Team Insight

M ost people in the world of team sports are well aware that the first American gridiron game ever played took place in New Jersey between Rutgers University and the College of New Jersey (later renamed Princeton University). e date of the game was November 6, 1869, and a crowd of nearly 100 spectators was there to witness the event. Efforts by Team Insight to confirm the price of tickets for that particular game have been unsuccessful. Another fact about American football that is not so well-known is when and where the inaugural high school football game was played. at was back on May 12, 1875, when the first-ever high school football game was contested between two Connecticut schools — New London High School (originally named the Bulkeley School for Boys) and Norwich Free Academy. at rivalry game is still being contested and is now played as a anksgiving Day tradition. e 2024 game is believed to have been the 162nd edition of what is the oldest high school football rivalry. But there is no truth to the rumor that George Kline supplied the uniforms for that game. As for professional football in the U.S., its roots can be traced back to November 12, 1892, when the Allegheny Athletic Association football team defeated the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. e beginning of today's National Football League started on Saturday, September 17, 1920, when the first game was played in Canton, OH, which also happens to be the location of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As for the identity of the founder of this uniquely American game, it's widely considered to be Walter Camp, who is given credit for modifying the rules of rugby union and introducing the line of scrimmage (as opposed to rugby union's scrums), the use of downs, the number of players on the field (11 versus rugby's use of 15 players), the creation of the quarterback position, which is a blend of rugby union's two ball-controlling positions, and, finally, the point system (touchdowns, field goals, safeties and point-aer-touchdown kicks in American football as opposed to rugby union's tries, conversion kicks and penalty kicks). But enough of the history lesson. Since the days of pioneers such as Camp, Pop Warner and Amos Alonzo Stagg, the sport of football has evolved over time, and estab- lished itself as the most popular team sport in the U.S. As a result, it has evolved into a teaminsightmag.com November/December 2024 ~ Team Insight • 19 THIS VITAL TEAM SPORT CONTINUES TO REGAIN ITS STATURE WITH INCREASED PARTICIPATION. FOOTBALL'S GAME PLAN BY MIKE MAY

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