1896 Football Rules and Widow Jones Suits for Boys

Retail advertising premiums have been the primary topic of a few Tidbits recently, and I have shown others over the last several years. Here’s another one that lacks the graphics many possess, but it is pretty sweet due to its football-shaped cover. The other fun aspect is its contents which are the college football rules for 1896.

Given the limited graphics, we can focus on the game rules. The rules committee in 1896 was a bunch of Easterners. Their annual meetings and proposed rule changes generated media coverage, like today. However, football was still young and diverging from rugby, so the rule makers were making fundamental changes that are less common today. Some 1896 rules endured, others were discarded, and a few were modified more than once.

So, if you've never read a pre-1900 football rule book, here's your opportunity. There are only 31 rules, so it’s a relatively quick read.

Rules 1 to 2d

Rule 1 defines the football field. It was 110 yards long and did not include end zones. The sidelines extended beyond the goal line to define the "touch in goal" area. Rules 2a to 2d define several of the game's kicks. (Click image to enlarge.)