a study guide or test into the game. Each player in turn answers the next question on the quiz, and may only take possession of the ball with a correct answer, playing the ball from its current position on the table.

Text from Wikipedia.

Street and Smith's Sport, Army Football Novelette

2008-11-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

The cover of Street and Smith's has been reproduced as a high-quality art print. Check it out at: Army Football

Ten Story Sports Magazine, Vintage Cover as an Art Pring

2008-11-20T22:16:00.000-08:00

This image is available as a poster from: Ten Story Sports

Vintage Collier's Cover, The Waterboy, Football Print

2008-11-19T22:15:00.000-08:00

This image is available as a reproduction art print from: Collier's National Weekly, Waterboy

Scourge of the Golden Horde Vintage Football Art

2008-11-18T22:13:00.000-08:00

Scourge of the Golden Horde

A lovely vintage magazine cover as a reproduction art print; includes a "gripping pigskin novel." It is available from historic football posters.

Popular Football, Vintage Cover Art, Army Football

2008-11-17T22:10:00.000-08:00

Popular Football

This great cover art, featuring army football, is available from

historic football images.

All-American Football Magazine, 1945

2008-11-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

All-American Football Magazine

is available as a vintage art print from

historic football posters.

Click on the link for this and other WWII era football images!

Popular Football, Vintage Cover Art

2008-11-15T22:07:00.000-08:00

I had heard of Popular Mechanics, but Popular Football?

Headline Halfback

is available as a reproduction art print from: football posters.

Thrilling Football Magazine, This is the Navy

2008-11-14T22:05:00.000-08:00

Thrilling Football

I'm not sure of the original date of this magazine, but based on the pilot, maybe World War II? If anyone knows, post it in the comments! It is available as a reproduction art print from historic football images.

Annapolis Football, Vintage Poster with Ship in Background

2008-11-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

Vintage Annapolis College

The artistic quality of this one really is impressive. It is available as a reproduction art print from: historic football images.

University of Illinois vs. Michigan, 1928

2008-11-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

Illinois vs. Michigan is available as a reproduction art print from historic football posters.

It is one of the earliest football images I have come across.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin

2008-11-11T21:56:00.000-08:00

Why have the same old posters everyone else has? You can show your school spirit and have a unique conversation piece with this image, Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame, 1928, available from: historic football posters.

Louisiana State University vs. Mississippi, Vintage Poster from 1958

2008-11-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

LSU vs. Mississippi, 1958

Get this image and others like it at: historic football posters.

Tennessee vs. Alabama Football, 1937

2008-11-09T21:53:00.000-08:00

Alabama vs. Tennessee, 1937

This image is available as a reproduction art print. You can find this and other schools represented at: historic football images.

Louisiana State vs. Duke University Football

2008-11-08T21:51:00.000-08:00

LSU vs. Duke, 1958

This rare image is available from: historic football posters.

What a great Christmas gift!

Michigan State vs. Indiana Football

2008-11-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

Michigan State vs. Indiana, 1950

M.S.C. Spartans battled Indiana at Macklin Field Stadium. This reproduction art print is available from: historic football posters

Indiana vs. Purdue University, 1958 Football Program

2008-11-06T21:45:00.000-08:00

Purdue vs. Indiana, 1958
What a great image, although I'm not sure what "Men's Day" would refer to. Any ideas?

It is available as a reproduction art print from: Historic football images.

Penn State vs. Rutgers University, 1952, Male and Female Cheerleaders

2008-11-04T21:40:00.000-08:00

Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate??
Penn State vs. Rutgers, 1952
is available from here: historic football posters.

Vintage Princeton University Football Poster

2008-11-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

I do love those old football sweaters! Just like George Clooney wore in Leatherheads. This vintage print is available from here: Vintage Princeton Football

First Down Football Image by Norman Rockwell

2008-11-02T21:37:00.000-08:00

First Down
is available as a
reproduction art print.

Power of West Point, Vintage Football Poster

2008-11-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Power of West Point, a vintage cover from Exciting Football Magazine, is available as an art print from here.

Calcio Fioretino, Historic Kickball, Calcio Storico, Italy

2008-08-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

In the 16th century, the city of Florence celebrated the period between Epiphany and Lent by playing a game which today is known as "calcio storico" ("historic kickball") in the Piazza della Novere or the Piazza Santa Croce. The young aristocrats of the city would dress up in fine silk costumes and embroil themselves in a violent form of football. For example, calcio players could punch, shoulder charge, and kick opponents. Blows below the belt were allowed. The game is said to have originated as a military training exercise. In 1580, Count Giovanni de' Bardi di Vernio wrote Discorso sopra 'l giuoco del Calcio Fiorentino. This is sometimes said to be the earliest code of rules for any football game. The game was not played after January 1739 (until it was revived in May 1930).

Above: An illustration of the Calcio Fiorentino field and starting positions, from a 1688 book by Pietro di Lorenzo Bini.

Syracuse vs. U.C.L.A. Football, 1964

2008-08-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

It's Syracuse vs. U.C.L.A. all over again! Get this great Olympic-themed art print from here: Syracuse vs. UCLA.

U.C.L.A. vs Stanford University, October 1953

2008-08-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Stanford Stadium hosted a match between U.C.L.A. and Stanford on October 17, 1953. The original program for that game is available as a poster from here.

U.C.L.A. vs. Purdue, High School Band Day, 1960

2008-08-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

This vintage game program is now available as a poster from here.

Football in the Middle Ages

2008-08-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

The Middle Ages saw a huge rise in popularity of annual Shrovetide football matches throughout Europe, particularly in England. The game played in England at this time may have arrived with the Roman occupation, but there is little evidence to indicate this. Reports of a game played in Brittany, Normandy, and Picardy, known as La Soule or Choule, suggest that some of these football games could have arrived in England as a result of the Norman Conquest.

These forms of football, sometimes referred to as "mob football", would be played between neighbouring towns and villages, involving an unlimited number of players on opposing teams, who would clash in a heaving mass of people, struggling to move an item such as an inflated pig's bladder, to particular geographical points, such as their opponents' church. Shrovetide games have survived into the modern era in a number of English towns.

The first detailed description of football in England was given by William FitzStephen in about 1174–1183. He described the activities of London youths during the annual festival of Shrove Tuesday:

After lunch all the youth of the city go out into the fields to take part in a
ball game. The students of each school have their own ball; the workers from
each city craft are also carrying their balls. Older citizens, fathers, and
wealthy citizens come on horseback to watch their juniors competing, and to
relive their own youth vicariously: you can see their inner passions aroused as
they watch the action and get caught up in the fun being had by the carefree
adolescents.

Most of the very early references to the game speak simply of "ball play" or "playing at ball". This reinforces the idea that the games played at the time did not necessarily involve a ball being kicked.

In 1314, Nicholas de Farndone, Lord Mayor of the City of London issued a decree banning football in the French used by the English upper classes at the time. A translation reads: "[f]orasmuch as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large foot balls [rageries de grosses pelotes de pee] in the fields of the public from which many evils might arise which God forbid: we command and forbid on behalf of the king, on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future." This is the earliest reference to football.

The earliest mention of a ball game that involves kicking was in 1321, in Shouldham, Norfolk: "[d]uring the game at ball as he kicked the ball, a lay friend of his... ran against him and wounded himself".

In 1363, King Edward III of England issued a proclamation banning "...handball, football, or hockey; coursing and cock-fighting, or other such idle games", showing that "football" — whatever its exact form in this case — was being differentiated from games involving other parts of the body, such as handball.

King Henry IV of England also presented one of the earliest documented uses of the English word "football", in 1409, when he issued a proclamation forbidding the levying of money for "foteball".

There is also an account in Latin from the end of the 15th century of football being played at Cawston, Nottinghamshire. This is the first description of a "kicking game" and the first description of dribbling: "[t]he game at which they had met for common recreation is called by some the foot-ball game. It is one in which young men, in country sport, propel a huge ball not by throwing it into the air but by striking it and rolling it along the ground, and that not with their hands but with their feet... kicking in opposite directions" The chronicler gives the earliest reference to a football field, stating that: "[t]he boundaries have been marked and the game had started.

Other firsts in the mediæval and early modern eras:

"a football", in the sense of a ball rather than a game, was first mentioned in 1486.[6] This reference is in Dame Juliana Berners' Book of St Albans. It states: "a certain rounde instrument to play with ...it is an instrument for the foote and then it is calde in Latyn 'pila pedalis', a fotebal."

a pair of football boots was ordered by King Henry VIII of England in 1526.

women playing a form of football was in 1580, when Sir Philip Sidney described it in one of his poems: "[a] tyme there is for all, my mother often sayes, When she, with skirts tuckt very hy, with girles at football playes."

the first references to goals are in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. In 1584 and 1602 respectively, John Norden and Richard Carew referred to "goals" in Cornish hurling. Carew described how goals were made: "they pitch two bushes in the ground, some eight or ten foote asunder; and directly against them, ten or twelue [twelve] score off, other twayne in like distance, which they terme their Goales". He is also the first to describe goalkeepers and passing of the ball between players.

the first direct reference to scoring a goal is in John Day's play The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (performed circa 1600; published 1659): "I'll play a gole at camp-ball" (an extremely violent variety of football, which was popular in East Anglia). Similarly in a poem in 1613, Michael Drayton refers to "when the Ball to throw, And drive it to the Gole, in squadrons forth they goe".

California vs. U.C.L.A, The California Gridiron, October 17 1942

2008-08-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

From an original game program, 1942. This U.C.L.A and California matchup is available as a poster from here.

Washington vs. UCLA, October 18, 1941

2008-08-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

This art poster, taken from an original program, is available here.

Football in the Ancient World

2008-08-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

There are a number of references to traditional, ancient, and/or prehistoric ball games, played by indigenous peoples in many different parts of the world. For example, in 1586, men from a ship commanded by an English explorer named John Davis, went ashore to play a form of football with Inuit (Eskimo) people in Greenland. There are later accounts of an Inuit game played on ice, called Aqsaqtuk. Each match began with two teams facing each other in parallel lines, before attempting to kick the ball through each other team's line and then at a goal. In 1610, William Strachey of the Jamestown settlement, Virginia recorded a game played by Native Americans, called Pahsaheman. In Victoria, Australia, indigenous people played a game called Marn Grook ("ball game"). An 1878 book by Robert Brough-Smyth, The Aborigines of Victoria, quotes a man called Richard Thomas as saying, in about 1841, that he had witnessed Aboriginal people playing the game: "Mr Thomas describes how the foremost player will drop kick a ball made from the skin of a possum and how other players leap into the air in order to catch it." It is widely believed that Marn Grook had an influence on the development of Australian rules football (see below).

Games played in Central America with rubber balls by indigenous peoples are also well-documented as existing since before this time, but these had more similarities to basketball or volleyball, and since their influence on modern football games is minimal, most do not class them as football.

These games and others may well go far back into antiquity and may have influenced later football games. However, the main sources of modern football codes appear to lie in western Europe, especially England.

Image above: An illustration from the 1850s of Australian Aboriginal hunter gatherers. Children in the background are playing a football game, possibly Marn Grook.

Did Football Originate in China?

2008-08-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Documented evidence of what is possibly the oldest activity resembling football can be found in a Chinese military manual written during the Warring States Period in about the 476 BC–221 BC. It describes a practice known as cuju (蹴鞠, literally "kick ball"), which originally involved kicking a leather ball through a hole in a piece of silk cloth strung between two 30-foot (9.1 m) poles. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), cuju games were standardized and rules were established. Variations of this game later spread to Japan and Korea, known as kemari and chuk-guk respectively. By the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618–907), the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air-filled ball and cuju games had become professionalized, with many players making a living playing cuju. Also, two different types of goal posts emerged: One was made by setting up posts with a net between them and the other consisted of just one goal post in the middle of the field.

The Japanese version of cuju is kemari (蹴鞠), and was adopted during the Asuka period from the Chinese. This is known to have been played within the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto from about 600 AD. In kemari several people stand in a circle and kick a ball to each other, trying not to let the ball drop to the ground (much like keepie uppie). The game appears to have died out sometime before the mid-19th century. It was revived in 1903 and is now played at a number of festivals.

Possible Origin of the Name for Football

2008-08-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

While it is widely believed that the word "football" (or "foot ball") originated in reference to the action of a foot kicking a ball, there is a rival explanation, which has it that football originally referred to a variety of games in medieval Europe, which were played on foot. These games were usually played by peasants, as opposed to the horse-riding sports often played by aristocrats. While there is no conclusive evidence for this explanation, the word football has always implied a variety of games played on foot, not just those that involved kicking a ball. In some cases, the word football has even been applied to games which have specifically outlawed kicking the ball.

Northwestern University Centennial Football Poster, 1951, vs. Colorado

2008-07-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

Note the special seal on this image, celebrating Northwestern's 100 anniversary. It is available as an art print from: Northwestern vs. Colorado.

Northwestern University vs. Tulane, 1956 Football Game, High School Marching Band Day

2008-07-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Dyche Stadium hosted a match between Northwestern University and Tulane on October 6, 1956--High School Band Day! It is available as an art print from Northwestern University vs. Tulane.

University of Minnesota vs. Northwestern University, 1936 Homecoming Football Poster

2008-07-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

Love the guy's mustache! So 1930s. This image is available as a reproduction poster from University of Minnesota vs. Northwestern.

Northwestern University Welcomes Dartmouth College, 1928 Football Poster

2008-07-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

This poster for a 1928 football game between Northwestern University and Dartmouth is available as a reproduction print from Northwestern Welcomes Dartmouth

Northwestern vs. Syracuse, 1948, Dyche Football Stadium

2008-07-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

With all that ribbon floating around, it's a wonder he doesn't trip. This image is available from: Northwestern vs. Syracuse.

Northwestern University vs. Michigan State, 1960 Football Poster

2008-07-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

My Uncle Russ played for Northwestern around this time. I wonder if he remember the poster? It is available from Northwestern vs. Michigan State.

Notre Dame University vs. Northwestern University, 1930 Football Match

2008-07-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Notre Dame vs. Northwestern"> What a fierce image! It is available as an art print from: Notre Dame vs. Northwestern

Ohio State vs. Northwestern University, 1930 Football Game

2008-07-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

Look at the great art deco lettering on this thirties football poster. It's available from Ohio vs. Northwestern.

University of Wisconsin vs. Northwestern

2008-07-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

Go Wisconsin! Go Northwestern! This 1938 image of a football game at Dyche Stadium is available from Wisconsin vs. Northwestern.

University of Michigan vs. Northwestern University Football

2008-07-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Advertising poster from an October 9, 1937 football game at Dyche Stadium, Northwestern vs. University of Michigan. It is available as a high-quality art print from: Michigan vs. Northwestern.

South Shore to South Bend and Notre Dame University

2008-07-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

A vintage advertising poster for the South Shore train line to South Bend, Indiana, home of Notre Dame University. It is available as a reproduction poster from: South Shore to Notre Dame

Illinois vs Northwestern Memorial Stadium, 1947, Dad's Day

2008-07-16T01:16:00.001-07:00

This vintage poster, celebrating dad's day, is available from: University of Illinois vs. Northwestern.

TOPPS Football Tin Sign, 1956, Bubblegum Cards

2008-07-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

A reproduction of this vintage image can be found at: Topps Football.

Princeton Football Player, 1902

2008-07-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Princeton ARTIST: H.G. Laskey.
SUMMARY: Princeton football player, full-length, standing, facing left, with football; man and woman in automobile behind him.
MEDIUM: 1 print (poster) : color.
CREATED/PUBLISHED: c 1902.

Search for more historic images at All Posters! Click here.

University of Illinois vs. Northwestern University, 1927

2008-07-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

This very cool image from 1927 is available as a poster: Northwestern University vs. University of Illinois.

Indiana vs. Purdue, 1931 Football Game

2008-07-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

A vintage poster of a game between Indiana and Purdue, held in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1931. It is available as a reproduction poster from here: Indiana-Purdue.