Today's Tidbit... An Image Of Small-Town Football

Many old RPPCs show long-forgotten football teams that seem to capture the essence of small-time high school football early in the last century. For example, the image below shows a football team from the Waynesburg, Ohio, area in 1912. The group poses in their offensive formation, likely before a game, based on the spectators standing on the railroad tracks in the background, likely standing there so they can watch the game for free.

The field is a bit rough, but the player stances and alignment are far rougher. The front seven are in four-point stances, which was not unusual at the time, while the guards' legs overlap the center's, which was also legal then but never a great idea. (Click to enlarge)