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The History Of Quarterbacking Explained

While doing research on the history of quarter-backing, we found limited information on the origin of this position. The development of generalship, however, opens up an entirely new and interesting field of thought.

The position of quarterback is of American origin. British Rugby, from which our game came, has halfbacks, three-quarterbacks, and fullbacks, but no quarterback, because a team does not have undisputed possession of the ball in scrimmage and there would be no place for a quarterback, who, in our original game, played a short distance behind the center. He was the first man to receive the ball, and, for that reason, could not run forward with it.

I was unable to find that the coming of American football, in 1880, presented any marked advance in generalship. Interference was not allowed and the quarterback merely tossed the ball to some back who was uncovered. Walter Camp once wrote that the lineman did not know if it was a kick or a run until the play was started.

If it was a run, the other men tried to maneuver in back of the ball-carrier to be eligible for a lateral pass. Undoubtedly, there must have been considerable thought given to methods of advancing the ball -- something like patterns of offense in polo, where the other men follow the man with the ball.

Signals, which came into the game in 1882, gave more opportunity to develop generalship. The captain usually gave the signals until 1888, when Princeton introduced the practice of having the quarterback, who was not the captain, the field general. Yale and Harvard followed in 1889.

After this period, the quarterback became the pivotal position on a team. I could locate very little about generalship in the old books, although all authorities agreed that the quarterback had to be smart and mentally alert. For years, Walter Camp edited a little paper-covered ten-cent book on How to Play Football for the Spaulding Athletic Library. John Longer De Sauller, Virginia coach and former Yale All-American quarterback, wrote the section on "How to Play Quarterback," one of his sub-headings in generalship. It is quoted below:

"The signals should be given immediately after a play is over, and if a quarterback adheres closely to this rule, he will find his team working much faster. Should it become necessary to repeat a signal, do not repeat from the crouching position, but stand upright. In this position, the quarterback also can see every part of the opposing line, and size up the best place to direct the next play.

"In running backs, do not burden any one man with too much work, except when a gain is imperative, then use your best man, even if you have worked him hard before. Trick plays should be avoided inside your own 40 yard line, unless time is nearly up and you must score or lose the game.

"In the game, be deliberate in initiating the play, but when once started, go ahead with determination and dash. At all times, observe closely the opposing line, and if you discover an opponent playing too wide, send a play there.

"If you are gaining at a certain place, do not be afraid to work it for all it is worth, until you cannot gain there any more, then it will be time to try another play."

More could be said on the history of quarter-backing, but this brief summary gives an outline of the salient points. Good quarter-backing!

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