Today's Tidbit... The First “Football Coach"

Every element of football terminology originated somewhere at some time. Though we can seldom identify the first time a new word was spoken, it often comes to public attention when newspaper reporters use the new words to provide insight to readers.

The term football coach first appeared in print in an 1889 article in which Harvard’s Alfred F. Holden discussed disagreements about eligibility standards across schools. Should they allow alums to play? Part-time students? Graduate or professional students? None of those issues had been settled to that point.