American Football History

The roaring of the crowd on November 17 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC finally fell silent late in the fourth quarter after star linebacker Luke Kuechly was slow to get off the field after a huge hit to the head. American’s live to be entertained, and the football field is one of the main sources of enjoyment for many. Immediately after Kuechly’s hit, it was quiet in the stadium for the first time that day. The fans watched in fear, waiting to see if their star player could finish the game and bring out the win. However, they all became disappointed as Kuechly shed tears while being carted off the field, not because they were worried about the player and his head but because they feared about losing the game. Americans want excitement,

but they also want to win. As soon as Kuechly reached the locker room, the game carried on as if nothing have ever happened. The crowd continued to drink beers and holler at one another while leaving the linebacker with the potential of permanent brain damage.
Football, which started off as a mix of rugby and soccer, made its way to the college level on November 6, 1869 as Rutgers and Princeton faced off one another.

Next, on November 12, 1892 came the first professional level game played between the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. Finally, in 1920, the American Professional Football Association became the country’s first organized football league. Back then, the game resembled rugby more than the current game of football. Over time, the rules have been constantly changing in order to boost the excitement level and increase the game’s safety. The first of safety rules came in 1938 when they established roughing the passer, which prevented the defense from hitting the passer after he threw the ball. This was directly to protect the quarterback. Next, in 1943, helmets became mandatory for all players on the field. This was the first step to helping protect the wellness of the players’ heads, even though they were unaware of the seriousness of hits to the head and any long term

effects.
After helmets were established for each player, more regulations were made to prevent injuries, especially to the head. In 1956, a huge rule was created that helped protect players yet made the game slightly less entertaining for the Americans who were hungry for a battle. The first was calling the play dead after the player with the ball touches the ground. It forbids any unnecessary contact, which would be known as a late hit. A few years later, officials banned the use of grasping the facemask of a player to pull them down. This helped prevent head and neck injuries. Through the 1990s, the majority of the new rules focused on protecting the players’ bodies from harm by regulating the way the defense tackles. Rules were created to keep the defenders head up when tackling, which would help prevent concussions and spine injuries. More regulations included the forbidding of unnecessary roughness to a player and preventing the chop block. It was not until the 2000s when the “blindside” block was forbidden. In 2010, all “defenseless players” became protected from all blows to the head and neck. That same year, they declared that any play is over once a helmet comes off, which was the NFL’s way of providing the most protection to the athlete’s health and wellbeing. However, many of these methods do not guarantee complete protection for the player so many concussions and other serious, long term injuries occur weekly when participating in this dangerous game. In addition, American’s were not pleased with the decrease in entertainment and excitement that came along with these new rules.
Today, football is more than just a sport: it’s a lifestyle, a social gathering, a way to prove your masculinity.

Football is a culture and within that culture is the desire to make money. In the 2014-2015 season, the NFL made $7.24 billion. Many dedicated fans travel to the stadium on a Sunday afternoon to experience the culture of football: the tailgate in the parking lot, the hundreds of dollars they pay to publicly display their favorite team’s gear, the front row seats to the game for them and their best buddy, the hotdogs and beer from the concussion stands. Many fans will participate in the NFL’s lifestyle every week. But the question is, do they really care about the actual sport or is it just the comradery and entertainment that it

brings?
Individual players of the sport also can find themselves swallowed by the cultural aspect of football. The lavish parties, the model girlfriends, the high salaries, and the travelling from city to city can make many great athletes strive to play in the NFL. However, it is unfair to say that every player cares about the intriguing lifestyle. One of the best known quarterback, Peyton Manning, has a true passion for the game of football. His great skill, however, has made him $34.2 million dollars. Another great athlete, Cam Newton, has made $53.1 million dollars. Many younger football players look up to Cam for not only his skill but his popular dance moves and celebrations after a big play. It is hard to tell between the players if they actually love the sport or if they simply love the popularity. One player, however, has definite passionate for the game of football. His skill has brought him great fortune but also fear as it highlights the risks of participating in such a dangerous game.