Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation

[Tailback U]

http://www.amazon.com/Opening-Kicko...407336128&sr=8-1&keywords=the+opening+kickoff

[/quote]
By the face of The Big Ten Network, the story of the creation of the college football nation from 1890 to 1915, the intense media coverage, the academic fraud, recruiting scandals, shocking violence, new sports superstars, and the manifest destiny of football out of the Ivy League and to the Great Midwest[/quote]
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Just bought this off Amazon for around $17. Author was on Olbermann last night talking about how violent football was in the early 1900's, noting that 18 players actually died in 1905. He talked about how it wasn't until the forward pass was petitioned for and implemented did the number of injuries and deaths decrease. Interesting because I always see guys on here blaming today's equipment for the violence in today's game. Hopefully the book sheds more light onto the situation and the birth of [college] football and into the pro's.

Anyone else picking this up or already reading it?

 

[TimsGiants]

Looks like a good read..probably pick it up I love football books.

 

[Senser81]

He talked about how it wasn't until the forward pass was petitioned for and implemented did the number of injuries and deaths decrease. Interesting because I always see guys on here blaming today's equipment for the violence in today's game.

What on earth are you talking about? What is the connection between the number of deaths in 1905 and the violence in today's game?

 

[Tailback U]

What on earth are you talking about? What is the connection between the number of deaths in 1905 and the violence in today's game?

A common argument is that today's equipment has led to a more violent and dangerous game than ever before. The author of this book talks about how in 1905 eighteen players died, some (not sure how many) on the field during play. In 1905 they didn't have equipment like they do now but guys were literally dying on the field, so the argument that the NFL needs to lose the helmets and make it more like rugby to save players health wouldn't really work.

 

[Senser81]

A common argument is that today's equipment has led to a more violent and dangerous game than ever before. The author of this book talks about how in 1905 eighteen players died, some (not sure how many) on the field during play. In 1905 they didn't have equipment like they do now but guys were literally dying on the field, so the argument that the NFL needs to lose the helmets and make it more like rugby to save players health wouldn't really work.

The game itself and health care in general is much different today than it was in 1905. I would guess that life itself was more dangerous in 1905, considering the number of diseases, the lack of transportation, and the low quality of health care.

 

[NAHSTE]

The game itself and health care in general is much different today than it was in 1905. I would guess that life itself was more dangerous in 1905, considering the number of diseases, the lack of transportation, and the low quality of health care.

They also only invented the forward pass as a direct result of the on-field deaths. The game doesn't resemble today's game at all. Even the ball itself was vastly different.

 

[Tailback U]

The game itself and health care in general is much different today than it was in 1905. I would guess that life itself was more dangerous in 1905, considering the number of diseases, the lack of transportation, and the low quality of health care.

What on earth are you talking about? How does number of diseases, transportation, or quality of health care have anything to do with on field deaths?

 

[Tailback U]

They also only invented the forward pass as a direct result of the on-field deaths. The game doesn't resemble today's game at all. Even the ball itself was vastly different.

Oh shit well if the ball was slightly different then this book obviously isn't about football.

 

[NAHSTE]

Oh shit well if the ball was slightly different then this book obviously isn't about football.

The ball being a round blob that couldn't be thrown forward more than 10 yards seems relevant when discussing how violent the game used to be compared to today's game. Football used to be deadly because it was an unorganized, unsophisticated series of scrums. It is (obviously) much more structured and geared toward free movement and offensive skill today. The game had to make several radical changes as a response to the possible political intervention in light of all the deaths.

To put it more clearly, the lack of helmets wasn't the sole contributor to the deadliness of the sport in that time.

 

[MVPete]

The most interesting part of this thread is that Omar is planning on reading a book.

 

[Senser81]

What on earth are you talking about? How does number of diseases, transportation, or quality of health care have anything to do with on field deaths?

LOL at this. So the 18 people that died playing football in 1905 all died instantaneously on the football field? Did you just make that up right now?

It was probably more difficult to get an injured football player to the hospital quickly in 1905. They couldn't just put him in an ambulance or helicopter. And then if they were to get to the hospital before their injuries became fatal, the bloodletting/witch doctor procedures probably weren't the best.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Did they specify what the deaths were related to ?
1905 sounds like guys heads and shins were being ripped open then taken to the doctor 2 days later via horse drawn buggy only to have the medicine man put vaporrub on their chin as a cure.