Today's Tidbit... Factoid Feast IX

As discussed in Factoid Feasts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, my searches through football history sometimes lead to topics too important to ignore but too minor to Tidbit. Such nuggets are factoids, three of which are shared today.

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Following the 1909 season, a fan, Harold M. Kennard, sent a letter to the sports editor of the Brooklyn Eagle with four rule changes to improve football. First, to prevent the tandem formations that stacked lead blockers behind the line of scrimmage, he wanted football to require the fullback and both halfbacks to align in the T formation.

Tandem formation in a c. 1910 Boonville (MO) High School game. (Personal collection, sold)

Second, he wanted to eliminate the forward pass, which he considered dangerous.

Third, he suggested increasing the distance to gain for a first down from ten yards in three downs to fifteen yards in three downs.