Quickie Football Trivia

[frankbmd]

Who invented the center snap, what preceded it and where is the inventor buried???

Bragging rites for all three correct answers without cheating.

[Beercan collector]

Abner Doubleday
The center turned around and tossed the ball to the quarterback
Arlington

[frankbmd]

Not the answers I am looking for, but if you can provide credible references for your answers, I would like to see them.

I have references for my answers, and none of my three answers are the same as yours.

[D. Bergin]

Mick Tingelhoff

The Center would toss the ball to himself, often in a slapstick manner that would result in guffaws and hearty laughs all around.

Under the endzone of the Meadowlands in New Jersey, with Jimmy Hoffa and Fatty Arbuckle.

My references are highly credible, but also highly confidential.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Mick Tingelhoff

The Center would toss the ball to himself, often in a slapstick manner that would result in guffaws and hearty laughs all around.

Under the endzone of the Meadowlands in New Jersey, with Jimmy Hoffa and Fatty Arbuckle.

My references are highly credible, but also highly confidential.

And they are credibly incorrect.

I guarantee there is a correct response that will surprise you possible in three ways.

May have to change the title to "Not So Quickie Football Trivia"

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

where is the inventor buried???

In the ground?

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

In the ground?

I've seen the grave.

[commishbob]

I*think* the person responsible is Walter Camp. As for what proceeded the center snap I believe the center just tossed or handed the ball to someone in the backfield. As for where he is buried... I believe he was from NY, or Mass,. or somewhere in that vicinity. Gonna take a guess at NY. I'm gonna go google to see how wrong I am but I'll keep it to myself.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I've seen the grave.

What do I win?

[frankbmd]

Bob, if you find the answers, thank you for not revealing your findings. Walter Camp is incorrect. I think many of you will be surprised as I was at the answer.

Bobby, In the ground is correct, but the location of the plot is the correct answer. You win nothing.

I'm not trying to drag this one out. if you are sure, just shoot me a PM and I'll confirm the answer on the thread.

The name of the individual you will all recognize. Consider this a hint.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

In the ground is correct, but the location of the plot is the correct answer. You win nothing.

Way to have a sense of humor!

[frankbmd]

Mine is excellent.

[frankbmd]

His first name is John.

[frankbmd]

His last name is Heisman. John Heisman, who played football at Brown, had a long and successful career as a coach, initially at Oberlein in the 1890s, where his team become an offensive juggernaut, even defeating Ohio State. When he first became a coach the center rolled the ball back to the quarterback or other back, actually a rugby method. Apparently he had a tall quarterback and the center snap was created and because his back had trouble handling the rolling ball. In addition to the center snap he went on to become the head coach at Georgia Tech and was in charge when the Yellow Jackets defeated Cumberland 222-0 in 1916. Although he never lived there, his wife who survived him had him buried in her family plot in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. And, of course, he is the namesake of college football's Heisman Trophy. There is even a small statue of him in the Rhinelander Airport.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heisman

Camp also is credited in some sources for the center snap, but here is my reference:

What Else Did John Heisman Do?

Heisman is largely credited with shaping the game into something very similar to the sport we are most familiar with today. His rule changes, strategic adaptations, and conceptual advancements were legendary at the time and are still widely respected today.

The Snap

Before Heisman came up with the idea of snapping the ball back to his quarterback in the air, centers simply rolled the ball back along the ground. As the story goes, his quarterback at Buchtel was particularly tall and had a hard time going down to get it, leading to the idea of getting it airborne instead.