If Americans were to think of their brand of football as a product, it might be hard to decide if the sport is an import or an export. As evidence of the former, consider how modern gridiron football came to be. The game’s roots reach back to 19th-century England, where rugby originated and became a popular pastime. Rugby, which can be described as a full-contact version of soccer that hinges on players carrying, rather than kicking, a ball, was imported to the United States in the late 1800s. Many East Coast colleges, including Yale and Princeton, formed teams that played a rugby-style game.
The game underwent a few changes once it came to the United States. Two of the most important early rule changes, dating from the 1880s, made the game more orderly. The first established a scrimmage, which awarded possession of the ball to one of the two teams, and the second created the system of downs, which required a team to advance the ball or lose possession of it. By 1920, gridiron football moved beyond the thriving college ranks and became a professional sport with the start of the National Football League (NFL). Gradually many of the rules and procedures of American football were adopted by Canadian teams, which up until then had mostly played a rugby-style game. American football also was “exported” to other countries beginning in 1991, first with the formation of a European professional league and later with the scheduling of NFL games abroad.
Whether it is an import or export, gridiron football today is a distinctly American sport. Virtually everything about the modern game was developed in the United States. The popularity of this type of football is undeniable. In some parts of the U.S., football fan devotion, particularly at the high school and college level, is so strong and sincere that the sport has been likened to a religion. College and professional games are televised every weekend and a few nights a week during the fall season. These broadcasts get good ratings. Also, the Super Bowl, which is the NFL’s championship game, is watched by an international television audience numbering in the tens of millions.
A big part of what makes gridiron football so popular is the personalities involved. Many players and coaches have contributed to making the game what it is today. Modern-day Hall of Famers and current marquee players, including Emmitt Smith and Peyton Manning, respectively, are recognized by football fans around the globe.
Some names from the early days of football may not be as recognizable, but their contributions are certainly well known. For instance, Walter Camp, the coach who is considered the “Father of American Football,” was the head of the rules committee that was formed soon after the game came to the United States. In addition to introducing the scrimmage and the system of downs, Camp was responsible for determining the dimensions of the playing field and the number of players on the field, among other fundamentals of the game.
Another coach, Glenn (Pop) Warner, has been honored for his accomplishments and innovations during his long career by having a national youth football program named after him. Pop Warner Youth Football, which operates programs in 42 states, emphasizes the development of game skills and academic excellence. In recognizing Coach Warner while also cultivating the next generation of players both on and off the field, the program connects football’s past with its present and future.
