For More Information
Many of the sources for this activity came from the
Library of Congress Football Resource Page:
www.loc.gov/rr/news/topics/football1.html
E Reader #6: KSU Primary Source Series
TASKS
1. Write a short answer to the following question:
Why was the game before the rules changes so
dangerous? Provide evidence from the sources.
2. Write a short answer to the following question:
How did the experts of the time say the game
should be changed? Provide evidence from the
sources.
3. Write a short answer to the following
questions: What changes to the game of football
did you recognize in today’s game? How did
these reduce injuries?
CREDITS:
Picture of Walter Camp: http://www.waltercamp.org/
For Questions or Comments:
Contact Dr. Brad Burenheide, bburen@ksu.edu for
questions, comments, suggestions, or requests.
American Football 1904-1906:
A Game in Crisis
Dr. Brad Burenheide
Kansas State University
College of Education
About Football at the Turn of the Century…
The Sources…
To help you understand the history of American Football and the
specific dangers of the game early on, you are going to read a
secondary source from American History, November 1995 issue.
The article was entitled American Football and was written by
Bruce K. Stewart. This should provide some context to the issue of
football violence at the turn of the century.
•Quote from President Roosevelt calling for college officials to
meet about the rules of the game.
http://wesclark.com/rrr/yank_fb.html
"Football is on trial," Roosevelt declared. "Because I
believe in the game, I want to do all I can to save it. And so
I have called you all down here to see whether you won't
all agree to abide by both the letter and spirit of the rules,
for that will help."
Timeline of Important Dates in the Football Crisis
Oct. 9, 1905—President Roosevelt meets with college officials
about conduct and injuries in football.
Nov. 15, 1905—Columbia University suspends football due to high
number of deaths and injuries.
•The Salt Lake Herald, October 15, 1905, Sports Page
For this source, focus on two articles in particular. The first,
“Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., is hurt on Football Field.” It details how
President Roosevelt’s son was injured during a game. The second,
“Congressman Landis Sees One Game and Says Football is ‘Bum
Sport.’”
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1905-10-15/ed-1/seq-4/
Dec. 28, 1905—62 Colleges and Universities meet to establish an
Intercollegiate Football Rules Committee.
Jan. 12, 1906—The Committee meets to work on rules.
Mar. 31, 1906—The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the
United States is formed. This becomes the forerunner of the NCAA.
Who was Walter Camp?
The man dubbed the “Father of
American Football,” had played in the
first Harvard-Yale football game. He
coached at both Yale and Stanford,
perennial college powers in the early
years of collegiate football. He created
the rules of four downs for a series to gain ten yards, the offensive
snap, and many innovations in offense, impacting the game greatly.
•The New York Tribune, December 13, 1905, page 11
For this source, read the two articles in the first column of this
page. First, “Reform in Football,” it talks about the meeting of the
American Football Rules Committee which recommended ways to
add safety to the game. The second, “Camp on the Proposed
Changes” solicits the opinion of Walter Camp, famed Yale football
coach, of his opinion of the proposed rule changes.
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1905-12-13/ed-1/seq-11/
•The New York Tribune, Sept. 23, 1906, page 8
“How to Play Football Under the New Rules.” The new rules
implemented for football by the AFRC radically changed the game,
and also led to a majority of players wondering how the game will
be changed. This article helped explain the new rules, and the
impact upon the game.
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1906-09-23/ed-1/seq-52/