This article was originally published on Travellergazette.com
College football is a beloved American pastime full of rivalries, intense alliances, hopes, and dreams. Fans love to watch the budding careers of future star players on the field of their college stadium. But behind the cheering crowds and touchdowns is an interesting history that not many fans know about. Today, we’re diving into all of these fun trivia and historical facts. From origin stories to breaking records, we’ve got all the interesting tidbits any college football fan could want.
#1: The Father of College Football
Next time you think about how much you love football, remember to thank Walter Camp. Who is that? Well, he’s credited as the father of modern-day American football. He started his career as a student at Yale University in the late 1800s. From there, he became a Yale team coach, changing sports history forever.
Walter Camp is credited with inventing the line of scrimmage and the system of downs that we all know today. He formed the game by serving on collegiate football rules committees throughout his career. He knew what he was talking about. While he was the football coach at Yale from 1888 to 1892, the team only lost two games.