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Keep the history alive!
Keep the history alive!
Complete with all of its controversies as to who will fill the positions left open by the departure of a number of very talented players after the 2015 season, the 2016 Razorback football spring practice is now underway. With all of the coaching changes and new players at a variety of positions, fans are excited with anticipation about the upcoming season. But, how did this tradition of a spring practice become an annual event?
I have not been able to track down the original school where this occurred although the University of Pennsylvania was key in working toward salvaging football. However, it first arrived at Arkansas in the spring of 1910 just after Arkansas' first undefeated season. By this time, college football was in danger of being outlawed and made illegal. If Arkansas was not the first school to have a spring practice, then it was among the first to incorporate this into its program.
I have not been able to track down the original school where this occurred although the University of Pennsylvania was key in working toward salvaging football. However, it first arrived at Arkansas in the spring of 1910 just after Arkansas' first undefeated season. By this time, college football was in danger of being outlawed and made illegal. If Arkansas was not the first school to have a spring practice, then it was among the first to incorporate this into its program.
"It would take the actions of the nation's President to prevent the sport from disappearing into history."
By 1906, college football, without any real padding or protection for the players, had become the sport which had turned into a real "kill-the-man-with-the-ball" style of play. By the end of November during the 1905 season, there had been 19 players killed (three of which were hardened college players) and 137 injured while playing the game. National movements were underway to eliminate this form of violence and make football a thing of the past. It would take the actions of the national's President to prevent the sport from disappearing into history.
The problem was brought to the forefront of limiting the violent nature of the game after the injury to Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. playing as a freshman and son of President Theodore Roosevelt. Soon after, the elder Roosevelt demanded that rules be implemented to make the game safer and more civil. At first this would be accomplished by regional rule changes incorporated by individual schools. Later this would be accomplished with the establishment of the American (National) Football Rules Committee which became the NCAA in 1910. During this period (end of 1905 to 1910), college football programs were being discontinued at many of the college institutions. However, luckily for us, it was saved from complete extinction.
The rules of the game were under fire and if not changed, the entire sport of football was in danger of being no more. By 1910, the Arkansas spring practice was primarily used to familiarize the team with the new rule changes. The 35-minute half was history and replaced by four 15-minute quarters, field goals were reduced from four points to three points. The neutral zone was established, first downs were changed from five to 10 yards, a minimum of six men were required to be on the line of scrimmage, etc.
With these changes, the program has been able to progress to where it is now. Not only was head coach Hugo Bezdek responsible for renaming the football squad to the current Razorbacks and coaching the first undefeated team, he would go on to also established the first Arkansas spring practice in order to make sure his players were ready for the upcoming fall season. By the way, the 1910 season had a record of 8-1 while scoring 221 points and allowing only 19 points to be scored by the opponents.
The problem was brought to the forefront of limiting the violent nature of the game after the injury to Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. playing as a freshman and son of President Theodore Roosevelt. Soon after, the elder Roosevelt demanded that rules be implemented to make the game safer and more civil. At first this would be accomplished by regional rule changes incorporated by individual schools. Later this would be accomplished with the establishment of the American (National) Football Rules Committee which became the NCAA in 1910. During this period (end of 1905 to 1910), college football programs were being discontinued at many of the college institutions. However, luckily for us, it was saved from complete extinction.
The rules of the game were under fire and if not changed, the entire sport of football was in danger of being no more. By 1910, the Arkansas spring practice was primarily used to familiarize the team with the new rule changes. The 35-minute half was history and replaced by four 15-minute quarters, field goals were reduced from four points to three points. The neutral zone was established, first downs were changed from five to 10 yards, a minimum of six men were required to be on the line of scrimmage, etc.
With these changes, the program has been able to progress to where it is now. Not only was head coach Hugo Bezdek responsible for renaming the football squad to the current Razorbacks and coaching the first undefeated team, he would go on to also established the first Arkansas spring practice in order to make sure his players were ready for the upcoming fall season. By the way, the 1910 season had a record of 8-1 while scoring 221 points and allowing only 19 points to be scored by the opponents.
If you are one of those rabid Razorback fans interested in knowing even more about the history of the Hog football program, then get your very own copy of "Hit That Line" from the Apple Store, Barnes and Nobles online, or the world's largest e-book publisher - Smashwords.com. This ebook contains most of the items not covered in hawg-tales.com, and focuses totally on the coaches, players, games, "Voices of the Razorbacks", and many other topics within the total history of the program.
Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past.
Send us your name and e-mail address to receive a FREE copy of the 1960's 45-rpm records in mp3 format to play on your computer, tablet, or smart phone. They make a great gift for any Razorback football history buff. Don't forget to let us know where you are from. WPS!
