College football’s 150th anniversary: The 150 best moments that stood the test of time
By Zach Bigalke
96. First Game with Legal Forward Passing (1906)
A rules change in 1906 opened up college football to a new tactical revolution. Of course, there were plenty of skeptics who still doubted the efficacy of the forward pass as anything more than a gimmick. Ridiculing the change, the New York Times said, “There has been no team that has proved that the forward pass is anything but a doubtful, dangerous play to be used only in the last extremity.”
The Blue and White of St. Louis University went a long way toward changing those perceptions when they took on Carroll College at the start of the 1906 season. Led by forward-thinking head coach Eddie Cochems, St. Louis opened the game passing and never let up. With Bradbury Robinson at quarterback, the Blue and White threw the first legal forward pass in college football history.
That pass fell incomplete, turning over possession under the rules of the era. But St. Louis kept up the aerial assault on Carroll, with Robinson throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jack Schneider in the 22-0 Blue and White victory. The college game would never be quite the same after St. Louis proved the effectiveness of a solid passing attack.
95. UNC (Illegally) Gives Birth to the Forward Pass (1895)
Because college football evolved in many ways from early codified versions of rugby football, its earliest iterations similarly rejected the forward pass as an option for transferring the ball from one teammate to another. It simply ran counter to the rules and everything that made football football in the 19th century.
While that wouldn’t officially change for another 11 years, there is evidence that the first forward pass in a college football game occurred back in 1895. Sitting scoreless against Georgia in the first half of their contest in Atlanta, North Carolina fond themselves faced with a punting situation. Instead of kicking the ball, though, the Tar Heels dreamed up something even more audacious.
The Tar Heels scrambled after Georgia broke through and moved in for a punt block. North Carolina’s punter improvised to avoid the rush, then heaved the desperation ball in the air to where George Stephens could latch on and guarantee the first down. Instead, Stephens kept running with the ball to score the first receiving touchdown in college football history. The play was not penalized, as the referee failed to see the ball passed downfield.
94. Miami Beach Bowl Brawl (2014)
At once a bowl game is an exhibition contest after the conclusion of the regular season. At the same time, a bowl game goes down in the official record. For some players, it is their last chance to suit up and get on the gridiron. Because the stakes are at once so low and so high, postseason contests can result in some testy moments.
The inaugural edition of the Miami Beach Bowl matched BYU and Memphis, and the two squads put on a barnburner. Memphis went up 17-14, but the Cougars pulled ahead for a slim 28-24 lead at the half. The Tigers once again grabbed the momentum coming out of the locker room, scoring twice in the third quarter, but BYU came back to force overtime.
After trading field goals in the first overtime, Paxton Lynch found Roderick Proctor for a go-ahead touchdown. When the Tigers defense held BYU scoreless, Memphis players headed to the sideline behind the BYU bench to celebrate with their fans in the stands. Pushing and shoving ensued, and soon punches were flying. At least one player brandished his helmet as a weapon, and a new bowl game was given dramatic aftermath.