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Posted By: ramram

The forum is considering anything prior to 1979 as vintage.

As far as the begining of football...it would actually be pre-civil war. It started in the 1820's but didn't really make notice in the public until the 1850's/1860's. It started in the colleges back east. It was a hazing ritual known as "Bloody Monday" (on the first Monday of the school semester...guess Monday Night Football had some real roots) which pitted the sophmores against the freshmen. There was a ball involved which was kicked around but what actually followed was a big brawl. Everybody beat the crap out of each other. I actually have an 1861 letter describing this ritual. It pretty much evolved and stayed in the colleges until, I believe, around the turn of the century when there were some professional teams formed.

Rob M.