- The
1901 Shelby High School starting line up was as follows:
Frank Schiffer, John Rice (Art Rice's younger brother), Frank
Strock, Hal Crum, Henry Dunn, Clifford Skiles, Bob Smiley, Howard
Hunter, Carl Sutter, Frank Kubbs and Frank Seltzer. Others would
be added as the year progressed.
-
- The
above article mentions line "bucks" and previous articles
have referred to "bucking the line". Since the forward
pass was not a legal play at this time, plays were generally
limited to sweeps around the ends or direct runs into the line.
This second play in many variations was a line "buck".
Trick plays were allowed to some extent. Hiding the ball under
the jersey or multiple passes between players in the backfield
to confuse the opponent was allowed. "Bucking the line"
caused the majority of injuries when performed with the players
in a wedge formation. During these years, Shelby's team used
Bill Harris to lead their flying wedge. He wore a wide leather
belt with a large handle attached to the back and when the ball
was centered, the quarterback, usually Smith "Dubie"
Weiser, would grab the handle and Harris as well as the rest
of the team would push forward through the opposing line and
drag the quarterback along. This made for a rough game and the
defense was also free to use various methods to stop the offensive
play. Kicking was quite acceptable and was freely used as a means
of slowing down and stopping an offensive play. At this early
stage of football, the most important article of football gear
was usually knee and shin guards. This was the area of the body
that was most effectively kicked and the area that benefited
most from padding. The game was played without many rules and
depended on the referees to stop plays before too many injuries
were incurred. The use of the fist was not allowed and could
result in expulsion or a penalty; most other forms of play were
allowed. Many injuries and deaths occurred on the football field
during this period. The following photo demonstrates the "flying
wedge" formation.
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