The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-10-02
Ao1a1yD1Nc, !,
%~ ~. =.
Nxe{&nfslk,
FOOTBALL

ca was primarily kick-ball game,
but recently with the development of
the various passes, it has become a
throwing game.
Like most other games, football
was played by the Greeks and later
the Romans who gave it to the Ital-
ians. 1t was favorite game with
the guild members and In all proba-
bility was carried to England by
these travelling artisans. The Ro-
man game allowed twenty-seven
players on each side and must have
been more of "kick-fest" or battle
royal than football game.
AS with most of the other spare
time activities, football gave the
Scottish king of the day, James Ill
an opportunity to proclaim in 1857
that II. footballe and collie be
cryed downe". The game was stran-
gled for time but as play is said to
be mans strongest instinct, football
soon became the leading game at the
old English Fairs superseding the
exciting bear batting performance.
The game adapted by the Elton boys
was soon firmly established by the
Rugby players.
And like golf, football came to the
United States by way of Canada.
Harvard had practice squads in 1875
and the first game was between Har-
ward and Yale in the fall of the same
year. Both teams won!
But long before any American col
lege adopted the game, the Chero-
kee Indians had and still play ball
game that is twice as fast and rough
as football, and variations of this
game was what passed for Colonial
American Football. Copper toed
shoes for boys were no doubt invent
ed to protect the shoes of boys who
spent their playtime kicking hog
bladder and when it burst-the next
movable object
Today practically every high
school and college in the country has
it's mine" but on the Eastern Shore
of Maryland all of the high schools
play soccer. except Salisbury High,
which has the finest stadium in the
State. Thanks to the w. p. A. High
school football in Delaware has pro-
duced many fine players. OF the
three colleges on the Peninsula, the
University of Delaware at Newark,
and Washington College at Chester
town, have football teams-all col
lege football is amateur. Last year
coach KILLERS Washington squad
won every game. The best football
writer ON the Peninsula is Charlie
Rutledge, editor of the Newark, Del
aware Post.
Besides an uncounted number of
lost teeth-a football player splitting
out loose teeth looks like corn
shelter working in third gear
blackened eyes, broken noses, frac-
tured this and that, about thirty
players are killed every year in the
United States but the game is SO fast,
furious, and fascinating that it draws
larger crowds than any other game.
Now that the game is in the big
money class, new nest of profess
sional teams are expected to be
Matched this fall. Your radio will
bring vivid descriptions Of these col
lege games by Bill Munday, Graham
McNamee, Ted Husing, Claude Her.
rim, and other announcers. Last
year the Navy-Notre Dame descrip-
ton was so vivid that when a man
yelled into the microphone "Kick a
slat out of 'im," Uncle George got
excited and sprained his toe kicking
the family magazine rack.
Football is the fall game and this
year promises fans some real excite
ment, especially at Washington Col
lege.
See football game this fall!
BOOKS: Football Plays for Boys
Barbour & Lamar; Football Line
Play-Ookes-Barnes; Touchdowns
Pratt Library, Baltimore; Kick
ing the American Football--Mates-
Putnam.
NEXT WEEK: This and That from
Here and There.