The game has changed a lot. Usually through rule changes. In the footage below (from 1903) they actually start playing football at minute 2:




Moving on a bit. 1937:






All the way up to 1950:







Once upon a time there was no such thing as "down by contact". A guy could get hit, land on his belly and as long as he was crawling forward the play was still on. No such thing as a play being over when the ball carrier's knee touched the ground. Horse collar tackles, clothes line tackles, Holding? What's holding? Grabbing the face mask, the leg whip, the flying wedge, face guarding, the head slap... staples of the game (at the time) all ruled illegal. Usually because players were getting hurt. Or in some cases, killed. And in every case players groused because that was; "the only way I know how to play!"

Things move on. The game has been evolving for over 100 years and, in my opinion, it's a lot more fun to watch these days.

Last Edited By: Kevin 03/20/13 06:59 PM. Edited 2 times.