You old timers are going to have to help me out on all the funny rules we had to endure in the 40s and 50s ... I remember some offhand but not all for sure. Believe me, the game was completely different in those days. Most of the rules were the outgrowth of numerous humorous activities that some coaches had worked into their game plans.
The best rules concerned formalizing substitutions and keeping close tabs of all players on the field. In the 40s UIL came out with a rule that when subs entered the game they would come onto the field with their right hand behind their back even with the belt and the left hand would would be held up like the Indian peace sign (HOW.) The sub had to report in to the ref and tell him the number of the fellow he was replacing. Substitutions were only allowed during time outs (unless a player was totally incapacitated.) And all 11 players had to be in the team huddle before each play.
There was a good reason for this. In the even older days some evil coaches were known to make substitutions in the middle of a play, i.e., as a play developed say a sweep near the home bench one player would step off the field and his sub would run onto the field 20 yards past the line of scrimmage and be ready to a pass. (That was a tough play to guard against!) And the rule for all teammembers in the huddle was aimed at the "hideout" play. In that one if a play ended in a pileup near the home sideline all would get up and return to the ball spot ... except one who would remain quietly as a helpful spectator on the sideline threw a blanket over him. Then, when the next play started the hideout would toss aside the blanket and sprint downfield for a pass.
And even then, to the best of my recollection only three players could sub in during one timeout. So you may quickly realize the substitution traffic was mighty light during a game. So players had to go both ways, offense and defense, many for the entire game. And while in the game a player had to be able to play 2 or 3 positions because officials would not call a timeout as long as all 11 were somewhat ambulatory ... so if you were a fullback and got knocked crazy you just switched places with a guard or tackle and play resumed.
It was in the 50s that colleges began squawking of substitution rule changes that would allow a strange concept known as 2-platoon football. That was an offensive team and a defensive team that could freely sub as the occasion presented itself. It did not affect smaller West Texas schools because few had enough quality players to field two specialized teams ... most only had maybe 20-25 on a squad. Platoon systems were slow to be adopted at the college level for the same reason ... when the Ags returned from Junction in 1954 Bear Bryant only had a 26-man squad so the best of those went both ways.
The most frequent penalty in those days was "Illegal use of the Hands." We had to keep our hands touching the body, whether offensive blocking or defensive rushing .... there was none of common-today pushing, shoving, slapping with arms extended. It was a good rule then because remember we did not have face guards and a fist or clawing hand or swinging elbow could do a number of bad things to a kids face. But even with the hands rule by mid-season we all looked like we had been beaten with an ugly stick.
Another reason for the rule on hands not swinging around was LIME. In those days all the lines on the field were marked with a four inch wide layer of lime ... some called it Quick Lime but I do not know for sure. All I know is when some got in your eyes it would turn you into a gymnastic performer. It was bad enough if it got inside the collar of your jersey and encountered sweat. There were always rumors that whoever the next opponent was were notorious for sneaking a handful of lime to toss into the face of an opposing lineman ... I never saw it or experienced it but I am sure it happened (everything else did.)
Another condition we had to endure was fan control. Few of the smaller schools had bleachers (unless they were fortunate to have a few constructed by the WPA during the 30s.) So during games the crowds stood along the sidelines or sat on the front fenders of cars parked as closely to the field as possible. There was always heckling and taunts along the opposing sideline so players were concerned for their welfare when a play piled up near the sideline. And with fans jammed together during a big game fights were not an uncommon distraction.
But the end of the game signaled a tradition that made it all worthwhile. In those days when the final gun sounded all of the Pep Squad members, Cheerleaders and Twirlers ran onto the field to hug and congratulate their players ... even if the final score was 72-0 in favor of the bad guys. I haven't seen anything like that in years and years. We would straggle into the Doghouse with its stinking one room and a cold water shower stall. What an experience.
The best rules concerned formalizing substitutions and keeping close tabs of all players on the field. In the 40s UIL came out with a rule that when subs entered the game they would come onto the field with their right hand behind their back even with the belt and the left hand would would be held up like the Indian peace sign (HOW.) The sub had to report in to the ref and tell him the number of the fellow he was replacing. Substitutions were only allowed during time outs (unless a player was totally incapacitated.) And all 11 players had to be in the team huddle before each play.
There was a good reason for this. In the even older days some evil coaches were known to make substitutions in the middle of a play, i.e., as a play developed say a sweep near the home bench one player would step off the field and his sub would run onto the field 20 yards past the line of scrimmage and be ready to a pass. (That was a tough play to guard against!) And the rule for all teammembers in the huddle was aimed at the "hideout" play. In that one if a play ended in a pileup near the home sideline all would get up and return to the ball spot ... except one who would remain quietly as a helpful spectator on the sideline threw a blanket over him. Then, when the next play started the hideout would toss aside the blanket and sprint downfield for a pass.
And even then, to the best of my recollection only three players could sub in during one timeout. So you may quickly realize the substitution traffic was mighty light during a game. So players had to go both ways, offense and defense, many for the entire game. And while in the game a player had to be able to play 2 or 3 positions because officials would not call a timeout as long as all 11 were somewhat ambulatory ... so if you were a fullback and got knocked crazy you just switched places with a guard or tackle and play resumed.
It was in the 50s that colleges began squawking of substitution rule changes that would allow a strange concept known as 2-platoon football. That was an offensive team and a defensive team that could freely sub as the occasion presented itself. It did not affect smaller West Texas schools because few had enough quality players to field two specialized teams ... most only had maybe 20-25 on a squad. Platoon systems were slow to be adopted at the college level for the same reason ... when the Ags returned from Junction in 1954 Bear Bryant only had a 26-man squad so the best of those went both ways.
The most frequent penalty in those days was "Illegal use of the Hands." We had to keep our hands touching the body, whether offensive blocking or defensive rushing .... there was none of common-today pushing, shoving, slapping with arms extended. It was a good rule then because remember we did not have face guards and a fist or clawing hand or swinging elbow could do a number of bad things to a kids face. But even with the hands rule by mid-season we all looked like we had been beaten with an ugly stick.
Another reason for the rule on hands not swinging around was LIME. In those days all the lines on the field were marked with a four inch wide layer of lime ... some called it Quick Lime but I do not know for sure. All I know is when some got in your eyes it would turn you into a gymnastic performer. It was bad enough if it got inside the collar of your jersey and encountered sweat. There were always rumors that whoever the next opponent was were notorious for sneaking a handful of lime to toss into the face of an opposing lineman ... I never saw it or experienced it but I am sure it happened (everything else did.)
Another condition we had to endure was fan control. Few of the smaller schools had bleachers (unless they were fortunate to have a few constructed by the WPA during the 30s.) So during games the crowds stood along the sidelines or sat on the front fenders of cars parked as closely to the field as possible. There was always heckling and taunts along the opposing sideline so players were concerned for their welfare when a play piled up near the sideline. And with fans jammed together during a big game fights were not an uncommon distraction.
But the end of the game signaled a tradition that made it all worthwhile. In those days when the final gun sounded all of the Pep Squad members, Cheerleaders and Twirlers ran onto the field to hug and congratulate their players ... even if the final score was 72-0 in favor of the bad guys. I haven't seen anything like that in years and years. We would straggle into the Doghouse with its stinking one room and a cold water shower stall. What an experience.