Today's Tidbit... Seeing The Future In 1933

1932 Wisconsin Badger yearbook

William Alexander won the 1929 national championship, a season capped by a Rose Bowl victory that included Cal’s Roy Riegels running the wrong way. Alexander was the first to coach in the Rose, Sugar, Orange, and Cotton Bowls, so the guy knew his stuff.

Still, there are many instances when top-notch coaches prove to be wrong about how a new rule might affect the game, but Alexander was not one of those in 1933 when hash marks entered football. Before hash marks, the ball was brought fifteen yards in from the sideline after going out of bounds. However, when a play ended on the field, the next play started from that spot, whether one or ten yards from the sideline.