1869 to 1890: How American Football Became (The Game You Love Today) - College Football History

College football history began in 1869 when the first intercollegiate college football game was played between Princeton and Rutgers. There were 25 players to a side. The ball could only be advanced by kicking or being butted with the head. It wasn't like anything we know today called football.
From there began a march towards the American football we love today. Colleges started with "mob soccer" or "mob football", such as that played in 1869. Then they converted to Rugby because of the influence from McGill University out of Montreal, Canada.
Then came the rules that make American football the distinct game from soccer, rugby, or any other game in the world today.
This video is about the years from 1869 to around 1890 and the rules that were established to create our wonderfully loved game of American football.
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[@CornNation]

Note that I have started a new channel dedicated to college football history. More videos are over here: youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@jlc2]

I thought I was responding to your Hard Core College Football KZbin page , but I see now that I picked up your content from your Corn Nation site. Thanks for the clarification.

[@martinwatts7646]

I'm from Rugby, Warwickshire (pronounced worrick-sheer, by the way), and I am a MASSIVE college football fan, thanks to a semester spent at Michigan. I stumbled on your vids thanks to a Husker friend, and I was surprised and honoured to see my old school, Rugby School, get a mention! The origin story is not so goofy - it may well have happened just as legend said. But as a rugby fan, from Rugby School, I am delighted that it evolved into college football, the game we love so much.

[@scumbucket68]

He said it sounds like a goofy origin story and whether it is or isn't goofy is subjective and further more irrelevant.

[@user-ml5zw2yj9n]

True! Now, if you can get Brits to prounounce Michigan, not like Mich- agan, but Mish- agan, we're all square!

[@craigduncan7010]

I thought I read a few years back that the Webb-Ellis story had been debunked. Maybe I am wrong (and frankly it happened so long ago, who can really be confident they are correct), but I am sure there is significant doubt it ever happened.

[@tomwilko7841]

Well I'm from Bradford in the north of england and its pronounced worick-shu up ere

[@holidayarmadillo8653]

@@tomwilko7841 classic Tom being a contrarian ^

[@chaunceychappelle2173]

I played with Big Al at Polk High. Hell of a grid iron legend made that night; five touchdowns in one game. And he got Peggy. They needed 15, 30 guys to stop Big Al.

[@jj18057]

Bill brasky said hold my beer

[@ericpoyntz7460]

Nice little tidbit for the 1874 McGill vs Harvard game, is that the "Father of Ice Hockey" James Creighton also played in that game and organized the first Indoor Ice Hockey game not long after this particular game, as that early version of Ice Hockey resembles rugby as well it very possible that both American Football and Ice Hockey may have been conceived in that game

[@mikebronicki8264]

I knew the rules were different and the scoring was different, but OMG! I had no idea just how foreign 'football' was in 1869-1881. This is the most fascinating video, on any subject, that I have seen in months. Thank you for all your hard work, and bravo!

[@epone3488]

FYI. Rugby scoring field goal or drop goal 3 points (this is a impromptu kick from a player who received a pass on the run and in theory can be tired any time the ball is in motion including after a scrum). The 'Try" = TD but only for 5 points. Conversion is the kick after the 'try' and worth 2 points. There are also Penalty kicks for infringements that can net 3 points.

[@sickem223344]

He’s referring to the rules and scoring of rugby at the time in comparison to what was accepted in American football. Rugby scored try’s, football only scored by get to the other teams “try area” and you’re awarded a kick to score no score if the kick is missed just an opportunity.

[@epone3488]

@@sickem223344 Your right of course. Honestly it seemed a little unproductive and even further off topic to talk about the 1860 Cambridge rules ratification's (and on ward) so I just put a line in the sand. If people are interested I can elucidate further on early Rugby vs Gridiron if there is interest. (UNI Of NSW Rugby /Randwick Alum). I was a Rugby League and Union player and Aussie Football - that found Gridiron a bit later on (20's) (I played D as Mike and O as 'TD"). Of all the ball sports Im a Gridiron fan the most. I personally think its the Ultimate expression of physicality and mental determination and strategy.

[@1practicaljoker]

You said it yourself, American football originated in Canada. McGill college was playing football for years before playing against Harvard.

[@simonpawsey6413]

Interesting video. I have been an American football fan for years. I’ve always wondered about the early years of football. So thanks for making videos about it. Perhaps you could look at the development of the early teams playing the game between 1880s and 1919.

[@Nick-os5io]

Really interesting. I’ve been watching American Football here in the UK since 1983 - took a couple of seasons to work out what was going on! Very useful to hear the early development of the game - thanks very much. 👏👏

[@pauliewalnuts2527]

It's a great sport. It's all about team work and no one style of athlete is best. There are very different and unique roles, it's not like soccer football where everyone is doing the same thing pretty much, or hockey where everyone is doing the same thing, racing, golf, wrestling, every sport has everyone doing the same thing. Except for football and baseball, I guess cricket too

[@GoWestYoungMan]

Except this video is misleading. Have you never been puzzled why Canadian teams are considerably older than US teams? The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1869) and the Toronto Argonauts (1873) are the 2 oldest pro teams by a long shot. Canada's university teams are even older. It's because the sport was NOT invented in the US. It was developed from English rugby at the colleges and universities of central Canada. The 1st documented game was played at University College at the University of Toronto in 1861. This new sport entered the United States when McGill University of Montreal introduced the game to Harvard University in 1874. The game developed further and separately in Canada and the US after that and why there are 2 codes today: Canadian Football (the OG) and American Football.

[@pauliewalnuts2527]

@@GoWestYoungMan i wouldn't call it football until the forward pass. Till the it's just rugby

[@terrylynn7327]

You may be interested to look at the other form of Rugbys history. Rugby LEAGUE. The development of this game shares massive similarities to the development of US football.

[@lockk132]

I think you can place league and american football in the same category as uncontested ball possession whereas union is ball contested.So in league and American football the ball isn't contested but territory is.both are limited possession.league is 6 tackle restricted,American football is restricted to 4 attempts to make 10 yards but where success means continued possession. Union is territory and possession contested and unlimited which makes it the more fluid game out of the 3

[@mca312]

I'm a huge rugby fan and always curious about how the game changed (rugby, association, american, etc...) from the 1800's into the games we know today. Thank you!

[@charlesgarrett2717]

My grandfather played in the 1900-1910 Era. Thank you for your video.

[@marcosivis5820]

I enjoyed your video as a historian of "Rugby League" The game in 1880 resembles what Rugby League became after the breakaway in 1895. RL brought the play the ball across and later in 1967 changed to 4 tackles before it settled on 6 tackles When you watch the NRL games in Vegas you will see what gridiron could have become without blocking and forward passes

[@king_geekorah]

Really well done! I'm loved the history and your audio and video are both clean! Great work and I look forward to the next one!

[@barrigus]

Fantastic video! Noles fan here, and am fascniated with deep dives like this

[@elchavalito305]

Very informative thanks

[@samroberts96]

Absolutely love these college football history vids!

[@barrypeterson6725]

This was excellent! Thanks for sharing this.

[@rhob2422]

Been searching for a coherent history of Football video for a while, great job, thanks!

[@CornNation]

So you know, I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@danielross7032]

This was awesome. Thank you.

[@beetleb3657]

Damn. Football has come a long way! Great content. Thanks again always.

[@paulaswanson13]

Loved this look into the history of the game and looking forward to the next segment. 👍🏻🏈

[@CornNation]

Well... here's the thing. I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@zadig08]

Thank you so much for doing this series! I've been dying to learn more about the roots.

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@waltsears]

Thanks for this video. The history is, indeed, fascinating. I played football through middle school and college and enjoyed my time a lot. I find it interesting how much more prominent kicking apparently was in the early days. The reading at the end was amazing! Thanks again!

[@another_dad]

Hey from Sydney Australia, love all the information in your story looking forward to hearing more! Thank you very much for sharing this.

[@CornNation]

There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@Lock7272]

Great Visio and material! I love it. Do more. I love that it’s about the game and objective content. Any football lover will enjoy it.

[@CornNation]

Thank you!

[@flightlessbird2281]

God bless you! Thoroughly enjoyed this

[@tomorrow517]

Fascinating! Well done. Thank you! 😎

[@noeticjustice1535]

This is a fantastic series--loving it!

[@touchstoneaf]

This is wonderful, thank you for doing this. I look forward to more. I've always wondered how we got from point A to point Z where we are now, and I know the second half of course from about the 60s, but I didn't understand all of these early evolutions. Thank you again.

[@FrancMcStien]

This was an awesome video, i loved all the sources and the analytical way it was done

[@CornNation]

Thank you! There's more! There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@poncho6784]

Super interesting! Thanks!

[@lindawilkins6075]

Enjoyable, thanks Jon. See you and Todd tonight.

[@steveborn5986]

Great job my friend!

[@CornNation]

Thank you! There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@paulfredericks5668]

Excellent Job! Cant wait for next episode

[@CornNation]

Note that I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory There is an entire playlist on the base history of college football. studio.kzbin.infoPLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7/edit

[@thomaskatsinis8083]

Thank you for the information on the history of American football 🏈 very informative and inspiring to know how it all began

[@CornNation]

There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@MatthewCallender-uu5zn]

As a Uk based fan of American Football and a former amateur rugby player I want to say how much I enjoyed this video. To pick you up on one misconception about rugby union the way the ball comes out from a scrum is rarely random and the backs of the team with the put in to the scrum will line up very differently to the team without.

[@jeffeldredge1608]

Nice history lesson Thank you.

[@johnliberty3647]

I grew up loving football and history so this was friggin awesome. Subscribed

[@CornNation]

So you know.. I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory Also - there is a playlist for the early history of football: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIDTh6Wqdt-GqZo

[@monycantin6778]

Tanks great job

[@josephdayan7818]

great video 😊

[@stephenlang7870]

Thanks John! I usually just come here to get my dose of Bugeater epicaricacy, but I will be back to learn more about the history of college football.

[@noahanderson6710]

This is great! Love the football history

[@CornNation]

I have moved these to a channel called Hardcore College Football History and will continue making more of them in the offseason. Thank you!

[@roycewaxenfelter3110]

Great historical look - looking forward to learning more!

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@davidjordan2336]

The early soccer vs rugby divisions in the US seem to mirror those in England. My understanding is that they were both called "football" and were considered to be the same game, but with different rules. And each school pretty much had their own rules, which made larger competitions difficult. When teams played each other they would have to agree on which rules would be used on that particular day. At some point they tried to standardize the rules, but failed, and instead broke off into two separate camps: one called "football association" and the other "rugby union."

[@lighting138]

I liked it a lot. keep doing what are doing. have a store with goodies!

[@nebr72]

Thanks Jon. Great video.

[@CornNation]

Thank you!

[@JamesBond-st4qu]

Great vid! Keep it up!

[@kellyschaeffer]

Enjoyed it, especially the Stagg rules at the end, most dramatic.

[@alexp.3456]

Sir, your channel is Awesome!!! It not only teaches football but also history, which to me, is so important in anything with want to learn. I grew up in Brazil with Soccer, but I have lived in US for the last 19 years. I finally fell in love with American Football and there's always a debate about Football and Futebol. I love both! I live in Tampa, FL and if someday I'm in Nebraska, I'd love to invite you for lunch or dinner and learn more about football from you! Thank you!!!

[@CornNation]

Thank you! I actually live in Minnesota. Nebraska wasn't cold enough. There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@alexp.3456]

@@CornNation haha! Minnesota! That is nice. The Vikings stadium is one on my list for one day go and watch a game. If I do so, I'll let you know. Thank you for the recommendations. I'll do that and subscribe! I really appreciate it!!

[@jimmykuratz-comedian]

Fascinating!!!! I loved the part about why it was called 'the grid iron"!

[@Green3Eagle]

Very interesting. And I like how Paul Koch's books are in the background, too.

[@coachshawnkent397]

The Grey Cup and the CFL Canadian Football 🏈 League is older than the NFL . I had no idea McGill played Harvard University.. They Should play each other again .

[@huskerchuck9212]

Good stuff, Jon! Keep it coming :)

[@stefanhensel8611]

This was immensely interesting for a continental European who grew up with European football (soccer, as you call it) and discovered his love of American football only in the late 2000s. It would be even more instructional with a couple of graphics more e. g. how plays were usually performed in the "neolithic" era vs. in contemporary football. Thank you for this great video, I shall recommend it to other fans.

[@CornNation]

Note that I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory There is an entire playlist on the base history of college football. studio.kzbin.infoPLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7/edit

[@highlandergunn9240]

Great video, this is my 2nd time watching. First time commenting I did give it a 👍 the first time 😂 Just left therapy ☺

[@Aries61]

Great presentation! Thank you! Could you do a history on Option Football? Nebraska, Oklahoma, Syracuse and the Service Schools would be interesting.

[@CornNation]

That's a good idea. I am still trying to figure out what I'm doing, but I have created a new channel specifically for the history videos. There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@Sylvanranger]

really enjoyed this video your knowledge and analysis of the history and progression of the sport was fantastic. I do feel that a greater knowledge of rugby (both league and union) would have enriched your analysis further as at times you appeared to oversimplify rugby. I do appreciate that this was a video focusing on American football though, overall great video mate

[@CornNation]

I did oversimplify rugby. Honestly, my goal was to reference rugby, but not much because there are always decisions about how much information to include in a video. BTW, There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@jamespatrinos4708]

Rugby League, as distinct ftom Rugby Union (from which itctoo evolved), is almost a living relic of what American Football must have been like once the rules of possession were established. It would take few rule adjustments to morph Rugby League into a recognisable form of American Football (namely allowing blocking and the forward pass).

[@maxdecimus13]

There is a video of early Canadian football, and it is so alike RL of that era it is strange.

[@johnprentice1527]

You have given us a wonderfully detailed history of American football's beginnings. So much I didn't know. I'm going to have to rewatch your video to more fully understand the many, many changes. I had assumed, correctly, that American football evolved from rugby, but I was completely unaware of the relationship between European football (soccer) and rugby. Also, I had assumed, correctly, that the evolution of rugby to American football was somewhat incremental; but I had no idea how many, many increments of change were involved. Thank you.

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@csongorszendrey2180]

McGill gave us the 'snap' as well. There's a really cool documentary available for free on another platform entitled, "Harvard beats Yale 29-29." Worth a watch. Also, I would love to see a bibliography. Would love to chat about it further. I find this early American shift as a really fascinating period. Moreover, you see the individualization based upon geography and adopting and evolving codes of football come to the fore. Gridiron, Australian, Association, Irish, Rugby etal., this is when it happens; the 1880s. Gawd, football is awesome no matter the code. As for "scientific." That is Walter Camp. Great video. I got a few books on this wonderful game, the real American Pastime.

[@joe_zeay]

Fantastic! But perhaps some subtle music in the background would enhance your videos tremendously. Just be sure not to break any copyright restrictions😊 Keep up the great work sir! ❤

[@geometron3646]

NO!

[@ianfitzpatrick2230]

This was awesome! I grew up in a small town with my grandparents and my grandpa was from Nebraska, his parents from Iowa, they often talked about how football had changed just from the 40s to the 90s. In its origin, the game was all very closely related to rugby and I wish my grandfather was here to be told about how different it all used to be. I was inspired by some of the power backs that my grandfather talked about but to play some of that older football sound absolutely brutal on the body.

[@cliffvictoria3863]

Subscribed! Very interesting.

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@lastlogicallib]

Really good video. I hope the rest of your videos are this good because you just got a new subscriber 🤘🏽😎🎸🔥

[@CornNation]

I have an entire history on the foundation of American football, but I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory The foundation series is in this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7

[@djbrando202]

I enjoyed the video and learned a bunch. Thanks for making this video, I subscribed and will be checking out more of your videos. Adding simple pictures or slideshow would be a good move . Be well! ✌️🖖

[@CornNation]

So you know, I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@dustinbellinger3436]

Enjoyed this video. If you haven't already please create a playlist for the videos on this topic to make it easier to did them and view them in order. With all the other content you create it can be hard to find the specific videos you want.

[@CornNation]

I created a playlist called "College Football History" - I'm just getting started on this, so there's only maybe 3 in there? Thanks for the comment!

[@dustinbellinger3436]

@@CornNation Excellent. I will be sure to follow that. I normally consume your podcast content through Google Podcasts instead if KZbin so that I can listen at work but had hears you reference these videos and wanted to make sure I got them watched.

[@fed9096]

great story thank you! I do think that who gets the ball in a scrum in rugby is not by chance as you mention..one team gets to throw the ball in after a minor infringement..that team's half scrum (usually wearing the #9 jersey) throws the ball in always from the left side, and in the most current games, is allowed to put it in on his players' side, in essence they have the advantage

[@CornNation]

I kind of figured that but.... I always have to figure out how far I go into a subject and still make a watchable video. BTW. I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@JimiBones]

Good video

[@SirDennisReynolds]

Really great video, thank you for taking the time to make this - as someone that loves history and football it’s nice to have someone put together content combining both. I am not sure if you know the answer to this but you mentioned in the bonus section that once the ball was snapped the quarterback could hand it off to be kicked, but does that mean the kicking team could recover it further down the field? It seems that such a tactic would be common considering it would be easier to move the ball down the field that way. And if kicking were an option would the defending team always have at least one player acting as perhaps what we would consider today a nickel safety or even returner? Of course they would not be aware before the snap a kick was being performed but it seems almost necessary to be safe. Thank you again for the video and no worries if you are unable to answer my questions. Thanks again.

[@CornNation]

I did an entire series on the beginning of american football, up to "modern" football in 1912. There is a playlist that covers the years 1869 to the creation of “modern” football in 1912. kzbin.info/aero/PLAti6r2hzjA0txdecWJeMou5YvFMS24T7 Note that playlist is on a different channel, focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. If you liked this history video, please like and subscribe on the new channnel! youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory Now.... to answer your question - they did have an "onside kick" rule that basically made what we call a punt a free ball, but it wasn't used very much, and it was eventually taken out of the rules.

[@royveteto4134]

do a documentary on jim thorpe's college football career especially the games between his school carlisle and the army academy . i am wondering was this a continuation of the battles that happened from about 1865-1890 between the indians and the us army

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. I will try to cover Carlisle in the not too distant future. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@danielolivarez683]

Sir that was very interesting I love it

[@CornNation]

I have moved the history videos to a channel called "Hardcore College Football History". There are more over there, and I hope you subscribe! www.youtube.com/@HardcoreCollegeFootballHistory

[@dawnfairclough345]

Rugby have two different codes when the north of England broke away from the southern lot in 1895 and made there own rugby code.

[@Mr.MikeBarksdale]

Great video. Fascinating stuff. With regard to rugby: 1. It's not really capricious as to who gets possessions in a scrum. Usually the stronger team moving the scrum will get possession.

[@lonn761]

I did enjoy your show,I love the game and always are eager to know more.On a persoal note I am just begining to make videos if I may ask what equipment ,and software do you utilize? thanks again for the show

[@CornNation]

First, I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory Equipment: I've gone through a fair amount. I currently use mostly El Gato stuff. I use a EL Gato Facecam Pro for a camera (I got frustrated with my Sony EV Z10), although I use an iPhone quite a bit for reaction or ad hoc videos. I use a Shure mic, and El Gato lighting. I can't have lights shining directly in my face or they cause severe headaches, so I bounce them off the wall. Editing I use DaVinci Resolve. The free version will do an enormous amount of what you need and there are great tutors here on KZbin. Look for Casey Farris, Mr Alex Tech and Jake Whipp.

[@kellyschaeffer]

Going to Try to listen to it again without interruptions.

[@nickdarr7328]

I like the retaining possession if you lose 10 or 20 yards, as the reading at the end says 20. This might sound like a way to again have "block games" but think about safeties. If a team is losing 10 yards your defense wants the opponent offense to stay on the field so the defense can score by safety

[@royveteto4134]

how about a documentary on the history of the southeastern conference from it's start to how it became as great as it is. especially focus on the time from about 1950-1980 when alabama is coached by bryant, auburn by jordan, georgia by dooley, arkansas by broyles, lsu by mcclendon, and ole miss by vaught . these are still the winningest coaches in these program's history and they competed at the same time and against 1 another

[@LJW1912]

I support both American football and rugby (English, used to play) and I can say that the parts about rugby possession and strategy are a bit erroneous, certainly for modern day rugby (which I take to mean rugby union, the far bigger game) When a player is tackled, it's true that he doesn't keep possession automatically. However, something called a 'ruck' forms, where opposing players try to reach over and pick up the ball, and the tackled players teammates try to stop them from taking the ball. When I played, we would get coached on good ways to take tackles and go down to protect the ball and make it far easier to defend, and turnovers in the ruck are fairly uncommon, so there is strategy in how many players to commit to avoid spreading the rest of your defence too thin. A 'scrum' is a set-piece, a penalty, that is different from the ruck, and that is more like the 'random' element you suggest, although it is again rare for scrums to be won 'against the head' or by the team who committed the foul. This is a little more like gridiron's play from the line of scrimmage, except with all of the forwards (like the O line/D Line) interlinked and pushing as a pack. There are also a lot of set plays, especially in modern rugby, that you can play from the ruck (also referred to as the 'breakdown'), such as skip passes, dummy runners/jackals (similar to how you might use a full back to block for a running back, but rugby has far stricter off-the-ball contact rules), certain running patterns etc, it's just by no means as organised as the gridiron system of course, it all has to happen in the span of a few seconds of open play

[@justintime2031]

Thank you

[@KingAlanI]

I knew a lot of this but it was still informative. Like I knew Walter Camp came up with the snap in 1880 but TIL about how 11 a side also came about that year and limited downs came later

[@erichimle1306]

Another possible video is rules that are still the same or similar between American football and rugby. I know a few as a fan of both sports. But that would be a great video idea b

[@crawford1083]

Rugby is spontaneous. That is its charm. Not scripted and idiotic set-pieces like in Gridiron.

[@jacobfamily4544]

As an American, I think the American game looked pretty good back in the 50s, going-into-the-60s. But since then, it's turned into more of a show as opposed to the sport it used to be. I grew up on the 90s & 00s of the American game, and never had the Rugby game because it isn't on TV here. I could only read about it until certain streaming sites gave me unfettered access to Rugby games starting about 2018. The sheer difference between the two made me a full convert within a year. Only now do I realise how bloated with advertisements and side shows the American game is. The last 10yrs or so I was craving something from the American game that the new era was giving me, and this is it; all action, no gimmicks.

[@nikolajdehaan9815]

Thanks I always wondered how such a complex game came about. I fell in love with the strategy, the suspense... I also never understood the enormous support for school sports but it started at the schools I never knew that. Now if only CF has an understandable post season.

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory

[@nikolajdehaan9815]

Your vids are much appreciated. I live over the big pond and I wish we could embrace all types of football on both sides 😊.

[@blairmcian]

I like your sacrilegious approach to origin stories! As you say, one has to start somewhere, but many people insist on some real, instantaneous creation of a new thing, which is usually silly.

[@davido6170]

Great topic. When you mention the early scoring rules, it clicked to me why a score in rugby is called a try. Once you cross the try line and touch the ball down, you would be given an opportunity to kick for points over the cross bar in a straight line back from where the try was awarded. Naturally, it was better to score in the middle to provide for an easier kick.

[@jaredvaughan1665]

Thanks

[@BelichickPATS8384]

6:13 The idea back when a TD itself was worth nothing was that the game was based on goals scored, hense why they all have "goal" in the name; fieldgoal, dropgoal, etc. But the incentive behind touching down was that the kick attempt was worth 2 goals where all other goals were simply goals. 7:20 Mr Camp wanted to make the game more exciting for spectators, because more spectators meant more money. Less players on the field means more open field to use to break out for more territorial gain, which - in the long run - means more scoring. The allure of the game at the time was its full-contact nature, but Camp wanted a game with more scoring. Which is why its ironic he introduced the scrimmage rule instead of the scrummage. 7:42 Scrimmage ironically made the game slower, which was not Camp's intent. He thought it would make the game more exciting and action packed. But, as you allude to later in the video, teams used it to retain possession and burn the hell out of the clock. While Rugby style Football had changed little over the years, American style football had to change to amend mistakes made by the previous change. But it ultimately worked, hitting its peak in the 1960s with the creation of NFL films and of course the big merger and subsequent super bowl.

[@forestgreenhobbit]

Lime used to mark fields is hydrated line and not very harmful. as opposed to quick line which will burn your eyes and skin.

[@davidg1612]

I would like to see a game played under the original rules and on the down the line as rules changed. It'd be interesting to see the evolution of the game in action.

[@macsnafu]

I knew about some of these early key games, but I never understood just exactly what they were playing. It's interesting to see how football as we know it developed from soccer/rugby.

[@danielvain]

Much more informative video about the origins of American football than the 2008 film "Leatherheads" provided. The film, more or less, depicts how professional American football came into dominance (over?) college American football. This subject (origins of American football) is relative, as well, to me as I've been "studying" the relatively recent development of the LFL (Lingerie/Legends/X Football League,) i.e., women's semi-professional, tackle American-style football. It's interesting to observe the few differences in the rules between LFL and NFL and how those differences affect the game. I would like to point out that your presentation is clearly presented, the included graphics/pictures are always a positive addition, and it seems that these videos will only improve with experience. Making a KZbin video that gets over 100 views in the time span of a year or less is difficult enough, as of my viewing and commenting of this video it stands at 34k views in 11 months. Dig it with toast.

[@CornNation]

Thank you. This was one of the first educational/documentary type videos I made. I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory "Leatherheads" - I always thought a series about football in this time period would be interesting if taken seriously. Maybe I should propose something to Netflix!!!

[@56lespaul56]

I think when you explain the distinction in around 8:40, it is also similar to rugby league. Rugby as you explain before that is known as rugby union

[@samking469]

Hell yea 🤙🏻

[@nickk7425]

If rugby came from soccer, and football came from rugby, than American football is in fact a distant distant distant relative of soccer! It just blows me away, how completely different they are and yet are still related. Very interesting video by the way!

[@jamesbrowne6351]

Football diverged into two different rules or styles of play. Back in the day in England teams had to determine ahead of the match which style would be played, Rugby after said school of origin, or association rules which is the more traditional form of football. The term soccer comes from the nickname given to those who played by association rules though the term kind of died out in England in the 20th century. Of course it remains popular here in America to distinguish it from American football.

[@goodmaro]

Except, rugby did not come from soccer. Rugby was already pretty well developed (albeit not standardized) for years before various clubs settled on a game we'd recognize as soccer, or one having institutional continuity with soccer.

[@goodmaro]

​@@jamesbrowne6351 No, Association rules are surprisingly less traditional than you think. It's not clear that rugby football originated at the school that gave it its name, but it existed in recognizable form (albeit unstandardized) years before soccer took its eventual shape.

[@bb1111116]

US football is a distant relative of both soccer and rugby. However from what I’ve read the development of modern soccer and rugby in England was intertwined. Eventually they split from each other to clearly become separate sports.

[@goodmaro]

@@bb1111116But "intertwined" covers a lot of ground, including the remotest relationships. Did you know the development of baseball and football were intertwined? Both seem to have developed from a single sport wherein people arrayed around a goal tried to throw a ball so as to hit it, while a goal-keeper tried to knock the ball away; and for that matter, you can see the origins of golf in such a game. Football in Britain goes back many centuries, and the closest relationship soccer and rugby can be said to have was that they were separate distillations from what was just generally "football". The closest they could have been said to have approached each other was in terms of the common desire of clubs in the 19th Century to enable themselves to play more opponents and at greater distances without having to arrive at custom rules for each match. Rugby had the earliest success in converging on one style of play, although even it was not standardized for a long time, while soccer emerged later from clubs who clearly were interested in playing something other than rugby football. The talks on merging the two were merely for show, and nobody today thinks they had any serious interest in arriving at a compromise code.

[@davidmoorman7062]

Freemasonry and rugby go back all the way to the beginning as William Webb Ellis has a lodge named after him at Rugby.

[@garygemmell3488]

Observers of baseball have always pointed out how 90 feet between bases, 60 feet 6 inches from the pitchers plate to home plate have always seemed to be th perfect number. They were not arrived at universally. Just like 11 players a side were not arrived at universally in football. BUT they were the exact right numbers.

[@sgjjamie73]

I am finally starting to be able to picture early football much better. But in that 1880s period before allowing blocking but after the possession rules what was a typical play from scrimmage like? Other then the V-trick, would they be more line abreast ?

[@goodmaro]

Our narrator described pre-1888 pretty well. The usual system of attack was something like what came to be called in Canadian football the "extension play", or in rugby a "passing movement" or "three-quarters movement". You see it today in Rugby, both Union and League. Interference was not formally allowed before 1888, but players abreast of and close to the ballcarrier on either or both sides would "guard" him, and as long as they were not obviously offside, the officials would let that go, as they could be legally supporting him. The ballcarrier could be mauled forward as well, as in today's "Tush Push", and there'd be onside kick attempts as the quarterback or halfback tried to angle a kick into space behind the opponents for an onside teammate to run onto.

[@djknox2]

So it would seem as though American Football was introduced by Canada, who continued to play this form of football up to the present day as Canadian Football. The CFL has been holding National Championships (The Grey Cup) for 115 years.

[@grantfraser5430]

Just came across your college football history videos and I am taking them all in. My advice, keep doing what you're doing. You do good storytelling and your pace is perfect for allowing me to digest a lot of interesting and new information coming at me as i watch and listen. I look forward to discovering what other historical stories you may dive into. By the way, I'm curious about the origins of the channel name, Corn Nation.

[@CornNation]

I have created a new channel focused on college football history. There are more history videos available over there. youtube.com/@hardcorecollegefootballhistory Corn Nation is a Nebraska football site I've run since 2006. It's a SBNation site. I've only been doing YT 2-3 years now, and only just started a dedicated CFB history channel.