How Theodore Roosevelt Saved Football Research Paper

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How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football

“Of those slaughtered, eleven were high school players, ten were immature boys of 17 and under. Three presumably hardened, seasoned, and presumably fit college men were slain today.” In 1905, this was part of a telegram sent to President Roosevelt alerting him to the seriousness of the injuries involved in football. Teddy Roosevelt saved football by turning it around football and made it a safer game for America. I will express how Roosevelt’s early life affected his perspective on football, how Roosevelt saved football, and how he has impacted the game today.
Teddy Roosevelt’s early life affected how he interacted with football. Roosevelt was a sickly child while growing up and was not able to play football or any other other sports. Although Roosevelt could not participate in football he got to see …show more content…

During this meeting they met to decide the set ways to make college football safer for the players. The first change they made to the game was the legalization of the forward pass. This was the change that revolutionized the sport of American football. The forward pass meant that teams could design plays for running or passing which would help decrease injuries significantly. Also they designed penalties and downs. The penalties meant if players did not abide to the rules they would lose yardage for their team. The downs meant that the teams had four plays to get 10 yards or the ball would be turned over to the other team. (Hornet Football) The NCAA calmed all movements to ban football and people were satisfied with the changes made. The efforts of Roosevelt had helped to save America’s sport of football. Teddy Roosevelt’s idea for football helped change the sport for the best and also helped it to grow into a very popular and safer game. As the NCAA grew they made more rules to further improve on Roosevelt's original ideas for the game.

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