In July 2022, when Football Archaeology was starting, I published Today's Tidbit... Football and Water, which provided a few images of how teams doled out water to players back in the day. I promised to return with a full article describing football's water conundrum but forgot to return to the topic until today. I had previously covered football's focus on water discipline (i.e., denying players access to water) in
One of your very best ones, Tim! Anybody over age 50 who has ever put a helmet on has likely stared longingly at water delivery devices on the sidelines like a lost lover!
One side point: my guess is that Occidental photo shown was taken during the ‘48/‘49 Raisin Bowl in Fresno…unless L.A. experienced a rare polar vortex of some sort.
I had a granduncle who played collegiate football in the 1930s and one year in the NFL. I have to wonder how he managed his energy given the time period, and seeing that pic does give sobering thought.
As long as it passes the line of scrimmage it’s a difficult feat because of the five yard halo for offside players so really have to go more than five yards past line of scrimmage.
Behind the line there was an OVC school some years back that punted the ball to a gunner behind the line of scrimmage. With the proliferation of Aussie punters surprised no one else has done it.
When I played at Lehigh (1958-1961), we were never given water during a game or practice. We did have the buckets with the sponges and towels. At halftime we were given orange slices. During 1960 preseason two-a-days, I lost ten pounds, twice a day for a week. Of course I gained it back every day at lunch or dinner with all the "bug juice" I drank.
One of your very best ones, Tim! Anybody over age 50 who has ever put a helmet on has likely stared longingly at water delivery devices on the sidelines like a lost lover!
One side point: my guess is that Occidental photo shown was taken during the ‘48/‘49 Raisin Bowl in Fresno…unless L.A. experienced a rare polar vortex of some sort.
I had a granduncle who played collegiate football in the 1930s and one year in the NFL. I have to wonder how he managed his energy given the time period, and seeing that pic does give sobering thought.
Metal was in short supply but probably caught up faster than paper cups
CFL is fun because so many old rules remain. I love onside punt recovery
I wish the onside rule required them to at least reach the line to gain, but...
As long as it passes the line of scrimmage it’s a difficult feat because of the five yard halo for offside players so really have to go more than five yards past line of scrimmage.
Behind the line there was an OVC school some years back that punted the ball to a gunner behind the line of scrimmage. With the proliferation of Aussie punters surprised no one else has done it.
When I played at Lehigh (1958-1961), we were never given water during a game or practice. We did have the buckets with the sponges and towels. At halftime we were given orange slices. During 1960 preseason two-a-days, I lost ten pounds, twice a day for a week. Of course I gained it back every day at lunch or dinner with all the "bug juice" I drank.
As Bobby Boucher may say; "That is some high-quality H2O history"
Score another one for Percy Haughton!!
I find myself increasingly impressed with Percy.
The first thoroughly modern football coach—and I keep learning more about him, such as in this terrific tidbit!