Today's Tidbit...100 Years Of Football: 1953-1963

This is the fifteenth in a series looking back at “100 Years of Football,” syndicated cartoons published by Jerry Brondfield and Charles Beck in 1969. Today's version covers the period from 1953-1963.

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After two-platoon football emerged in 1945, coaching staffs and rosters expanded, which led to increased costs, so the NCAA reversed is substitution rules. The NFL did not. At the same time, many college campuses had cadet programs with career military officers assigned as instructors. Those like Robert Neyland, who were athletes in colleges, often coached the college teams as well. Besides having tremendously successful teams, Neyland is credited with introducing gang tackling, shouting “Oskie” following interceptions, and some say he introduced cup protection in pass blocking. (-Click images to enlarge-)

(Brondfield & Beck, '100 Years Of Football,' Lansing State Journal, December 22, 1969.)

Ohio State’s Woody Hayes had several periods of sustained success. His teams of the mid-1950s were particularly strong and included stellar running back and Heisman Trophy winner Hoplong Cassady.

(Brondfield & Beck, '100 Years Of Football,' News-Item (Shamokin, PA), December 23, 1969.)